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Planning is underway for Hong Kong to tour South America in July 2024. The no2 ranked Asian side is lining up a tour with Chile being an opponent. The two match tour is yet to be made official. Plans are, nonetheless, for Hong Kong to play two test matches against different teams.
Chilean Head Coach Pablo Lemoine let the cat out of the bag by saying that Los Cóndores’ test match against Hong Kong is confirmed. ARN can confirm that the fixture is being prepared but it not yet finalized. The same is true of Hong Kong’s second match in South America. ARN can also confirm that the other match in South America will not be against Chile, Uruguay or Argentina.
Hong Kong will provide Chile with a second taste of Asian opposition in as many years. Los Cóndores made their World Cup debut against Japan in Toulouse last year. Chile offered plenty of enterprise and delighted the paying fans in attendance.
Chile’s 2024 match against Hong Kong will not be a new fixture. To the contrary, Chile faced Hong Kong in 2017 as part of the Nations Cup. The Asians defeated the South Americans 13-6 with the scrum being a key factor.
By facing Hong Kong in July, Chile will have played test match rugby against the top three Asian sides over the course of an eight year period. Chile played host to South Korea for a two match tour in November 2016. Chile won the first match 30-12 before South Korea completed a remarkable comeback to overturn a 31 point deficit and win 38-36 in Santiago.
Chile’s Rugby World Cup 2023 captain Martín Sigren made his test debut in the first test match against South Korea in 2016. Other World Cup names involved in that series include Tomás Dussaillant, Juan Pablo Larenas, and Rodrigo Fernández.
Chile’s July 2024 internationals remain unconfirmed. Work is underway not only for Chile to face Hong Kong but also to face Scotland. The Scots are to tour North America with test matches soon to be revealed against Canada and the USA. Chile is seeking to add a match with Scotland interested in making it a three-match-tour which includes one South American date.
