Hong Kong will host another major rugby tournament this year, with the game’s governing body awarding the city the WXV Challenger in September.
The two-week tournament featuring the best women’s teams in the world, including Hong Kong, is expected to be held at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Stadium.
Announcing the decision on Sunday on the sidelines of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson called WXV a “very important tournament” for his organisation.
Robinson also confirmed that Hong Kong will host a Nations Cup match later this year. The game, which is part of the preparations for the 2027 World Cup, may involve Tonga taking on the city’s men in November.
Hosting two separate events was evidence of Hong Kong’s “increasing influence as an important global player”, Robinson added.
“This is very exciting for us,” James Farndon, CEO of Hong Kong China Rugby, said. “Our women’s team is very excited to represent Hong Kong and to have a competition of this caliber on home soil is huge for us.”
