Hong Kong China vs Samoa – Nations Cup 2026 Match Preview

rugbyasia247 Posted On July 3, 2026

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Hong Kong China vs Samoa - Nations Cup 2026 Match Preview

Hong Kong China open their Nations Cup 2026 against Samoa on Saturday, 4th July at Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Pradanos, Santiago, Chile. This will be the first-ever meeting between the two teams in a men’s Test match.

Photo Credit – HKCR – captains for the Nations Cup

Both teams will be competing at Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, with the Pacific team ranked 20th and Hong Kong China ranked 23rd. While Hong Kong China will debut in their first Men’s RWC, the Samoans (albeit via the final qualification tournament) will be heading to their 10th consecutive tournament and have featured since 1991.

The Hong Kong China men come into the tournament on the back of defending the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2026 for a 7th straight title. However, very few players in the Nations Cup squad were involved.

Most were in Japan, where a Select XV team were heavily beaten by a Japan Select XV 0-80 before they won the second fixture 33-29 less than a week later. They also narrowly defeated the Waikato Select XV 24-22 in New Zealand on the way to Chile.

HKCR reserves watch on against Waikaito XV

Photo Credit – yourmomentphotos – HKCR players watch on against Waikato XV

The matchday selections by HKCR have sprung some surprises, and unless players are carrying niggles (with no disrespect to those selected), we feel they have held back their strongest team for the Chile game. They face the South Americans at RWC 2027 and will be targeting that match as one to win.

The HKCR 23 selected to face Samoa are similar to the team that narrowly beat Waikato XV.

Hong Kong China Rugby Head Coach Logan Asplin said, “We picked what we believe to be a combination of a team in form, but also a team that are obviously best prepared to play against the threats of Samoa, both sides of the ball. Obviously, that means some changes and some new combinations. At the same time, the way that we want to play this game is centred around it.”

There is no experienced Josh Hrstch or Tommy Hill who offer massive go-forward for the team.

Pierce Mackinlay-West will captain the side, and he said, “It was a good physical test in pretty tough conditions, and it was good preparation against top opposition. It was also good to get some experience leading the team there. We have many experienced leaders, so it is not just a one-man job. It is a team effort.”

Mackinlay-West added of the Test, “Samoa is a team with a lot of history, and players who play at the highest level. We know it is going to be a huge physical challenge; they have got some big bodies, and they like to play a physical game. That is a challenge we are really ready to meet head on.”

Logan Asplin added, “It is a robust back row, albeit on the smaller side if you look at their Samoan counterparts. What it lacks in size, it makes up in competitiveness, grit and toughness. Those three are guys that I am backing to go some big minutes.”

Matteo Avitabile starts in the centres, whereas he usually is at flyhalf, and Joe Barker is starting fly-half. Avitabile had a stint in Italy with Rugby Colorno before returning to Hong Kong and helping HKFC win the domestic Men’s Prem title this season, and his accuracy off the boot was key.

Both Lachlan Doheny and Isaac Campbell-Wu could make their debut off the bench.

Asplin added, “The mindset has been incredibly positive. The players fully understand the task that lies ahead of them. But we have asked for this opportunity for a long time, and that underlying excitement is massive. We are looking forward to getting after it.”

Photo Credit – HKCR – Hong Kong China will wear a new kit in the Nations Cup 2026

The Samoan XV beat the Chile XV 45-14 recently in their only hit-out, and in the squad have selected some new faces. They are also without regulars such as captain in recent years Theo McFarland or Scott Sio, while Jacob Umaga is currently serving a four-match suspension.

Miracle Faiilagi captains the Samoans, and he had a standout season for the Moana Pasifika side which he also captained.

Lakapi Samoa Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Seumanu Douglas Ngau Chun told Samoa media, “Miracle has consistently demonstrated the leadership qualities we value, both on and off the field. He leads by example, has earned the respect of his teammates and management, and possesses the character and professionalism required to lead the Manu Samoa.”

Head Coach Lemalu Tusi Pisi selected 6 players in the touring squad who could make their Samoan debut, & said: “These men, a blend of experience and fresh talent, carry the hopes of our nation.”

Included in the matchday 23 are 5 of those debut players – notably is former All Blacks centre Peter Umaga-Jensen, who just played his first season in Japan’s JRLO with the Hanazono Kintetsu Liners, and he was recognised as the Best Player in Division 2. He starts at inside centre, and the other uncapped Samoa players to face Hong Kong China are Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia, Taeaoelia Pomale Time, Warren Solomona, and Taunuu Niulevaea.

Three of the Samoan players compete in the Japan Rugby League One: Samuel Slade, Peter Umaga-Jensen, and Benjamin Petaia Nee-Nee.

Miracle Faiilagi Samoa captain - Nations Cup 2026

Photo Credit – Samoa Rugby – Miracle Faiilagi is the Samoa captain at Nations Cup 2026

Another former All Black, prop Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, who was last capped by Samoa in 2022, is also selected among the reserves.

Lakapi Samoa Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Seumanu Douglas Ngau Chun said of Hong Kong China, “We know Hong Kong China will present a tough challenge. They are a well-organised side that has been together for longer, so we are expecting a physical and competitive contest.”

The Samoans lost all of their 2025 Pacific Nations Cup fixtures (against Fiji, Tonga, and the USA), which resulted in them playing Chile away in two games to secure RWC 2027 qualification. They drew the first leg 32-32 and lost the second leg in Chile 12-31, sending them to the Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai in September 2025. They beat Brazil and Namibia and drew 13-13 with Belgium to qualify for RWC 2027.

The Samoans didn’t tour at the end of 2025 due to financial constraints, so the Test against the Asian champions will be their first in 10 months.

Match Permutations – Hong Kong China vs Samoa – Nations Cup 2026

Samoa could climb as many as three places, but they would need to beat Hong Kong China by more than 15 points and have other results go in their favour.
Samoa cannot fall any lower this weekend.
Hong Kong China can match their all-time high of 21st if they beat Samoa and if Romania, Zimbabwe and Tonga don’t win.
Hong Kong China will fall one place if they lose, and if Zimbabwe beat Tonga.

Photo Credit – Lakapi Samoa

Match Officials: Samoa v Hong Kong China – Saturday, 4 July, 2026

Referee: Angus Mabey (New Zealand Rugby)
Assistant Referee 1: Juan Manuel Martínez (UAR)
Assistant Referee 2: Caua Ricardo (CBRU)
TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)

Hong Kong China Squad vs Samoa – 2026 Nations Cup

Starting XV

1. Rory CINNAMOND, 2. Harry BARON, 3. Keelan CHAPMAN, 4. Max MURPHY, 5. Kyle SULLIVAN, 6. Tyler McNUTT, 7. Pierce MACKINLAY-WEST (Captain), 8. James SAWYER 9. Jack COMBES, 10. Joe BARKER, 11. Harry SAYER, 12. Matteo AViATABILE, 13. Max THRELKELD, 14. Marcus RAMAGE, 15. Paul ALTIER

Reserves:

16. Sunia FAMEITAU, 17. Alexander POST, 18. James HOLMES, 19. Lachlan DOHENY*, 20. Dana FOURIE, 21. CHUI Wai Lap, Eric, 22. Isaac CAMPBELL-WU*, 23. Matthew WORLEY

*Potential debut

Hong Kong China Squad vs Samoa - 2026 Nations Cup