2026/27 Rugby For Good Hong Kong Premiership – Season Preview

The 2026-2027 Rugby For Good Hong Kong Premiership Season gets underway from 17th October and runs until March 2027. The Admiralty Asia USRC Tigers Women and HKFC Natixis Club Men are the defending champions, and across the 12 teams there are close to 100 new player signings.

Photo Credit – HKCR

The season launch was held on Wednesday 14th October and was attended by the coaches and senior players from all six men’s and all six women’s teams, and several clubs showcasing new title sponsors themselves.

The same six men’s and six women’s teams from recent years will once again line up for the Premiership season, which kicks off this weekend on Saturday 17th October.

• Societe Generale Valley RFC (Women & Men)
• Admiralty Asia USRC Tigers (Women & Men)
• HKFC Natixis Club (Men) / HKFC Natixis Ice (Women)
• Milwaukee Hong Kong Scottish (Men)
• Janus Henderson Sandy Bay (Men) / Causeway Sandy Bay (Women)
• DLA Piper Kowloon Rugby (Women & Men)
• Clement Shield/VetiVa Gai Wu Falcons (Women)

The event was also attended by the new Chairman of Hong Kong China Rugby, Rod Lai, as well as Dean McLachlan, Executive Director Domestic Rugby, Hong Kong China Rugby, and Rocky Chow, Executive Director, Rugby For Good

There is no Prem Title sponsor this season, so Rugby For Good (HKCR’s Official Charity and social impact partner) has been promoted as the domestic Hong Kong China Rugby Prem naming partner.

Rugby For Good’s helps people and communities build resilience through sport, said HKCR, adding that throughout the Premiership season, Rugby For Good will steer the mental wellbeing initiative, co-created with HKCR and supported by MindHK, designed to promote mental wellbeing, resilience and connection alongside competitive rugby in the community.

Rocky Chow, Executive Director of Rugby For Good, said: “Rugby is a vehicle for lasting change. It brings people together, builds confidence and helps young people develop valuable life skills. We are delighted to support the Hong Kong Premiership as its new title sponsor and connect the highest level of the domestic game with our work in the community, building stronger, healthier communities both on and off the field.

Working alongside HKCR, the clubs and our partners, we look forward to creating more opportunities for people from different backgrounds to connect with the sport, share its values and extend its positive impact beyond the pitch.”

The Nan Fung Group | AIRSIDE continues its support as a secondary partner.

Super Saturdays – 2026/27 Rugby For Good Hong Kong Premiership

Each team will play every other side three times across the season, as in recent years, meaning the season consists of 15 regular-season fixtures before the playoffs, in which only the top four Women’s and Men’s teams qualify for the Semi-Finals, and the winners progress to the Grand Final.

The HKCR Premiership XV leagues’ traditional Super Saturdays will see all six teams together for back-to-back matches at King’s Park Sports Ground.

The men’s showcase event takes place in the round two fixtures (Saturday 24th October), with the women’s in Round three fixtures (Saturday 31st October).

It should be noted that the Men’s HKCR team will also be in action on 31st October against Belgium in Europe before their three Nations Cup Tests.

Dean McLachlan, HKCR’s Executive Director, Domestic Rugby, said: “A connected and competitive domestic ecosystem is essential for developing talent. Our youth pathways, community clubs and lower senior grades play a vital role in introducing, developing and retaining players, with the Premiership then providing the platform for them to hone their skills and push for representative honours.

As our men’s team builds towards Rugby World Cup 2027 and our women’s team works towards qualification for 2029, we want that momentum to be felt throughout our clubs.

That means helping younger players see their next step and encouraging more supporters to come along and watch local rugby. Rugby For Good’s involvement also allows us to connect the competition with a wider community and show what our sport can offer beyond the pitch.”

Asphodel Fitness will again support the popular Player of the Round initiative.

All of the Women’s Prem fixtures can be found here, while the Men’s Prem fixtures are here.

New Signings – 2026/2027 Rugby For Good Hong Kong Premiership

Photo Credit – HKCR – 2026/27 Rugby For Good Hong Kong Premiership – Women’s Captains

Last season, 31 of the 32 players who represented Hong Kong China in the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship featured in the previous season’s Men’s Premiership, and all 26 players selected for the Women’s Asia Rugby Championship squad, along with 28 players in the recent WXV Global Series Challenger squad, also competed in the Women’s Premiership.

With the Hong Kong China Men’s 15s preparing for their historic first appearance at the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027, and the Women’s 15s working towards qualification for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029, HKCr said that the Premiership will continue to provide an important platform for players to compete and develop.

However, we have been informed that the contracted Men’s XV players will not feature in the Prem season, so the club’s depth will be tested – all of the contracted players are now Hong Kong-based as they prepare for the RWC 2027 in less than a year.

Photo Credit – HKCR – 2026/27 Rugby For Good Hong Kong Premiership – men’s Captains

Societe Generale Valley RFC (Women & Men)

• Last Season: Both teams were runners-up in the Grand Final
• Men’s Captain: Luke Dewar
• Women’s Captain: Jayme Nuku

New Signings:
Women: N/A

Men: James Walker (Joondalup Brothers and Perth Gold in Australia), Ben Taylor (Leicester Tigers and England Students), James Walker (Joondalup Brothers and Perth Gold in Australia), Lukas Tornberg (Sweden U18s)

Admiralty Asia USRC Tigers (Women & Men)

• Last Season: Women – Champions / Men – 3rd
• Men’s Captain: Jay Williams
• Women’s Captain: Shaye-Moana Whareaorere

New Signings:
Women: N/A – although 17 players re-signed this season.

Men: At least 9 players re-signed, as well as Orson James (Exeter Chiefs), Will Gouldsmith (Northumbria University and Clifton RFC, Old Bristolians), Finn Sanileva (Samoa, Northcote Men’s Premiers, Auckland and North Harbour at U18 and U20), Tama Hodgson (Hautapu Sports Club), Kyle Liebenberg (Shenzhen Pirates), Jack Gallon (Mount Maunganui Sports Club, NZ), Dawson Smith (Upper Hutt Rams, NZ), Graeme Bester (Shenzhen Pirates), Charlie Brosnahan (RFC Harlem), Nico Metuariki (Oriental Rongotai Rugby Club, NZ), Raphaël Barberis Manila Nomads/ Philippines National Team), Senio Sanele (Upper Hutt Rams, NZ), David Tang

HKFC Natixis Club (Men) / HKFC Natixis Ice (Women)

• Last Season: Women 3rd / Men 1st
• Men’s Captain: Madison Hunting
• Women’s Captain: Georgia Cutt

New Signings:

Women: Tess Evans (Noosa Dolphins via UQ Red Heavies, Cheltenham Tigers and Gwalia Lightning), Tess Littleton (UQ Queensland Reds), Lucy Thorpe (Queensland Reds), Teah Freeman (Melbourne Uni and Powerhouse RUFC)

Men: Josh Goodwin (Nottingham), Isaac McAuliffe (UQ, Green Island Rugby), Ryan O’Neill (City of Armagh RFC, Power House RUFC), Kohan James Herbert (New Zealand Under 20s, Bay of Plenty, Queensland Reds, Bond University)

Milwaukee Hong Kong Scottish (Men)

• Last Season: 6th
• Men’s Captain: Lachie McGowan
• Men’s Vice Captain: Wandre Nortje

New Signings:
Charlie Farmer (Bahrain RFC), Tom Lanni (Scotland U18, Northumbria University, Bahrain RFC), Tom Lanni (Sedbergh School, the Ayr Bulls, Norths Rugby Club – Brisbane), Danyon Morgan-Puterangi (North Harbour, New England Freejacks), Mervyn Lo (HKCR 7s, USRC Tigers), David Meki (Takapuna Rugby Club, Western Sydney Two Blues, North Harbour), Aneurin Jenkins (Newport RFC, Cardiff Metropolitan University, Pontypool RFC), Tomasi Connor (Kaierau RFC, Old Boys University, Marist St Pats), Tuterangi Stone-Williams (Nelson College, Canterbury Māori and Sumner Rugby Football Club), Max Casey (Chinnor RFC and Oxfordshire County), Corey Goldsbrough (Melrose Rugby Club & Southern Districts), Archie Xavier (University of Queensland)

Janus Henderson Sandy Bay (Men) / Causeway Sandy Bay (Women)

• Last Season: Women 6th / Men 5th
• Men’s Captain: Stephan Smit
• Men’s Vice Captain: Cam Taylor
• Women’s Captains: Choco Chan / Lieve Stallmann

New Signings:

Women: Poppy Tyrrell (Cardiff University, Hong Kong China U23), Orla Colling (Loughborough University), Nora Sharman (Nottingham), Gabby Della-Savina (Cardiff Uni), Montana “Monty” Heslop (Wellington Pride, HKCR XV), Annabelle Lambert (Newcastle, Australia), Ellie Smailes (Wanderers, Newcastle, Australia), Losalini Tinaivodre (ACT & Southern NSW Kestrels), Georgie Ball (Wanderers, Newcastle, Australia), Brooke Walklate (NSW Country, Chicago Tempest), Niah Ismahoon

Men: Erwan Nicolas, Dom Hedley, Zachery Bester (Central University of Technology), Mike Strydom, Loftus Smit (Bangkok Bangers), Freddie Drake-Lee (Swansea University), Leon van der Merwe, Denzel Frederick Hill, Jacob Denyer, Tom Martin, Hennie Otto (Mossel Bay), Kehan Myburgh (Mossel Bay), Freddie Davies (Clonmel RFC), Alex Post (Richmond RFC), Arminn Posthumus (North West University & Leopards), Eben Verster (North West University & Leopards),

DLA Piper Kowloon Rugby (Women & Men)

• Last Season: Women 5th / Men 4th
• Men’s Captain: Euan Humphreys
• Women’s Captain: Jenna Potgieter

New Signings:
Women: Mahlia Snowden (Bond University Rugby Club – BURC Women’s XVs, Queensland), Emily Harvey (Melbourne Uni Rugby Club), Tamara Stock (RC Diok, France), Taejah Thompson (Calgary Canadian Irish Athletic Club), Zara Roberts (Bath Uni, Bath Ladies, Blackrock College), Nira Fowler (Detroit, Michigan – Denver Onyx), Lucinda Darvell (EPA Lady Razorbacks Rugby Club, USA Rugby League)

Men: Sam Mercer (Nottingham), Kai Tiltman (HKCR U20s), Michael Carr (Tigers, DURFC), Zenith McGrath (Waitemata RC), Oliver Rohtero (Neyland RFC), John Samuelu (Tawa RC)

Clement Shield/VetiVa Gai Wu Falcons (Women)

• Last Season: 4th
• Women’s Captain: Jasmine Fung

New Signings:
Sarah Jones (Otago & Matatu in Super Rugby Aupiki, NZ), Greer Muir (Hurricanes Poua in Super Rugby Aupiki, NZ)
Nan Fung Impact League

Nan Fung Impact League

Last season, the Nan Fung Impact League was introduced, which focuses on sustainability, mental health awareness and community engagement.

Hong Kong China Rugby confirmed that the partnership with Nan Fung Group and SEWIT Consultancy to support Premiership clubs in delivering community, mental health and sustainability programmes will continue. Eight clubs received sponsorship and mentoring, with their programmes assessed on their impact beyond the pitch.

Last season the initiative reached more than 4,000 people, including 350 participants in mental health programmes.
More than 1,000 items of kit were redistributed and over 1,000kg of waste collected.
USRC Tigers were named the inaugural champions at an awards ceremony hosted at AIRSIDE.

McLachlan said, “We thank Nan Fung Group for partnering with HKCR to launch the Nan Fung Impact League and for supporting our clubs in delivering meaningful community initiatives. The inaugural season showed what clubs can achieve beyond matchday, from supporting mental wellbeing to reducing waste and making rugby kit more accessible.”

Photo Credit – HKCR

How To Watch the Hong Kong China 2026/27 Rugby For Good Hong Kong Premiership

Last season, all matches were free to attend and were streamed on the HKCR YouTube channel, with match highlights available after each weekend.

They have confirmed that all Rugby For Good Premiership games will be streamed live on the HKCR YouTube Channel, and can be watched back at any time.

Unfortunately, we won’t be covering the Prem as we did for HKCR last season, but you can see last season’s write-ups in partnership with HKCR.

Hong Kong China Rugby News

• 2026/27 Rugby For Good Hong Kong Premiership Season – A Look at the Head Coaches
• Sam Hocking Appointed as Head of Valley RFC Women’s Rugby.
• Former HKFC Director of Rugby Operations, Andrew Durutalo, Named Head of Fiji Men’s High Performance.
• Crystal Nuku Switches Clubs and Takes On WCCO Role With USRC Tigers.