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PUBLISHED ON 12 JUL 2026
A never-say-die Hong Kong China Rugby XV (HKCR) that played much of the match a man down lost to Rugby World Cup 2027 pool opponents Chile last night in Viña del Mar, 38-17, at the World Rugby Nations Cup in South America.
A chronic lack of discipline from Hong Kong China, who conceded four yellow cards (two in the opening half, including a double-yellow red card to Lachlan Doheny triggering a mandatory 20-minute suspension), and played much of the match at 14 players against 15, left the visitors with too much work to do down the stretch as they fell to a second straight defeat in South America.
Despite being outplayed for much of the first half, Hong Kong trailed just 19-17 at the break.
Ranked five spots ahead of Hong Kong China at 18th in the world coming in to the match, Chile looked to put Hong Kong to the sword early with their favourite scoring move: the driving maul from the lineout.
After a frenetic start in front of their fervent home supporters, Chile forced Hong Kong to concede a penalty try after just nine minutes. That penalty try was accompanied by a first yellow to Doheny as Chile leapt ahead 7-0.
Fullback Paul Altier continued his steady performance at the Nations Cup with two key line-breaks that launched Hong Kong’s few scoring forays in the opening quarter. Altier was also solid with the boot, scoring a penalty from halfway after 12 minutes to pull a short-handed Hong Kong XV back to 7-3 down.
Chile replied with a second driving maul try a moment later as they pushed the lead to 12-3. With the hosts queuing up for attacks on Hong Kong’s line, prop Zac Cinnamond was forced to concede a professional foul and was then sin-binned on the 20-minute marker. Despite the second numerical disadvantage, Hong Kong grew into the game late in the half, growing more patient in attack and shoring up its defensive effort as the match progressed.
Veteran hooker Alex Post crashed over the line to cap a well-worked offensive build-up and claim the second short-handed try in as many weeks as Hong Kong pulled back to 10-12 after Altier’s conversion.
In the 35th minute Doheny was shown a second yellow for a high tackle and was suspended for 20-minutes, leaving Hong Kong a man down before and after the half-time break. Chile made Doheny’s suspension count a minute later with a third try through the forward pack as they brought their numerical advantage thundering home to push the lead to 19-10.
With Chile running rampant and Hong Kong’s forwards struggling to maintain parity, it looked as if the hosts would run away with matters - but a beautiful solo effort try from scrumhalf Jack Combes, who impressed for a second straight outing with his attacking sense, kept Hong Kong in the thick of the battle.
Combes charged down a clearance kick by his opposite number before the Kitchee FC prospect managed to dribble the ball through defence and touch down ahead of the dead ball line. Altier’s conversion closed the gap to 19-17 before the break.
But when the second half resumed it was clear that the immense effort needed by Hong Kong to hold Chile in check was taking its toll as Chile eased away late in the game. Aided by two more yellow cards against James Sawyer and Harry Sayers in the final half Chile were able to post four more tries down the stretch while holding Hong Kong China off the board for a 38-17 win.
One of the bright spots on the day was the return of captain Josh Hrstich from a non-rugby related injury. The gritty No.8 was involved throughout and helped improve Hong Kong China’s defensive effort and tackle rate after a poor showing against Samoa.
With these two teams in the same pool at Rugby World Cup 2027, Hrstich neatly summed up the scenario for Hong Kong China Rugby when the two sides face off again next year in Australia:
“Credit to Chile, they are class and they forced us into those mistakes. I am just really proud of my guys' effort to keep battling back against adversity and hold a pretty handy Chile side to that scoreline with giving away that many penalties and that many cards. If we can go fifteen on fifteen with these blokes it is going to be a hell of a match in Townsville, and we are really, really looking forward to it, ” said Hrstich.
WORLD RUGBY NATIONS CUP 2026 HONG KONG CHINA RUGBY XV vs CHILE (11 JULY)
1.Rory CINNAMOND, 2. Alexander POST, 3. Zac CINNAMOND, 4. Lachlan DOHENY, 5. Kyle SULLIVAN, 6. Tyler McNUTT, 7. Pierce MACKINLAY-WEST, 8. Josh HRSTICH (Captain), 9. Jack COMBES, 10. Joe BARKER, 11. Harry SAYER, 12. Isaac CAMPBELL-WU, 13. Max THRELKELD, 14. Marcus RAMAGE, 15. Paul ALTIER, 16. Callum SCOTT; 17. Sunia FAMEITAU, 18. Keelan CHAPMAN, 19. James RIVERS* 20. James SAWYER, 21. Brendon NELL, 22. Matteo AVATABILE, 23. Matthew WORLEY
Team Management
Manager: Charles CHEUNG
Head Coach: Logan ASPLIN
Head of Technical Rugby: Andrew DOUGLAS
Coaches: Lewis WILSON; Kane HAMES; Marno MEYER
S&C Coaches: Liam McSTAY; Madison HUNTING
Physiotherapists: Henry ELLIOTT; Stephen MUTCH
Analyst: Andy YUEN