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Hong Kong coach Leigh Jones has named a 35-strong training squad to prepare for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers in Marseille. As expected the team is largely comprised of expats with seven uncapped players named in the extended group. The roster will be trimmed to 30 prior to departure for Europe.
The Dragons will play two warm-up matches in Wales prior to the all-important Repechage competition. A match against Dragons Development – the Welsh regional side – at Ebbw Vale is scheduled for Monday, October 29, followed by a trip to The Gnoll at Neath to play Welsh invitational side Crawshays on Friday, November 2.
James Cunningham has been named captain, recently selected at lock but also a back row option. French No8 Thomas Lamboley is included as expected and there is a Canadian connection in hooker Alex Post, who represented the Ontario Arrows earlier this year. Post is one of four hookers in the squad and the only player currently based abroad.
South African provincial tighthead Grant Kemp is set to debut, one of three new forwards along with former Melbourne Rising hooker Mitch Andrews and Cardiff lineout specialist Craig Lodge. Another Cardiff export is scrumhalf Bryn Phillips, with Plymouth Albion alumni Ben Axten-Burrett and Lewis Warner named in the midfield. Former Manawatu Turbos fullback Casey Stone is set to debut at the age of 33.
Many of the side are part of Hong Kong’s Elite Rugby Program which sees them train as full-time professionals. Hong Kong enter the round-robin tournament as the highest-ranked competitor and will face Germany, Kenya, and Canada with the winner earning the final spot in the 2019 World Cup.
A detailed squad list can be seen here.
FORWARDS
Dan Barlow (Tigers), Ben Higgins (Valley), Grant Kemp (Valley), Callum McFeat-Smith (HKFC), Jack Parfitt (HK Scottish), Dylan Rogers (HKCC), Mitch Andrews (HKFC), Dayne Jans (HK Scottish), Alex Post (Esher, UK), Ben Roberts (UKCC), James Cunningham (capt., Kowloon), Jack Delaforce (Sandy Bay), Fin Field (HKCC), Craig Lodge (Tigers), Michael Parfitt (HK Scottish), Kane Boucaut (HK Scottish), Michael Coverdale (HKFC), Toby Fenn (Valley), Nick Hewson (Valley), Thomas Lamboley (Valley)
BACKS
Jamie Hood (HKFC), Jamie Lauder (HKFC), Bryn Phillips (Kowloon), Liam Slatem (Sandy Bay), Ben Rimene (Valley), Matthew Rosslee (Valley), Ben Axten-Burrett (HKFC), Tyler Spitz (Tigers), Lewis Warner (Kowloon), Max Woodward (Valley), Max Denmark (HKFC), Conor Hartley (HK Scottish), Kam-Shing Yiu (Tigers), Alex McQueen (HKCC), Casey Stone (Tigers)
