Hong Kong China Rue Poor Discipline In Chilean Nations Cup Loss

Hong Kong China were beaten by Chile 17-38 in their Nations Cup 2026 match at Vina del Mar, which means the Asian champions are still looking for a first win and point in the new championship, but they will be rueing their discipline, which denied them a real chance of any win.

HKCR conceded four yellow cards, including a double-yellow red card to Lachlan Doheny, who was making his first start, for a 20-minute suspension. The collection of cards meant they played much of the match at 14 players against 15, and try as they did, it was an uphill battle they could not surmount.

Hong Kong China Head Coach Logan Asplin asked for resilience and for the team to bounce back at the Nations Cup – and they were better, and there was plenty of fight, niggle, and guts on display.

>The Chileans’ first entry to their opponents’ 22m came in the 8th minute, and they put the visitors under pressure with their mauls. The referee awarded a penalty try, which saw the first of the side’s yellow cards as Lachlan Doheny was in the bin within the first ten minutes and the side was 0-7 down.

Paul Altier, who again was one of the best players for Hong Kong China scored a penalty from long distance, but Chile soon scored again, driving over from close range with their phase play and led 12-3 in the 15th minute. James Rivers had to come on earlier than expected for his debut, as Tyler McNutt left the field with a serious-looking injury.

Photo Credit – Chile Rugby

HKCR had a strategy to kick, but they often kicked too much and not accurately enough, whereas they were often threatening with ball in hand.

A yellow card was issued to prop Zach Cinnamond as the scrum was struggling. Despite being a player down, Alex Post scored the team’s first try from a maul in the 33rd minute to make it 10-12. That lead was extended when a TMO check on Doheny for a high hit saw him receive a 20-minute red card in the 36th minute, and Chile scored from the ensuing penalty to lead 19-10.

Before the half was over, some excellent individual skill from Jack Combes saw him create something from nothing with excellent football skills; he dotted down a try in the corner in the 39th minute to trail 17-19 at the break.

HKCR started the half under pressure as they were still a player down. Chile scored their 4th and bonus point try to lead 17-26 as the game got increasingly niggly, spicy and tense.

There was an over-reliance from the match officials on the TMO, which made it a very stop-start game. Then James Sawyer was yellow carded in the 61st minute, and Chile made the numbers count and scored a minute later to lead 17-33. Harry Sayers was soon off the field for deliberately knocking the ball on in the 65th minute, which saw the side down to 13 players.

Photo Credit – Giovanni Quintrel

Chile responded with a good try from good hands as the HKCR bodies eventually started failing after a tough physical game and lost 17-38 at the final whistle.

The two teams will again face off at Rugby World Cup 2027 in the pool stage.

Los Cóndores were good value for the win, and the immense Hong Kong China captain Joshua Hrstich said after the game: “Keeping 15 on the field would be pretty handy, but I am really proud of the guys’ effort to keep battling back against adversity and hold a pretty handy Chile side to that scoreline considering we have away that many penalties and that many cards.

It’s really shaping up to be a cracker in Townsville (RWC 2027) if we can right a few wrongs. It’s going to be a helluva game if we can go 15 on 15 with these blokes, and I’m looking forward to it. Credit to Chile, they are a classy team as they forced us into those mistakes.”

HKCR scorers

• Tries: Alex Post, Jack Combes
• Conversions: Paul Altier x2
• Penalty: Paul Altier

Photo Credit – HKCR

All of the Nations Cup fixtures and scores can be seen here.

Hong Kong China now head to Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo, Uruguay on 18 July 2026 to face Uruguay. The South American side drew 38-38 with Romania and had lost to Georgia in another high-scoring game 34-41 in the opening round.

Los Cóndores will face unbeaten Georgia next weekend.

Nations Cup 2026 News

• Hong Kong China Take on RWC 2027 Pool Opponents Chile in Nations Cup 2026.
• Hong Kong China Well Beaten by Samoa in Nations Cup 2026 Opener.
• Hong Kong China vs Samoa – Nations Cup 2026 Match Preview.
• World Rugby Nations Cup 2026 Fixtures.