Hong Kong China Men’s XV – “We’re Trending In the Right Direction”

We spoke with Hong Kong China Men’s XV Head Coach Andrew Douglas and captain Josh Hrstich, less than one year out from RWC 2027, about what changes have been made to the coaching setup, dealing with online toxicity, and the resilience of the playing group.

The squad are about to embark on four Tests, three in Europe before ending the year at home when they face Tonga in their final Nations Cup 2026 fixture. We also heard the playing group’s plans for the next 12 months, which sprung some surprises.

Photo: HKCR

The Hong Kong China Men’s XV Coaching Setup

Andrew Douglas joined HKCR in August 2023, and has been the Men’s XVs Head Coach for the successful 2024 and 2025 Asia Rugby Championship campaigns, which saw them qualify for RWC 2027. He had been in more of a Director’s role of late.

We asked Andrew Douglas (Dougie) to explain the latest coaching setup for the Hong Kong China Men’s XV

“I have come back into the Head Coach role, and Toby Booth has rejoined us as assistant coach. He’s leading the defence and line-out side of things, and Logan Asplin is looking after the attack. The reason for that is obviously that a lot of my time on our last campaign was spent around the organisation of World Cup 2027 and putting all the pieces of the puzzle together, which is now complete.

I thought there was a general feeling it was time to get back in there and centralise the leadership a little bit. Logan does a great job on attack, and I just wanted him to have that focus there going into the World Cup. So it’s worked out nicely, really, and I’m grateful that Logan was able to do that lead role while I was tied up putting a lot of logistical stuff together.”

Photo Credit – HKCR – Andrew Douglas

He said of changes:

Personally, I am really grateful to be back leading this group, who obviously I’ve got a lot of affection for, and it’s all pretty dear to my heart. I am enjoying the new role, even though I’ve done it a fair bit. It still feels new again. We’ve changed a fair bit, so it’s exciting even for someone of my age and experience. I still love getting out of bed every day and coming into work with these guys,” explained Andrew Douglas.

He also confirmed the addition of Strength & Conditioning (S&C) Coach Allan Ryan, who has joined from Toulouse on a consultancy basis and explained what he and Toby Booth bring to the environment.

“Toby obviously brings experience. He’s done a lot of work in the UK and with big Premiership clubs, URC clubs, and it means having a more mature head. Between the two of us, we bounce off each other very well, and just having someone else as well, and obviously I’ve got a few sources I go to, but it’s good having Toby here, and we have some great discussions around how a game should look and where it goes. 

He (Toby Booth) brings a bit of energy too; he’s got great banter, and the boys have really taken to him. I think they feel pretty safe and secure and a little bit fearful, which is always good too, with what he brings, and they are really enjoying his presence. 

Alan comes from Toulouse, where he’s won four Top 14 championships with them. You always want the best people, and one of my goals is always to employ people who are better than me. I think with Alan and Toby, we’ve certainly done that. Alan’s kids are still in Ireland, so he wanted to go back and be with them more there, so World Rugby is supporting us with having him in a consultancy role with us – he’s not here full-time, but we’re using him as much as we can. 

He is working really closely with our S&C staff, and he’s got high standards, which the boys are having to get used to. Pete Nugent, who was our head of S&C, left to join Sale Sharks, which is great for him, and he did a fantastic job, so pleased to see him doing well.

We’ve got an experienced hand who is world-class, one of the best in the world, leading us through this next year. So we’ve been extremely lucky in that regard.”

Photo Credit: HKCR

The squad’s reliable captain is New Zealand-born Josh Hrstich, who has been in Hong Kong for more than a decade – he’s been a talisman for the side for several years, and his players will run through walls for him. When he’s on the field, they are a better team despite his maturing age. 

“We’re a pretty resilient bunch in terms of a playing group, and we’ve had our first set of challenges over the years, but this, as Dougie said, this coaching setup we have is world-class, and as a player, it makes your job very easy, because they’ve been there, done that, and you buy in, “Yes sir, no sir, 3 bags full, sir.”

It gives you confidence that you’re doing the right things; it keeps you on your toes for sure, and trending in the right direction of where we need to be. So as a playing group, we’re very fortunate to be in this position for sure,” said Josh Hrstich.

Leading From The Front – HKCR Men’s XV Captain Josh Hrstich

Photo Credit: HKCR – Hong Kong China Men’s XV Captain Josh Hrstich

This is our opinion, but it feels as if the squad is building a siege mentality, as it does feel as if it’s them vs the world at times. Keyboard warriors have questioned their RWC qualification, their first ever to the Men’s Rugby World Cup, their race and identity as Hong Kongers – largely unfounded and ignorant opinions. 

They are out to prove the doubters wrong, and the win in their final game of the Nations Cup against Uruguay has helped them start to do that.

The captain, Josh Hstrich, moved to Hong Kong from New Zealand in 2016. He initially joined the USRC Tigers before moving to Hong Kong Football Club while also representing the South China Tigers. He was named captain of the representative team in 2022 on his debut.

Earlier this year, Hrstich had appendicitis but still joined the boys on their tour of New Zealand and the first three matches of the Nations Cup 2026 in South America.

“Three weeks before the tour, there was a lot of to-ing and fro-ing. I think Dougie didn’t get much sleep, neither did I with the logistics and the medical and stuff like that, but hugely privileged to be able to go away and add to my test tally and be a part of the group and have a pretty awesome experience over in South America.”

Of the upcoming matches, the Head Coach added, “We’ve talked a lot about intent in this particular window. We struggle a little bit when this guy’s not on the pitch (pointing to Hrstich), and that’s something I’ve got to try and solve because he’s not young anymore, and being able to play a lot of games on the bounce is probably not realistic anymore. 

I think he realises that, and I realise that. And, when you’re chucking a medical emergency like an appendix! (he said, laughing).  So I’ve had a word with him about that sort of stuff as well. So, you know, we’ve just got to develop the maturity around our leadership.”

Photo Credit – HKCR – After the Nations Cup win over Uruguay

Dealing With Online Toxicity

We talked candidly about some of the negativity online towards Hong Kong China Rugby and their players. Douglas doesn’t do social media, but he is aware his players do.

“These players, they’re young people, they take these things to heart, and when they get criticised, I know some of them feel that, and that’s… that’s quite normal, but my job is to protect them as much as possible from that sort of thing. 

I’ve heard some of the most bizarre things: that we don’t look Chinese enough, that we only play in Asia. The world needs to look at itself, really, because every player is pretty proud to wear their Hong Kong-China badge, and for a lot of them, they’re born here, they’re raised here, they are third generation, whatever it may be.

I’ll go to war for these boys and try to protect them as much as I can, but at the same time, I can’t stop them reading social media.”

Photo Credit – HKCR – Head Coach Andrew Douglas embraces one of his players after making history in Incheon by qualifying for RWC 2027

Hrstich explained about proving the doubters wrong but also what it means to play for Hong Kong China.

“It’s the privilege of wearing the jersey, right? Anyone who’s been in our environment, the coaching staff that have come in, I guarantee if you talk to them and ask them, what does it mean to the players to be able to go out there and represent their family, their friends, their home.

If that’s not motivation enough, then, you know, you don’t deserve to be in the room. With the online stuff, we do hear it, but like you say, there’s so much motivation; you don’t need to draw on that negative energy to be able to go out there and perform.

You’ve got to be singularly focused on doing your job and doing your best to represent the people you care about and the place you’re very fortunate enough to call home.”

What Does the Next 12 Months Look Like Leading Up to RWC 2027?

It was a surprise that Andrew Douglas confirmed that the entire contracted squad won’t be playing in the 2026/27 Rugby For Good Hong Kong Premiership, which kicked off in October. In addition, he confirmed that the entire squad is now Hong Kong-based.

The final two pieces of the puzzle were flyhalf Nathan de Thierry, who is usually based in New Zealand and recovered from a long-term injury, and Paul Altier, who signed on to Richmond last season. He was their best player in South America. Both are in the squad heading to Europe for the Tests.

Photo Credit: HKRU – Nate de Thierry against USA at RWC 2023 repechage

Hrstich explained the decision from a player’s point of view, “I guess that’s our superpower, right, is the amount of time that we get to spend with each other and the genuine relationships and connections that we’re building.

They’re going to be crucial, and it’s our point of difference going forward; to have everyone here at home in Hong Kong and be able to spend time with this quality coaching group and build together – it’s massive.”

Following the November Tests, the squad will have a week off before a three-week camp before Christmas, which the Head Coach described as an intensive pre-season block.

“I’ll come back in after Christmas, in January, and we go into a six-week pre-season block before we fly to Australia, and we play four games in Australia against their Super Rugby “A” sides.

We will have a break over Easter, and then come back at the end of April, preparing for another European tour in July. We are hoping to be playing Georgia, Romania and Portugal, and then basically we go into Rugby World Cup prep from there.”

On pulling the players from participating in the domestic Prem, he explained, “From a purely World Cup-focused point of view, I know it’s the right thing to do in terms of getting our loading right, pre-season plan right, the bodies.

That’s not a popular choice in Hong Kong, and I have to accept that. It’s not my intent to upset people all the time. But I know it has. But at the same time, I’ve got to do what’s best for this group to perform the best they can at the Rugby World Cup. That’s the decision I’ve made in order to do that, and the players understand it; they’ve bought into it.

It doesn’t mean that I don’t respect the players playing for their clubs. I do. And at the conclusion of the World Cup, they’ll go back and play for their clubs.”

Beyond RWC 2027 – Building a Legacy For Rugby in Hong Kong

Finally, we asked about beyond RWC 2027. We are all guilty in rugby at the top level of living in these RWC cycles. From a Hong Kong China macro picture, what lies beyond 2027? 

Photo Credit: HKCR

Josh Hrstich said, “We’ve spoken about this a lot as a playing group, and it’s a massive part of it for us – the legacy piece.

We want to see the game grow. We want to see more opportunities for our youth to go forward. What that looks like, I don’t know. Is that a professional model, a franchise? Is that a continuation of a full-time program? I don’t know, but we need to piggyback off all the good work. There needs to be something meaningful for us that fills that space where the game can grow.

We see the uptake of the game here too – the sleeping giant Hong Kong China, and we want to see it fulfil its potential. If that happens, then regardless of results at the World Cup, we’ve truly won.

Douggie agreed. Like most of the other coaches, his family have moved to Hong Kong as part of this endeavour and journey.

“Josh has mentioned the legacy. I think that’s important,” added Douggie.

“Hopefully, we see the profile of Hong Kong China Rugby grow, where we have teams wanting to play us and more high-profile test matches. We are actually getting countries now wanting to either host us or travel here to Hong Kong, maybe on their way to Europe, or maybe on their way down to the Southern Hemisphere. It’d be nice to get a regular competitive Test season.”

He went on to say, “Sometimes we forget that in Hong Kong, we harp on about the community playing and getting numbers and kids to play, but kids need something to look up to. I’ve never known a kid who, when they see an NBA star or an NFL star or a football star, doesn’t want to go on to be like them.

In Hong Kong, we need to provide that for them. They’re not just going to play rugby because someone says, “Here’s a ball, go play.” They’re going to do it because they see a Josh Hrstich.

I think we need to give those kids something to aspire to, and something to say, look, this could be you one day. You could be doing this, and you could be the new Josh Hrstich, or whatever player it might be.

We say we’ve got to grow the game, but how do you grow it if you’ve got nothing to aspire to? To grow it, you’ve got to nurture it and fertilise it and give it something to climb up to.”

Photo Credit: HKCR

We will publish a second part of the interview with a focus on the upcoming Tests in 2026.

Hong Kong China Rugby News 2026

• 2026/27 Rugby For Good Hong Kong Premiership – Season Preview.
• Toby Booth Rejoins HKCR Men’s XV Coaching Setup.
• Hong Kong China Rugby CEO James Farndon Leaves Role.
• Robbie Fergusson Leaves Hong Kong China 7s Programme.