Hong Kong national rugby league team
{{short description|none}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox rugby league representative team
| Name = Hong Kong
| Badge = Hong Kong RL.png
| Badge_size =
| Nickname = Thunder
| Governing body = Hong Kong Rugby League
| Region = Asia Pacific
| Coach = Matthew Jones
| Captain = Jason Chung Kan Yip
| RLIF Rank = 47
| Most caps = Toby Lei (7)
| Most caps2 = Gus Spence (7)
| First try-scorer = Ben ryan
| Top try-scorer = Ben Ryan (5)
| Top point-scorer = Richard Lindsay (30)
| pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_Vwidered|pattern_ra1=
| leftarm1=003284|body1=003284|rightarm1=003284|shorts1=003284|socks1=003284
| First international= {{rl|Hong Kong}} 22-24 {{rl-rt|Japan}}
(Kowloon, Hong Kong; 4 November 2017)
| Largest win = {{rl|Japan}} 20-32 {{rl-rt|Hong Kong}}
(Inagi, Tokyo; 16 June 2018)
| Largest loss = {{rl|Hong Kong}} 6-62 {{rl-rt|Poland}}
(St Mary's Stadium, Australia; 4 October 2018)
| World cup apps = 0
| World cup first =
| World cup best =
}}
File:Poland v Hong Kong ENWC 2018 (2).jpg
The Hong Kong national rugby league team represents Hong Kong in the sport of rugby league.
History
The Hong Kong Rugby League (HKRL) was formed in December 2014, with the first official rugby league matches in Hong Kong being played in 2015[http://www.asiapacificrl.com/2014/12/15/hong-kong-rugby-league-launched/ Hong Kong Rugby League launched] and the inaugural Hong Kong Super League being contested in 2017.[http://www.asiapacificrl.com/2017/05/09/hkrl-announce-inaugural-super-league-competition/ HKRL announce inaugural Super League competition]
Hong Kong made its Test debut in November 2017, losing to Japan in Kowloon.[http://www.asiapacificrl.com/2017/11/07/brave-hong-kong-lose-narrowly-japan-historic-encounter/ Brave Hong Kong lose narrowly against Japan in historic encounter] Hong Kong plays Japan for a trophy called the East Asia Cup.
Hong Kong was included in the RLIF world rankings for the first time in December 2017.[http://news.pngfacts.com/2017/12/png-climbs-to-10th-place-in-world-rugby.html PNG climbs to 10th place in World Rugby League Ranking] Hong Kong is currently ranked 47th in the world.{{Cite web|url=https://www.intrl.sport/world-rankings |title=IRL - World Rankings |website=International Rugby League |language=en |access-date=29 December 2024}}
Ben Ryan scored the first try for Hong Kong during their debut international against Japan. He also told fellow international Rugby League player Latrel Mitchell about it in Port Macquarie.
After a 6 year hiatus due to COVID - HKRL will be returning to the International scene with a East Asia Cup game vs Japan in October 2024.
Current squad
Squad selected for 2024 East Asia Cup
- Andrew Welling{{Cite web |title=Andrew Welling - Playing Career - RLP |url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/andrew-welling/summary.html |access-date=2025-01-23 |website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org}}{{Cite web |title=HK Residents XIII 2017 Squad announced – Hong Kong Rugby League |url=http://hongkongrugbyleague.com/blog/2017/03/15/hk-residents-xiii-2017-squad-announced/ |access-date=2025-01-23 |language=en-AU}}
- Au Chi Wai
- Blake Atherton
- Callum Man
- Conan Freeman
- Dan Chui
- Gus Spence
- Doug O’Donnell
- Jason Yip
- Kenta Brown
- Matthew Jones
- Nelson Chan
- Tommy Lee
- Toby Lei
- Tommy Wong
- Hogan Toomalatai
IRL Rankings
{{RLIF World Rankings|Hong Kong}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://hongkongrugbyleague.com/}}
{{International Rugby League}}
{{National sports teams of Hong Kong}}