Match Preview – Kazakhstan vs Hong Kong China AREWC 2025

The Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship (AREWC) 2025 second match features Kazakhstan playing Hong Kong China on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, at JAPAN BASE.

Feature Photo Credit – Asia Rugby

Defending champions Japan beat Kazakhstan 90-0 in the tournament opener, and Kazakhstan now face a Hong Kong China team that beat them in last year’s championship 22-0 in a run of defeats that does not make for good reading for the Kazakhstan side.

They have not scored in their last 5 test losses and conceded 403 points in those defeats, and captain Natalia Kamendlovskaya admitted they were outplayed in all departments against Japan, “We were overwhelmed by Japan’s energy and got tired towards the end.”

Kazakhstan did give game time to a number of young players in the loss, with 5 under the age of 20 in that matchday squad, but they will face a Hong Kong China team that also relies on a quick style of play.

The head-to-head record is in favour of Kazakhstan 4-3, but all of the Hong Kong China wins come in recent years, post-pandemic, and they are the higher-ranked team (by one place). In 2023, Kazakhstan won the match 27-23, which was one of three matches where the sides were separated by four points or less.

The team need to be far quicker all-round, and they had really slow line-speed against the Sakura XVs and struggled to clear their lines when under pressure.

Photo Credit Asia Rugby / HKCR – AREWC 2024 HKCR vs Kazakhstan

New interim Hong Kong China Women’s 15s Head Coach Lewis Wilson said before the team departed for Japan, “We’re not focused too much on our position to be honest. It’s a little bit of a rebuild and a fresh start. There’s a new coaching group, and a new head coach is soon to be appointed, so we’re just focused internally. We’ve been focusing very much on ourselves and trying to progress the group as much as we can.”

Of playing in Japan, he added, “We had an awesome experience at a training camp in Japan last year, which was brilliant, and they were exceptional hosts. They really looked after the girls, and the girls bonded with the Japanese players well.  

His coaching staff consists of the domestic Women’s Club Coaching Officers (WCCOs), and they are working alongside Head of Women’s Rugby Performance Royce Chan.

For Pun Wai-yan (PY), who was captain of the team in last year’s AREWC hosted in Hong Kong, said of the changes for this championship, “We have got a quite different squad, but the mix of some senior players as well as new players, means I am excited to play. It is a new environment, and we have had to help the new players adjust to the national team standards and intensity.”

Hong Kong China have selected Naomi Peeters (from Valley RFC) in the matchday squad, and she could make her test debut.

The round-robin tournament concludes on Sunday, 25 May, when Japan play Hong Kong China.

Match Permutations –  Kazakhstan vs Hong Kong China

According to the latest World Rugby Rankings, Hong Kong China is ranked 17th, while Kazakhstan are ranked 18th.

• TBC

Match Officials – Kazakhstan vs Hong Kong China AREWC 2025

• Referee: Ano Kuwai (JRFU)
• Assistant Referees: Hibiki Ikeda (JRFU) (F), Koki Yamamuchi (JRFU)
• Television Match Official: Tasuku Kawahara (JRFU)
• Performance Reviewers: Dewi Rowlands (HKCR), Gabrial Lee (HKCR)

Matchday Squad – Kazakhstan vs Hong Kong China AREWC 2025

TBC – the full Kazakhstan tournament squad can be seen here.

Matchday Squad – Hong Kong China vs Kazakhstan AREWC 2025

1. LAU Nga Wun (Gai Wu)
2. Tanya DHAR (Valley)
3. Kea HEREWINI (Valley)
4. CHOW Mei Nam (Gai Wu)
5. Roshini TURNER (Hong Kong Football Club)
6. Chloe BALTAZAR (USRC Tigers)
7. PUN Wai Yan © (Gai Wu)
8. Shanna FORREST (Kowloon)
9. AU King To (Gai Wu)
10. LO Wing Yin (Gai Wu)
11. Jessica EDEN (Valley)
12. QIAN Jiayu (Gai Wu)
13. Abigail CHAN (Valley)
14. CHONG Ka Yan (USRC Tigers)
15. POON Hoi Yan (USRC Tigers)
16. LAM Tim Yeung Iris (USRC Tigers)
17. NG Ki Sum (USRC Tigers)
18. LEUNG Wing Yi Vincci (Causeway Sandy Bay)
19. Naomi PEETERS (Valley)*
20. AU YEUNG Sin Yi (USRC Tigers)
21. WAN Tsz Yau (Gai Wu)
22. LEE Tsz Ting (TPD / Valley)
23. Grace HOOD (Hong Kong Football Club) 

*potential debut

How To Watch Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship 2025

The hosts confirmed that all tournament fixtures will be free of charge for spectators at JAPAN BASE, and all matches will be broadcast via Asia Rugby (Asia Rugby YouTube, Asia Rugby Facebook) and via RugbyPassTV for international audiences.

For broadcasts in Japan, this match will have a live catch-up on J-Sports On-Demand.

Asian Rugby Tournament News 2025

• Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship 2025 – Your Definitive Guide.
• Japan Sakura XVs Thrash Kazakhstan in Asia Rugby Women’s Championship 2025 Opener.
• HKCR Women 15s Head To Asia Rugby Women’s Championship 2025 With New-look Coaching Team and A Debutante.
• Japan Sakura Fifteens and Brave Blossoms 2025 Domestic Fixtures Announced.