Hong Kong China Men’s XV vs Portugal Match Preview

The Hong Kong China Men XV’s Test against Portugal on 15 November will be their biggest game yet since confirming qualification for RWC 2027.

Feature Photo Credit – HKCR

The match in Lisbon is Hong Kong China’s first Test since July, and the Portuguese will be the favourites at home and are the higher-ranked in 20th compared to 23rd for the Asian visitors.

The Hong Kong China team qualified for a Men’s Rugby World Cup for the first time in the Union’s 73-year history, but since they dominated the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship, they have had subsequent losses to a JRLO Division 3 side, the JAPAN XV, and the Brumbies. The Test against Portugal on 15 November at Estadio Nacional will be their biggest game yet since confirming qualification for RWC 2027.

The hosts, Os Lobos, are ranked higher at 20th compared to 23rd for Hong Kong China. The last time Portugal faced Hong Kong China was in 2022, and the Europeans won 42-14 on 6 November 2022. Overall, the head-to-head is 1-1.

Portugal lost 8-26 last week at home to Uruguay, which made it four defeats in a row. This followed poor results against an Ireland team which put a century of points on them. In the loss to the South Americans, discipline and consistency issues were highlighted.

Portugal Head Coach Simon Mannix (who previously was with Singapore) has made six personnel and one positional change compared to last week’s team.

Hong Kong China’s coaches have selected a similar matchday 23 that faced Japan XV and the Brumbies. There are no changes to the pack at all, and Max Murphy in the second row will earn his first cap. The loose trio offer a good balance of power and skills

The backline sees a debut cap for South African-born Brendan Nell, who was the Hong Kong fans’ MOTM in the loss to Japan XV. The back three are all dangerous ball carriers. Guy Spanton, Marcus Ramage and fullback Matt Worley will all look to exploit space, while the centre pairing of Tiommy Hill and Ben Axten-Burrett know each other well and should add solid carries and defence in the midfield.

The reserves see potential debut caps for hooker Harry Baron, loose forward Jack Bartlett (who impressed against the Brumbies), scrumhalf Chui Wai Lap, and outside back Dylan McCann.

Hong Kong China head coach Logan Asplin commented: “It’s awesome, a big part of qualifying for a Rugby World Cup was extending not only our player base but also injecting some youth into it as well.

These are guys that have got two cycles or more in them. For a World Cup two years from now we need to be probably four deep in every position, if not five, so this is a good way to reward the work that the guys have done.

It’s a very small percentage of rugby players in the world that become internationally capped players, and you know, whether first cap or 30th cap, the significance of that is massive.”

He said of the conditions in Lisbon, “We feel good about the selection. It’s raining cats and dogs and windy as anything here, so I think we’ve got the right balance to play to what could be different conditions than what we’re used to; it’s a good balance with a good bench punch.”

Hollie Davidson will be the match referee – her first test since the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 final.

Match Permutations Portugal vs Hong Kong China

• Portugal cannot improve on 20th place with a victory over Hong Kong China, unless it comes with a heavy loss for Samoa against Namibia in the Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai.
• Hong Kong China could enter the top 20 for the first time if they can beat Portugal by more than 15 points and other results go their way, a scenario which would make them the higher-ranked of the two teams.

HKCR Men’s XV Squad vs Portugal

1. Sunia FAMEITAU, 2. Calum SCOTT, 3. Zacceus CINNAMOND, 4. Max MURPHY*, 5. Kyle SULLIVAN, 6. Tyler McNUTT, 7. Pierce MACKINLAY-WEST, 8. Josh HRSTICH (C), 9. Brendon NELL*, 10. Gregor McNEISH, 11. Guy SPANTON, 12. Thomas HILL (vice capt), 13. Ben AXTEN-BURRETT, 14. Marcus RAMAGE, 15. Matt WORLEY

Reserves 16. Harry BARON*, 17. Callum McFEAT-SMITH, 18. Faizal SOLOMONA PENESA, 19. Jack BARTLETT*, 20. James SAWYER, 21. CHUI Wai Lap, Eric*, 22. Joseph BARKER, 23. Dylan McCANN*.

*Potential first cap

Portugal Squad vs Hong Kong China

How To Watch HKCR Men’s XV vs Portugal

The match will be streamed on RugbyPassTV.

Hong Kong China Rugby News

• Andrew Durutalo – “Things will not be handed to you on a silver platter”.
• Hong Kong China Target Rugby 7s Medals At China National Games 2025.
• JAPAN XV Secure a Comfortable Win and Shows That Hong Kong China Men Have “A Fair Way To Go”.