Hong Kong China win 88-9 against Malaysia in the first home test since 2019.

Hong Kong China kicked off their first home international fixture with an impressive 88-9 victory over Malaysia in an intense battle. Seb Brian’s outstanding performance, scoring five tries, was truly remarkable and deserves recognition.

While Hong Kong China dominated the game, credit must be given to Malaysia for their courageous efforts and unwavering resilience throughout the match. Despite the challenging circumstances, the Malaysian team displayed the true spirit of rugby, never giving up and continuing to fight until the final whistle.

The match witnessed Hong Kong China’s dominance as they scored a total of 13 tries, taking a commanding 45-6 lead at halftime and extending it to an impressive 79-point margin. The game was played in front of an enthusiastic crowd of over 1,200 fans, marking the return of men’s international rugby to Hong Kong for the first time since June 2019.

“We are delighted to mark the return of men’s international rugby to Hong Kong for the first time since June 2019” said Mr Chris Brooke, Chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Union after the match.

“This is another milestone in Hong Kong rugby’s recovery from the pandemic. Today was a great celebration and the support from the rugby community throughout what has been a challenging period has been incredible. The team has picked up right where it left off and I am sure that next week will be an electric finale for the Asia Rugby Championship,” added Mr Brooke.

Photo by : Ike Li / Ike Images

Malaysia’s captain, Fariz Ab Rehman, acknowledged the superiority of their opponents but expressed pride in his team’s efforts. He highlighted their determination to give their best and play with passion for their flag. Acknowledging the tough back-to-back games against two strong teams, he praised the resilience of his players the tournament saw Malaysia fielding 9 new caps.

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The next thrilling encounter will be Hong Kong China hosting Korea on June 17th, promising a great game between two formidable teams. Rugby enthusiasts can anticipate an exciting finale to the Asia Rugby Championship as Hong Kong China aims to maintain their winning momentum.

Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2023

Game 1 Korea 27 v 3 Malaysia
Link to game

Game 2 Hong Kong China 88 v 9 Malaysia
Link to Game

Game 3 Hong Kong China v Korea
17th June KO: 17:00 (+8GMT)
Hong Kong Football Club , Hong Kong SAR
LIVE

Stay tuned for an unforgettable battle as Hong Kong China and Malaysia go head-to-head in their quest for victory.

All matches will be broadcast live on Asia Rugby’s Facebook page and YouTube channel, with highlights along with behind-the-scenes footage shared on Asia Rugby’s Instagram page. Click on any of the links above to catch all the action.