Hong Kong China vs Sri Lanka Preview – Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025

Hong Kong China hosts Sri Lanka on Sunday, 22 June at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground, which is the defending champions’ only home match of the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship, and Head Coach Andrew Douglas has made some positional and matchday squad changes for a Tuskers team that nearly shocked Korea last week.

Feature Photo Credit – HKCR

The Sri Lankans were leading the Koreans at halftime in Colombo before falling narrowly 34-38, so they have provided plenty of warning of their intent with the ball as they ran in 5 tries in their defeat. Hong Kong China, hoping to be buoyed by some good crowd support, will be targeting the Tuskers upfront as the pack performed well against UAE, and the Sri Lankans conceded several penalties to the dominant Korean scrum.

The last time HKCR faced Sri Lanka was more than a decade ago, on 3 May 2014, when the men from Hong Kong were 41-10 victors, and this weekend’s matchup will be the 5th time the two sides have faced each other. Sri Lanka has yet to secure a win over Hong Kong China, and this will be the 9th matchup. This will be their first meeting in Hong Kong since the home side ran out 45-15 winners in May 2006. 

Head Coach Andrew Douglas said via HKCR, “For this is the type of game against Sri Lanka, we probably need to bring a bit more bang against them, and there’s still a lot of support on the bench. But the changes are not for the sake of change, but more to suit the style of play that Sri Lanka will bring”.

Photo Credit HKCR – Hong Kong China beat UAE 43-10

Calum Scott starts with Zacceus Cinnamond, Callum McCullough, James Sawyer, Paul Altier all in the starting XV, and Alex Post, Pierce Mackinlay West and Patrick Jenkinson all start on the bench. Altier on the right wing is the only change in the backline.

Coming into the matchday squad are Luke Van Der Smit starting at 8 and prop Faizal Solomona Penesa securing a spot among the reserves. Keelan Chapman, Tyler McNutt, and Max Denmark, who all started last weekend, are rested.

Alessandro Nardoni, an experienced Sevens campaigner, is among the reserves and can potentially earn his first 15s cap for Hong Kong China.

You can read our collaborative match preview for HKCR here.

• Referee: Takehito Namekawa (JRFU)
• Assistant Referees: Ibuki Tetsuka (JRFU), Top Dechdanai (TRU)
• TMO: Tasuku Kawahara (JRFU)
• Performance Reviewer: Simon Dodd (UAERF)

Fans can buy tickets for the match here.

Match Permutations – HKCR vs Sri Lanka

• Hong Kong China Men are currently ranked 23rd in World Rugby’s global rankings, and Sri Lanka is 40th.
• HKCR can not improve their ranking if they win.
• A win for Sri Lanka will see the Tuskers match their previous best ranking of 37th. They could reach a record high of 36th is the UAE also beat Korea away with one of the victory margins being more than 15 points.
• Hong Kong China will fall at least two places in they lose, slipping below the Netherlands and Brazil. If they lose by more than 15 points, they could drop as low as 28th.

Hong Kong China  Men’s XV Squad vs Sri Lanka– June 22 2025

Team Management: 

Andrew DOUGLAS (Head Coach)
Lewis EVANS (Coach)
Logan ASPLIN (Coach)
Marno MEYER (Coach)
Alex ALLAN (Coach)
Pete NUGENT (S&C Coach)
Ian BONNET (S&C Coach)
Andy YUEN (Analyst)
Henry ELLIOTT (Physiotherapist)
Jonathan MOSES (Physiotherapist)
Charles CHEUNG (Team Manager) 

Players (club): 

1. 1. Sunia FAMEITAU (HKU Sandy Bay) **
   2. Calum SCOTT (London Scottish)
   3. Zacceus CINNAMOND (HKU Sandy Bay) **
   4. Mark PRIOR (HKU Sandy Bay)
   5. Callum McCULLOUGH (Hong Kong Football Club) * 
   6. Joshua HRSTICH © (Hong Kong Football Club) **
   7. James SAWYER (Valley) 
   8. Luke VAN DER SMIT (Valley) **
   9. Jack COMBES (USRC Tigers) *
   10. Nathan DE THIERRY (Hunter Wildfires)
   11. Harry SAYERS (Valley) *
   12. Thomas HILL (Hong Kong Football Club) **
   13. Ben AXTEN-BURRETT (Hong Kong Football Club)
   14. Paul ALTIER (SOC Rugby)
   15. Matt WORLEY (Bedford Blues RFC)
   16. Alexander POST (Richmond)
   17. Rory CINNAMOND (HKU Sandy Bay) **
   18. Faizal SOLOMONA PENESA (HK Scottish) **
   19. Patrick JENKINSON (Hong Kong Football Club) 
   20. Pierce MACKINLAY WEST (Hong Kong Football Club)
   21. James CHRISTIE (HK Scottish) *
   22. Joseph BARKER (Kowloon)
   23. Alessandro NARDONI (HK Scottish) * potential debutant for Hong Kong China 15s

* Player is part of the Hong Kong China 7s Programme
** Core player has a full-time contract for men’s 15s for 2025

Sri Lanka  Men’s XV Squad vs Hong Kong China – June 22 2025

Photo Credit – SLR

How To Watch the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship

All six matches of the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship will be streamed live and free via RugbyPassTV and Asia Rugby Facebook and YouTube.

International Rugby News 2025

1. • Ultimate Guide to 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship – RWC 2027 Qualification
   • UAE vs Hong Kong China Preview – Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025.
   • Sri Lanka vs Korea Preview – Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025.
   • Hong Kong China Men Will Play Sri Lanka at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground For AREMC 2025.