Hear From the WXV Global Series Challenger 2026 Captains

Captains from the six nations competing in Hong Kong in the World Rugby WXV Global Series Challenger 2026 gathered in Victoria Harbour for the captain photoshoot and gave their views before the opening round on Sunday, 13 September, at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground.

Feature Photo Credit HKCR – Samoa captain Michelle Curry; Brazil captain Luiza Campos; Hong Kong China captain Jasmine Fung Hoi Ching; Netherlands captain Linde van den Velde; Fiji captain Kolora Lomani; Spain captain Lourdes Alameda aboard a Chinese junk on Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour.

Fijiana are the highest-ranked team of the six in the WXV Global Challenger Series, having climbed to 12th after beating the Sakura XV in Japan last weekend. They had lost a series to South Africa in Fiji prior to that Test and have a new coach this year in the form of Willie Walker.

Fiji captain Kolora Lomani said, “In Fiji, we’re known for our sevens rugby, and I think it’s similar in our fifteens where we try to bring that flair into our game. We’re looking forward to being able to show that here in Hong Kong, but in fifteen-a-side. We have a thing we call Fijiana game, which is an offload game.

We just have to set the platform to go forward, and space will open up for us, and we will have opportunities to be able to show what we’re capable of.”

The hosts start their campaign against Brazil, whom they have never played in a Test.

HKCR co-captain Jasmine Fung Hoi Ching said: “We are very excited to be playing in front of our home crowd for the first time in two years. It isn’t too often we have big international competitions like this at home, especially against these big teams. This is a milestone for us.

We want to show rugby fans in Hong Kong, especially the young girls, that Hong Kong’s rugby is competitive on the global stage. We hope through watching us play and seeing our commitment, dedication, and hard work, they will have their own dreams to play for Hong Kong China like us one day.’’

Photo Credit – HKCR – L to R: Brazil captain Luiza Campos; Netherlands captain Linde van den Velde; Hong Kong China Rugby captain Jasmine Fung Hoi Ching; Fiji captain Kolora Lomani; Spain captain Lourdes Alameda; Samoa captain Michelle Curry

HKCR Lead Coach Tumua Ioane said, “For us, obviously, there’s World Cup qualification, and long-term ambitions for the programme at stake, but in terms of this tournament, we want to be really clear with the Hong Kong style. It’s no secret that we want to play fast and we want to play to space, so that’s how we’re going to approach WXV over the three games.”

Brazil is another team with a new Head Coach post-RWC 2025.  Guilherme Coghetto, the former capped Brazilian international, who was appointed in May of this year, was also part of the coaching setup for the RWC 2025.

The team is known as the As Yaras, and they have had 6 competitive uncapped fixtures to prepare for the Series. The squad includes 16 players who competed in the World Cup, including players with 7s Olympic experience. Luiza Campos captains the side, who are ranked 25th, the lowest of the six teams.

Hong Kong China will take on Fiji on the second weekend and end with Manusina on the final weekend.

The Samoans have 4 uncapped players in their WXV squad and are coached by former Hong Kong China coach and Societe Generale Valley RFC player and coach Bella Milo. The side is ranked one place higher than the hosts in 15th, as it stands.

There are also at least two players in the Manusina squad who compete, or have competed, in Hong Kong. Octavia Nanai-Iafeta has played for HKFC, while Hasting Leiataua is still listed as a Societe Generale Valley RFC player.

The other captains are Linde van den Velde from the Netherlands and Spain captain Lourdes Alameda, who Hong Kong China will not face in the WXV Global Series Challenger 2026.

2026 WXV News

• Hong Kong China Rugby Announce WXV Global Series Challenger 2026 Squad.
• 2026 WXV Global Series – Fixtures Confirmed.
• Head Coach Yumeno Noda and Captain Arisa Nishi Reflect on Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix 7s Season.
• Match Official Appointments for 2026 WXV Global Series and Challenger Confirmed.