Hong Kong national rugby league team

Last updated

Hong Kong
Hong Kong RL.png
Team information
NicknameThunder
Governing body Hong Kong Rugby League
RegionAsia Pacific
Head coachMatthew Jones
CaptainJason Chung Kan Yip
Most caps Toby Lei (8)
Top try-scorerBen Ryan (5)
Top point-scorerRichard Lindsay (30)
IRL ranking 48th
Uniforms
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body Vwidered.png
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
Team results
First international
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 22–24 Japan  Flag of Japan.svg
(Kowloon, Hong Kong; 4 November 2017)
Biggest win
Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 20–34 Hong Kong  Flag of Hong Kong.svg
(Pasig, Philippines; 1 December 2024)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 6–62 Poland  Flag of Poland.svg
(St Mary's Stadium, Australia; 4 October 2018)
World Cup
Appearances0
Hong Kong playing Poland in 2018 Poland v Hong Kong ENWC 2018 (2).jpg
Hong Kong playing Poland in 2018

The Hong Kong national rugby league team represents Hong Kong in the sport of rugby league.

Contents

Hong Kong is ranked 48th in the world, as of July 2025. [1]

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 [2] and the inaugural Hong Kong Super League being contested in 2017. [3]

Hong Kong made its Test debut in November 2017, losing to Japan in Kowloon. [4] Hong Kong plays Japan for a trophy called the East Asia Cup.

Ben Ryan scored the first try for Hong Kong during their debut international against Japan.[ citation needed ]

Hong Kong was included in the RLIF world rankings for the first time in December 2017. [5]

The COVID-19 pandemic distrupted the conduct of rugby league in Hong Kong. The national team returned for the 2024 East Asia Cup after six years of hiatus. [6] [7]

Current squad

Squad selected for 2024 East Asia Cup

IRL Rankings

IRL Men's World Rankings
Official rankings as of July 2025
RankChangeTeamPts %
1Steady2.svgFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 100
2Steady2.svgFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 83
3Steady2.svgFlag of England.svg  England 80
4Steady2.svgFlag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 62
5Steady2.svgFlag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 53
6Steady2.svgFlag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 51
7Steady2.svgFlag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 43
8Steady2.svgFlag of France.svg  France 29
9Increase2.svg 2Flag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 22
10Steady2.svgFlag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 22
11Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 18
12Steady2.svgFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 18
13Steady2.svgFlag of Malta.svg  Malta 16
14Increase2.svg 1Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 14
15Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 13
16Steady2.svgFlag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 11
17Steady2.svgFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 10
18Steady2.svgFour Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 9
19Increase2.svg 5Flag of the United States.svg  United States 8
20Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 8
21Decrease2.svg 1Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 8
22Steady2.svgFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 7
23Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 7
24Decrease2.svg 1Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 7
25Steady2.svgFlag of Poland.svg  Poland 5
26Increase2.svg 1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany 5
27Increase2.svg 1Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 5
28Decrease2.svg 2Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 5
29Steady2.svgFlag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 4
30Steady2.svgFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 4
31Steady2.svgFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 4
32Steady2.svgFlag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 3
33Steady2.svgFlag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 3
34Increase2.svg 22Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 3
35Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 3
36Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 2
37Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 2
38Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 2
39Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 2
40Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 1
41Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 1
42Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1
43Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 1
44Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 1
45Decrease2.svg 1Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 0
46Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Russia.svg  Russia 0
47Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
48Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 0
49Decrease2.svg 1Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 0
50Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 0
51Increase2.svg 6Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 0
52Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 0
53Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 0
54Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 0
55Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 0
56Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 0
57Decrease2.svg 7Flag of Niue.svg  Niue 0
Complete rankings at
www.internationalrugbyleague.com

References

  1. ↑ "IRL - World Rankings". International Rugby League. Archived from the original on 29 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  2. ↑ "Hong Kong Rugby League launched". Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation. 15 December 2014. Archived from the original on 12 December 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  3. ↑ "HKRL announce inaugural Super League competition". Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation. 9 May 2017. Archived from the original on 12 December 2017. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  4. ↑ "Brave Hong Kong lose narrowly against Japan in historic encounter". Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 11 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "PNG climbs to 10th place in World Rugby League Ranking". Papua New Guinea Today. 12 December 2017.
  6. ↑ "Inaugural Asian Championships to open new frontier for game". National Rugby League. 13 October 2025. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  7. ↑ "East Asia Cup 2024: Hong Kong 14, Japan 24". BC magazine. 14 October 2024. Retrieved 14 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "Andrew Welling". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  9. ↑ "HK Residents XIII 2017 Squad announced". Hong Kong Rugby League. Retrieved 23 January 2025.
  10. ↑ "Alumnus makes international rugby league debut for Hong Kong". Loughborough University . 17 December 2024. Archived from the original on 8 July 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  11. ↑ Haines, Oliver (25 October 2024). "Callum Man: From Kennet School to Hong Kong Rugby League". Newbury Today. Archived from the original on 6 March 2025. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  12. ↑ "Callum Man". Rugby League Project.
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