Hong Kong rugby duo dream of World Cup debut against hosts Australia

A year from now, on 1 October 2027, Perth Stadium will host 61,000 fans and a global television audience for the opening match of the Rugby World Cup, as hosts Australia face first-time finalists Hong Kong China.

Among the Hong Kong squad are Jack Combes and Alex Post, two players whose careers have largely unfolded in England's lower semi-professional leagues rather than under the spotlight of elite rugby. The team secured its World Cup place with a win over South Korea in the Asia Rugby Championship final, before a notable 42-40 victory over fellow finalists Uruguay in July underlined their progress.

At the World Cup, Hong Kong will face a daunting Pool A alongside hosts Australia, Chile and New Zealand's All Blacks. Despite the scale of the challenge, both players remain positive. Combes, a former teacher who later became a full-time sevens player, said simply qualifying and playing in the opening match already felt like a dream come true.

Post, who made his international debut a decade ago, was until recently playing for Richmond in England's Championship while also working as a financial analyst. The Covid pandemic ended his earlier full-time rugby career and led him to pursue a Masters degree at Oxford University. Now on a full-time contract with Hong Kong, he has relocated with his family to focus entirely on preparations for the tournament.

Both players were born in Hong Kong and came through its age-grade rugby system, which traces back nearly seven decades and has been bolstered by the territory's long-running sevens tradition. The team has faced criticism over the international background of some squad members, but both players believe success at the World Cup could inspire a new generation of players in Hong Kong.

Before the tournament, Hong Kong China will test themselves against the USA, Canada and Tonga in the Nations Cup next month, a key step in their preparation for the global stage.