Hong Kong Football Club Confirm Retired USA Women’s Player Charli Jacoby as Women’s Club Coaching Officer

The Hong Kong Football Club Rugby Section (HKFC Rugby) announced the appointment of Charli Jacoby as their Women’s Club Coaching Officer (CCO). The Nan Fung Group | AIRSIDE Hong Kong Premiership 2025-2026 got underway last week as the team aims for another Grand Final appearance.

The club’s Hannah Edwards, who has 175 caps for Wasps in the Premiership Women’s Rugby and worked with England Rugby for a decade, is the Head of Women’s Rugby at Hong Kong Football Club and Head Coach of HKFC Natixis Ice. She said of the appointment, “We’re thrilled to have Charli involved in our Programme. She brings a wealth of knowledge and experience across the game and energy unmatched.”

As a recently retired USA player, Jacoby competed at the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, playing off the bench in two pool games, and called it a day with 37 international caps for the USA Eagles.

As a prop, Jacoby also brings experience from having played in the Premiership Women’s Rugby in England for Loughborough Lightning and Exeter Chiefs, and in the Super W for the Queensland Reds.

HKFC said online this week, “We are thrilled to welcome Charli Jacoby as our Women’s Club Coaching Officer! Having recently retired from an exceptional career with USA Rugby (where she competed in the most recent World Cup!), We are delighted to be the next step in her rugby journey.”

HKFC Natixis Ice have won 2 league titles in 3 years but have fallen short in 3 consecutive Grand Championship finals to rivals SG Valley RFC.

Charli Jacoby – HKFC Women’s Club Coaching Officer

Image Credit – HKFC

Jacoby will oversee coaching the forwards for the HKFC’s Women’s Premiership and Premiership A teams (HKFC Natixis Ice and HKFC Natixis Fire), as well as coaching within Hong Kong China Rugby’s pathway and performance programme.

She said of her experiences, “I’ve played alongside so many other capped internationals that you learn from the best of the best. I’m playing alongside players like Ilona Maher and Charlotte Caslick, and played across players like Hannah Botterman. I’ve been able to take the different styles and adapt them into my own personal playing philosophies, and now into my own coaching philosophies and how I would like to coach a forward pack.”

She holds a master’s degree in education and has nearly a decade’s worth of experience in the Chicago public schools. As a coach, she has coached the Chicago Lions Women’s 15s team as Head Forwards Coach and Defence Coach in 2023.

Charli Jacoby said of the appointment with HKFC, “I’m very inspired and motivated by the amount of investment and support Hong Kong is putting into the women’s rugby programmes, and not only just women’s rugby, but also in developing pathways from youth to senior level.”

Hong Kong China Rugby are still currently looking to appoint a Head of Women’s XVs Technical Rugby, and they have two uncapped matches in November, as well as the WXV 2026 to prepare for.

HKFC are still looking to appoint a Men’s CCO after the promotion of Logan Asplin to the Hong Kong China Men’s XVs Head Coach Role.

Hong Kong Rugby News 2025

• The Nan Fung Group | AIRSIDE Hong Kong Premiership 2025-2026 – New Players To Watch,
• 2025/26 Nan Fung Group | Airside Hong Kong Premiership Season Launch.
• HKFC Rugby Appoints Andrew Durutalo as New Director of Rugby Operations.
• Hong Kong China Men’s XVs Preparations & Confirmed Centralised Contracted Players – Road to RWC 2027.