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 (7)
Gus Spence (7)
Top try-scorerBen Ryan (5)
Top point-scorerRichard Lindsay (30)
IRL ranking 50th
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 Japan.svg  Japan 20-32 Hong Kong  Flag of Hong Kong.svg
(Inagi, Tokyo; 16 June 2018)
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

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

Hong Kong made its Test debut in November 2017, losing to Japan in Kowloon. [3] 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. [4] Hong Kong is currently ranked 45th in the world. [5]

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

IRL Rankings

Official rankings as of 30 June 2024
RankChangeTeamPts %
1Steady2.svgFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 100
2Steady2.svgFlag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 82
3Steady2.svgFlag of England.svg  England 80
4Steady2.svgFlag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 67
5Steady2.svgFlag of Tonga.svg  Tonga 49
6Increase2.svg 1Flag of Fiji.svg  Fiji 47
7Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Papua New Guinea.svg  Papua New Guinea 46
8Steady2.svgFlag of France.svg  France 28
9Steady2.svgFlag of Lebanon.svg  Lebanon 22
10Steady2.svgFlag of the Cook Islands.svg  Cook Islands 20
11Steady2.svgFlag of Serbia.svg  Serbia 19
12Steady2.svgFlag of the Netherlands.svg  Netherlands 17
13Steady2.svgFlag of Italy.svg  Italy 15
14Increase2.svg 1Flag of Greece.svg  Greece 15
15Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Malta.svg  Malta 14
16Steady2.svgFour Provinces Flag.svg  Ireland 14
17Steady2.svgFlag of Wales (1959-present).svg  Wales 13
18Steady2.svgFlag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica 10
19Steady2.svgFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland 9
20Steady2.svgFlag of Ukraine.svg  Ukraine 7
21Steady2.svgFlag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czech Republic 7
22Steady2.svgFlag of Germany.svg  Germany 6
23Increase2.svg 3Flag of Chile.svg  Chile 6
24Steady2.svgFlag of Poland.svg  Poland 6
25Increase2.svg 3Flag of Norway.svg  Norway 6
26Increase2.svg 1Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 5
27Decrease2.svg 4Flag of the Philippines.svg  Philippines 5
28Decrease2.svg 3Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 4
29Steady2.svgFlag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 4
30Steady2.svgFlag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 4
31Increase2.svg 2Flag of the United States.svg  United States 4
32Increase2.svg 4Flag of Montenegro.svg  Montenegro 4
33Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Brazil.svg  Brazil 3
34Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Turkey.svg  Turkey 3
35Increase2.svg 7Flag of North Macedonia.svg  North Macedonia 3
36Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Bulgaria.svg  Bulgaria 3
37Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 2
38Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Spain.svg  Spain 2
39Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1
40Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Albania.svg  Albania 1
41Increase2.svg 5Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 1
42Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia 1
43Decrease2.svg 2Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador 1
44Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 1
45New.pngFlag of Russia.svg  Russia 0
46Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 0
47Decrease2.svg 2Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg  Bosnia and Herzegovina 0
48Increase2.svg 2Flag of Hungary.svg  Hungary 0
49Increase2.svg 3Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina 0
50New.pngFlag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 0
51Decrease2.svg 3Flag of the Solomon Islands.svg  Solomon Islands 0
52Decrease2.svg 5Flag of Niue.svg  Niue 0
53Increase2.svg 1Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia 0
54Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark 0
55Decrease2.svg 6Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium 0
56Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Estonia.svg  Estonia 0
57Decrease2.svg 6Flag of Vanuatu.svg  Vanuatu 0
Complete rankings at INTRL.SPORT

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References

  1. Hong Kong Rugby League launched
  2. HKRL announce inaugural Super League competition
  3. Brave Hong Kong lose narrowly against Japan in historic encounter
  4. PNG climbs to 10th place in World Rugby League Ranking
  5. "RLIF - Rugby League International Federation". www.rlif.com. Retrieved 31 July 2018.