Ultimate Guide to 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship – RWC 2027 Qualification

The 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship takes place from 13 June to 5 July and in total features six test matches across Colombo, Dubai, Incheon, and Hong Kong, and the winner of the four-team tournament will be guaranteed a place at Rugby World Cup 2027, while the runner-up heads to a play-off against the African runner-up.

Hong Kong China, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, and newly promoted Sri Lanka are all just three matches away from reaching their first Rugby World Cup and will join Asia in representing the region.

The tournament runner-up will head to a playoff against Africa 2 (at the end of July, we are told in Uganda), and the winner of that Africa/Asia playoff will head to the Final Qualification Tournament, which is going to be held from 8–18 November 2025 at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai.

Hong Kong China Men are currently ranked 23rd in World Rugby’s global rankings, followed by Korea in 35th, Sri Lanka in 39th, and the UAE in 50th.

In last year’s championship, the Hong Kong China men were undefeated and racked up more than 180 points while only conceding two tries to claim a fifth consecutive Asia Rugby title.

We Look at Each Team in the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025

Hong Kong China

Photo Credit- HKCR – Andrew Douglas – Hong Kong China Men’s XV Head Coach AREMC 2025

The union has fully contracted a group of players, and they had camps with the Brumbies in April and in Japan playing a Japan XV side. They are also building depth with the relaunch of the Dragons programme, and the Hong Kong China men are favourites to win the Championship, but they are trying to avoid any complacency, knowing what is at stake.

In 2024, they beat the UAE 52-5, Malaysia 70-6, and Korea 62-7, toured South America and hosted Brazil across two tests.

Hong Kong China Men’s 15s Head Coach, Andrew Douglas said, “This year’s Asia Rugby Championship is hugely important for our men’s 15s programme, with the reward of an automatic qualification spot for the Rugby World Cup a real game changer for the winners.

Our coaching team has been preparing the squad for the best part of a year now to put us in the best possible position for the campaign. This includes last summer’s three-match tour to South America, our two-match autumn series against Brazil in Hong Kong, and supporting our players through a full season of domestic Premiership rugby.”

Hong Kong China 7s players such as Max Denmark, Harry Sayers, James Christie and others have been in the mix at training and on tour, and most of their small group of players who ply their trade overseas will be back.

They have a tough draw and play UAE away first and Korea away last, but they should have the depth and quality to overcome the regional challengers.

Photo Credit – HKCR Preparation for Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025 vs Japan XV

You can see more in our collaboration article with HKCR.

Team Management: 

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

Players 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship

1. Sunia FAMEITAU (HKU Sandy Bay)
2. Rory CINNAMOND (HKU Sandy Bay)
3. James HOLMES (Kowloon)
4. Zacceus CINNAMOND (HKU Sandy Bay)
5. Faizal SOLOMONA PENESA (HK Scottish)
6. Keelan CHAPMAN (Hong Kong Football Club)
7. Alexander POST (Richmond)
8. Calum SCOTT (London Scottish)
9. LAM Jak Shing (HKU Sandy Bay)
10. Harry BARON (HK Scottish)
11. Patrick JENKINSON (Hong Kong Football Club)
12. Kyle SULLIVAN (USRC Tigers) Mark PRIOR (HKU Sandy Bay)
13. Jamie PINCOTT (HK Scottish)
14. Tyler McNUTT (Hong Kong Football Club)
15. Callum McCULLOUGH (Hong Kong Football Club)
16. Pierce MACKINLAY-WEST (Hong Kong Football Club)
17. James SAWYER (Kowloon)
18. Joshua HRSTICH © (Hong Kong Football Club)
19. Luke VAN DER SMIT (Valley)
20. Jack BARTLETT (Hong Kong Football Club)
21. Jamie LAUDER (Hong Kong Football Club)
22. Jack COMBES (USRC Tigers)
23. Gregor McNEISH (HK Scottish)
24. Nathan DE THIERRY (Hunter Wildfires)
25. Joseph BARKER (Kowloon)
26. Julien BOURRON (Hong Kong Football Club)
27. Thomas HILL (Hong Kong Football Club)
28. Ben AXTEN-BURRETT (Hong Kong Football Club)
29. Jack ABBOTT (Hong Kong Football Club)
30. Guy SPANTON (HKU Sandy Bay)
31. Maxwell THRELKELD (HKU Sandy Bay)
32. Liam HERBERT (USRC Tigers)
33. Harry SAYERS (Valley)
34. Paul ALTIER (SOC Rugby)
35. Murray BRECHIN (Hong Kong Football Club)
36. Max DENMARK (Hong Kong Football Club)
37. Matt WORLEY (Bedford Blues RFC)
38. Matteo AVITABILE (Hong Kong Football Club)
39. James CHRISTIE (HK Scottish)
40. Ben SHELDON (Kowloon)
41. Alessandro NARDONI (HK Scottish)
42. Anthony COEBERGH (Hong Kong Football Club)
43. Dylan WHITE (Kowloon)
44. Max MURPHY (Richmond)
45. Brandon BELLAMIN (HKU Sandy Bay)
46. Mikkel CHRISTENSEN (HK Scottish)

Our Prediction – 1st

Photo Credit – HKCR – 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship Squad

UAE

The United Arab Emirates men’s XV were the surprise package in 2024, and they went to Kenya to play a preparation match in May 2025, which they lost 54–24 in Nairobi.  The side has been in camp and has a reasonable championship draw, and if they have improved their conditioning, they could be a tougher challenge in this championship.

They play the defending champions first at home and it will the litmus test of how far they have come.

Our Prediction – 2nd

Photo Credit – Lens Eye Image

South Korea

Since the change of leadership at the Korea Rugby Union earlier in 2025, it’s hard to figure out which team will be taking the field in the championship. Extended squads had spent a long time preparing in Japan and following on from the disappointment of losing to the UAE in 2024 and ending up 3rd overall in last year’s AREMC.

With a favourable draw in 2025, you would think they would have got their house in order and really challenge Hong Kong China for RWC 2027 qualification.

Due to the ongoing politics and no substantial preparation matches, and even though they host both HKCR and UAE, we think they might struggle. Former President Choi Yoon and current President Sim Yeong Bok seem to be at loggerheads, and even the domestic Songhwa National Spring Rugby League was cancelled following the Chungmugi National Rugby Championship, which was criticised by domestic teams.

The Korean squad for the AREMC 2025 will be captained by a former Kubota Spears player, prop Na Kwan Young, who now plays at KEPCO. The squad has been training with Head Coach  Lee Myung Geun, who has been in charge since the 2022 AREMC.

A translated quote from Korean media, via Korea Rugby Association President Sim Yeong Bok, said: “The players are focusing on building stronger organisational skills and game skills through this intensive training, and I hope that during the intensive training period, the players will improve not only their individual skills but also their teamwork and understanding of tactics, and grow into a team with the best competitiveness in Asia.”

Asie Rugby reported that only 5 in the 2025 squad were involved in last year’s championship.

Photo Credit:  Ike Images

Korea Squad – 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship

• Na Kwan Young (KEPCO, 23 caps) Captain
• Kim Jeep (KEPCO, 18 caps)
• Choi Ho Young (Sangmu, 8 caps)
• Kang Soon Hyuck (POSCO, 9 caps)
• Jang Seok Hwan (KEPCO, 9 caps)
• Yang Dae Young (Hyundai Glovis, 7 caps)
• Noh Ok Gi (KEPCO, 7 caps)
• Choi Seong Deok (KEPCO, 6 caps)
• Park Jun Young (KEPCO, 2 caps)
• Lee Geon (KEPCO, 5 caps)
• Chae Min Seong (POSCO, 3 caps)
• Kim Ki Min (KEPCO, 7 caps)
• Kim Nam Uk (KEPCO, 27 caps)
• Lee Jin Kyu (Hyundai Glovis, 3 caps)
• Kim Won Ju (Korea Univ., 0 caps)
• Jeong Yeon Sik (Hyundai Glovis, 18 caps)
• Chang Yong Heung (KEPCO, 12 caps)
• Jang Hyun Goo (Sangmu, 1 cap)
• Hwang In Bum (POSCO, 1 cap)
• Lee Hyun Soo (KEPCO, 7 caps)
• Lee Hyeon Je (Hyundai Glovis, 3 caps)
• Hwang Jeong Wook (Hyundai Glovis, 4 caps)
• Jang Jeong Min (KEPCO, 13 caps)

Our Prediction – 3rd

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka Men’s national XV team, known as the Tuskers, returned to Asia’s top-tier competition after beating Malaysia 59–19 in the April  2025 playoff at Colombo’s Racecourse Stadium.

They then hosted the touring NZ U85Kg team in two matches, both of which they lost. Since then, things have gone from bad to worse. The national team coach, Sanath Martis, quit following public criticism, the players had not been paid and formed a new Sri Lanka Rugby Players Association (SLRPA), while former Sports Ministry officials have been in the courts, fined and sentenced.

Sri Lanka Rugby Director Inthi Marikar appointed former All Blacks Sevens and Black Ferns XV Assistant Coach Rodney Gibbs (GM High Performance – Bay of Plenty Rugby) as the new head coach for the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship.

He has been tasked with selecting a 40-man squad to prepare for the championship, with no further international warm-up matches announced. They have also been looking beyond their borders, and local media reported that Australian-born but Sri Lankan-eligible Adam Gouder is in the mix.

Former Sri Lankan player and current CR & FC and Royal College head coach Dushanth Lewke is the forwards and former CR & FC and national player Lasintha De Costa is the backs coach.

Our Prediction – 4th

Sri Lanka Men’s XV 2025 prepare for Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025 vs NZ U85KG

Match Official Appointments – 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship

The appointed referees and assistant referees for the tournament were confirmed by Asia Rugby on 31 May 2025. There are appointments from the UAE Rugby Federation (UAERF), Japan Rugby Football Union (JRFU), Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR), Korea Rugby Union (KRU), and Thailand Rugby Union (TRU).

Tournament Director Ghaith Jalajel, Asia Rugby’s Competitions Manager, will oversee the event, while Referee Manager Dilroy Fernando will supervise all officiating operations during the tournament.

13 June – The Racecourse Ground, Colombo: Sri Lanka v Korea

• Referee: J.P. Clement (UAERF)
• Assistant Referees: Jaco de Witt (UAERF), Jriji Aymen (SARF)
• TMO: Tony Duminy (UAERF)
• Performance Reviewer: Shane Barr
• Kickoff: 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)

14 June – Sevens Stadium, Dubai: UAE v Hong Kong China

• Referee: Katsuki Furuse (JRFU)
• Assistant Referees: Takehito Namekawa, Koki Yamauchi (JRFU)
• TMO: Tasuku Kawahara (JRFU)
• Performance Reviewer: Simon Dodd
• Kickoff: 19:30 local (15:30 GMT)

21 June – Incheon: Korea v UAE

• Referee: Morgan White (HKCR)
• Assistant Referees: Craig Chan, Francesco Cammisa (HKCR)
• TMO: Shane Barr (HKCR)
• Performance Reviewer: Peter Hudson
• Kickoff: 15:00 local (06:00 GMT)

22 June – Hong Kong Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground: Hong Kong China v Sri Lanka

• Referee: Takehito Namekawa (JRFU)
• Assistant Referees: Ibuki Tetsuka (JRFU), Top Dechdanai (TRU)
• TMO: Tasuku Kawahara (JRFU)
• Performance Reviewer: Simon Dodd (UAERF)
• Kickoff: 16:30 local (08:30 GMT)

4 July – Colombo: Sri Lanka v UAE

• Referee: Craig Chan (HKCR)
• Assistant Referees: Matt Rodden, Sunny Lee (HKCR)
• TMO: Simon Dodd (UAERF)
• Performance Reviewers: Dilroy Fernando, Dewi Rowlands
• Kickoff: 16:00 local (10:30 GMT)

5 July – Incheon: Korea v Hong Kong China

• Referee: Ibuki Tetsuka (JRFU)
• Assistant Referees: Koki Yamauchi, Tetsuya Hirakawa (JRFU)
• TMO: Tasuku Kawahara (JRFU)
• Performance Reviewers: Peter Hudson, Tasuku Kawahara
• Kickoff: 15:00 local (06:00 GMT)

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.

We will be publishing match previews and conducting interviews with teams during the AREMC 2025, so stay tuned!

International Rugby News 2025

• World Rugby U20 Championship 2025 Match Officials Announced.
• Japan Sakura 15s Taiyo Life JAPAN RUGBY CHALLENGE SERIES 2025 Against Spain.
• Japan Sakura Fifteens and Brave Blossoms 2025 Domestic Fixtures Announced.
• Hong Kong China Men Will Play Sri Lanka at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground For AREMC 2025.