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The draw for Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 saw Japan grouped in Pool E with France, Samoa, and the USA, while newcomers to the Men’s Rugby World Cup, Hong Kong China, will face a baptism of fire in Pool A alongside the hosts, Australia, as well as three-time RWC winners New Zealand, and Chile.
With the pools confirmed, we all now wait for the final schedule due to be released in February 2026, but for Hong Kong China, they can logically assume their first game will be against Chile as Australia and New Zealand will kick off the Men’s Tournament in Perth.
Both Head Coach Logan Asplin and captain Joshua Hrstich are New Zealand born and were brimming with excitement at the prospect of playing both the All Blacks and the Wallabies.
Asplin, who previously coached at renowned Hamilton Boys High, and has been in Hong Kong for the past few years being promoted to the Head Coach role of the Hong Kong China men after they achieved RWC 2027 qualification, said. “There's a bit of buzz in the room. For me and Josh it's even more significant being Kiwis ourselves. For our players, playing the All Blacks is a massive task and a massive opportunity. To also play the hosts, as daunting as it is, you couldn't have scripted it better.”
The national team has never played either side but they have faced Chile, as recently as in 2024 and it was the only loss in their three match South American tour.
"This morning I said this would be my dream draw. We played Chile two years ago and lost by four points in a really winnable game. We've talked a little bit about that. We're really chasing that exposure of playing more meaningful games against those group 3 and group 4 teams.
That is the game that becomes our focus. There are teams we match up against better than others, in terms of style of play and body types, and Chile is probably one."
Hrstich, who is one of more than 30 fully contracted XV players for the national representative side added, "We're obviously super excited, the challenge is huge. The boys can't wait to go to work tomorrow and try to change the gap between us and those powerhouses, and also get after Chile. We're under no illusions that it's going to be a massive task.”
He said that they watched the draw together with the union staff, players and stakeholders and that his phone was going ballistic.
He said of the last time he played in New Zealand for his club, “the opposition rolled out both Savea brothers (Julian and Ardie) and Ma'a Nonu. Ardie was just a puppy then, and he was a real handful. I've had lots of messages from friends and family in New Zealand, and I'll be drawing on their support in 2027."
Logan Asplin added, of trying to generate support as they will be seen as the underdogs in the pool and Rugby World Cup, "We're staking a claim to be everyone's second favourite team. The opportunity to represent Hong Kong China 15s for the first time at the World Cup is significant. To draw both of those two teams, playing in front of big crowds, is going to be a great experience, but also no better way to test yourself.
Japan are in Pool E with France, Samoa and the USA - the latter they beat and play regularly in the Pacific Nations Cup, while France last played Japan in November 2024 and beat them comfortably 52-12.
Masato Tsuchida, Chairman of the Japan Rugby Football Union, said, "Japan is in Pool E, in the same group as France, the USA, and Samoa. We are really looking forward to playing against all of our opponents, and we feel a sense of urgency as we approach the two years until the tournament.”
Head Coach Eddie Jones fielded questions from the media but didn't want to get drawn into opponent talk or predictions, choosing to focus on waiting for the confirmation of the final schedule and then preparing game by game. “The only feeling I have is about the three pool games. That’s the only thing we have to worry about. Once we find out who we’re playing first, we will worry about that game.”
He did say, “France are a top-ranked team in the world. Samoa had to struggle through to make the World Cup. We also know that Samoa will only have their best players available at the World Cup, so we will only get to see what they are really like once they are there. USA has been under a new coach for a little while now, employing a high-kicking game.”
Notably, he said that the variable weather conditions in Australia and coping with the kicking game would be two massive aspects of the tournament for them to contend with.
“One of the most important contests in the game is the aerial contest. The ability to kick and regain now is almost worth double possession, as all the data on the game shows how important that is. We will be watching those three teams really closely from now on. We need to develop a game to beat those three teams, and that’s what we will be doing over the next two years.”
Of the weather, he commented, “You’ve got extreme climates in Australia. You’ve got Townsville, which is very humid and hot, probably 30 degrees and 85% humidity. If you go down to Melbourne, you could be playing in 12 degrees in the drizzling rain.
We need to be able to develop a game that is adaptable for both of those extreme conditions. That’s the rarity of this World Cup. You need to be adaptable to those conditions. It’s going to be an important part of learning to play in different conditions.”
Jones said he was not concerned by the format of the tournament and said, “We want to be the team that everyone wants to watch at the World Cup. To do that, a top-four finish would be fantastic.
We will do everything we can over the next two years to make sure the team is in the best position to achieve that result. We’re going to have to play above ourselves and we understand that it is going to take an extraordinary effort, but there is no reason why we can’t do that.”