Hong Kong China’s Rugby World Cup training squad have named a refreshed 23-man match-day squad for their second fixture against Japan Select tomorrow in Fukuoka. With the management team intent on taking advantage of these warm-up friendlies to rotate their squads in Japan, several changes have been made following last week’s loss in the series opener in Ōita.

No.8 and captain Josh Hrstich will lead the group tomorrow from the opening whistle after coming off the reserves bench in game one.

Wing Charles Higson-Smith and flanker Dana Fourie are also both named to the starting line-up after strong performances for Hong Kong at the Asia Rugby Championship last Saturday in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Fourie, who made his Hong Kong debut in Sri Lanka, will partner Hrstich and James Sawyer, another addition to the squad after sitting out game one, in the back row against Japan Select.

Max Murphy comes into the second row for his first action of the Series to partner James Rivers, who earns the start for game two at lock after coming off the bench last week. Zac Cinnamond comes into the matchday 23 to join brother Rory as starting props for hooker Harry Baron.

The backline has also undergone targeted changes with the experienced Tom Hill coming into the starting XV to partner former Hong Kong U20s captain Max Threlkeld in the centres, while Paul Altier joins the back three along with Higson-Smith and Harry Sayers, who also started match one. Brendon Nell will start match two at scrumhalf partnering Matteo Avitabile, who also came off the bench in the opener.

The Japan series represents a critical benchmark for the programme, providing a consistent, high-quality test of performance against a known opponent. With back-to-back fixtures offering a rare opportunity to measure, review, and re-test, the tour is serving as a litmus test for player readiness, for head coach Logan Asplin.

“Playing them twice is actually really important, and we learn a lot from it. For some of our guys who don’t play at this high intensity often, it’s a really good litmus test. We have to work out which guys can handle the pace,” Asplin added.

Hong Kong China Select XV vs Japan Select (29 May 2026):

1. Rory CINNAMOND; 2. Harry BARON, 3. Zac CINNAMOND, 4. Max MURPHY, 5. James RIVERS; 6. Dana FOURIE; 7. James SAWYER; 8. Josh HRSTICH (Captain); 9. Brendon NELL; 10. Matteo AVITABILE; 11. Harry SAYERS, 12. Tom HILL, 13. Max THRELKELD, 14. Charles HIGSON-SMITH; 15. Paul ALTIER; 16. Harrison KING, 17. Sunia FAMEITAU; 18. Keelan CHAPMAN; 19. Lachlan DOHENY, 20. Tyler MCNUTT; 21. CHUI Wai Lap (Eric); 22. Joe BARKER 23. Marcus RAMAGE.

SQUAD NAMED FOR REMATCH VERSUS JAPAN SELECT XV

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