Hong Kong China Rugby Announce WXV Global Series Challenger 2026 Squad

Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) announced their women’s representative squad for the World Rugby WXV Global Series Challenger 2026, which gets underway from 12th September for three consecutive weekends at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground.

Feature Photo Credit – Danny’s Sports Album

Hong Kong China Rugby, ranked 16th in the world, hosted the Manusina Women’s XV at Kings Park for a Community Day on 5th September; both teams will face off on 26th September, the final matchday weekend of the WXV tournament. 1,000 mini and youth players and supporters attended the team’s public training session and warm-up match.

Hong Kong China Women’s Lead Coach Tumua Iaone (who is the Gai Wu RFC WCCO) selected a 28-woman squad from a wider pool of potential players who have been training since June. The final WXV Global Series Challenger HKCR squad has a 16/12 forwards-to-backs split.

The HKCR Women’s XV squad includes five players who competed at Rugby World Cup 2017 in Ireland; all of whom are forwards; Chow Mei Nam (who captained them at the RWC), HKCR most capped female XV representative, Lee Ka Shun (who will retire after the tournament), prop forward Tammy Lau Nga Wun, and crossover fifteens and sevens players Pun Wai Yan and Winnie Siu Win Ni.

Sixteen players took part in the Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championships in May in Kazakhstan, at which they lost to Japan and drew with the hosts.  Lara Schats, Wan Tsz Yau, Zoe Smith, and Abigail Chan all return to the backline from the Asian championships.

Photo Credit – Danny’s Sports Album – Hong Kong China Women’s Lead Coach Tumua Iaone

There were several players who made debuts in Kazakhstan, and some have been selected for this key tournament: Lauren Knowler, Jenna Potgeiter and Isobel Littlehailes.

With the HKCR Sevens players unavailable due to the Asian Games and ARESS 2026, crossover player Sabay Lynam is also included in the group after returning from playing commitments in Australia, and is joined by her sister Ella.

Ella Lynam, Rosie Down, Georgia Cutt and Ching Yi Shek are in line to make their debuts at WXV Challenger, and most have featured on uncapped tours.

Lee Ka Shun in Final Swansong – WXV Global Series Challenger 2026

Lee Ka Shun, who could earn her 40th cap in September, said, “Being the most veteran player in this squad, my mindset is to treat every single match as if it were my very last. This tournament is the final stretch of the whole cycle. Whether I start or come on as a substitute, I want to treasure every single minute I get to represent Hong Kong. I want to cherish these opportunities and give it my absolute all.”

Lee added, “Most of us are holding down full-time jobs, so after a full day of work we have to rely on our remaining physical energy and determination to go to training. The reason we persevere is that there are so many moments we deeply enjoy—like the bond with teammates and the mutual motivation in training.

We want more out of life than just the bare minimum. Rugby has brought massive positive changes to our lives. Even as amateurs our women’s team made it to our first Rugby World Cup back in 2017; experiences like that are extremely rare and special for non-full-time athletes, and we treasure them.”

Photo Credit – Danny’s Sports Album – HKCR Women’s XV vs Manusina training match

HKCR Women’s XV Squad – WXV Global Series Challenger 2026

Forwards:  LEE Ka Shun; CHOW Mei Nam; Tammy LAU Nga Wun; Kea HEREWINI; PUN Wai Yan; Winnie SIU Win NI; Fion GOT; Roshini TURNER; Chloe BALTAZAR; NG Ki Sum; Kristie STEVENSON; Grace HOOD; Jenna POTGIETER; Tanya DHAR; Isobel LITTLEHAILES; Iris LAM

Backs:  FUNG Hoi Ching; Lucia BOLTON; Abigail CHAN; CHING Yi Shek; Georgia CUTT; Rosie DOWN; Lauren KNOWLER; Ella LYNAM; Sabay LYNAM; Lara SCHATS; Zoe SMITH; WAN Tsz Yau;

Management:  Selene COOPER (Manager); Tumua IOANE (Lead Coach); Charli JACOBY (Asst. Coach); Terry SIBANDA (Asst. Coach); Sam HOCKING (Asst. Coach); Ian BONNET (S&C Coach); Jake MARTIN (Analyst); Suzzen CHONG (Sports Rehabilitator) Olivia CHIU (Physio)

Tickets – WXV Global Series Challenger 2026

More than 6,000 tickets have already been sold and distributed to the tournament’s community and commercial partners.  There are approximately 1,000 tickets remaining for each of the three individual rounds.

Stay tuned for our interview with Kea HEREWINI & Tammy LAU Nga Wun this week.

Asian Rugby News 2o26

• 2026 WXV Global Series – Fixtures Confirmed.
• Head Coach Yumeno Noda and Captain Arisa Nishi Reflect on Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix 7s Season.
• Hong Kong China Men’s XV Will Play Two November 2026 Nations Cup Tests in Europe & One Home Test.
• Match Official Appointments for 2026 WXV Global Series and Challenger Confirmed.