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Thursday
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International

Toby Booth set for World Cup mission after announcing return to rugby

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth (Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile via Getty Images)
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Former London Irish, Bath and Ospreys coach Toby Booth has announced via LinkedIn that Hong Kong China Rugby have appointed him as a high-performance and technical consultant.

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Booth will assist the current coaching setup in the build-up to Hong Kong China’s World Cup debut in Australia in 2027

Following their first-time qualification as champions of Asia, Hong Kong China haven’t wasted any time in changing their elite game structure.

The news of Booth’s involvement follows on from Andrew Douglas stepping down from his role as head coach of the team to concentrate on implementing and delivering the newly created men’s full-time playing programme.

Fellow Kiwi Logan Asplin has been promoted from within to fill the vacancy and will lead the team at the World Cup.

Whether Booth’s involvement with Hong Kong China will continue into the tournament remains to be seen.

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Booth wrote: “Following the successful qualification for the men’s XVs World Cup in 2027, I am happy to share that  I’m starting a new position as High Performance Strategic and Technical consultant at Hong Kong China Rugby.

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“Really good to contribute further to this journey and support and challenge the group’s journey towards the tournament.”

Bath-based Booth has been looking for new opportunities in elite rugby since he left the Ospreys in December 2024 after nearly five years as head coach of the region.

During his tenure, Booth led the team to significant achievements, including winning the URC Welsh Shield in both the 2021/22 and 2023/24 seasons. He also guided the Ospreys to the EPCR Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals and the URC Play-offs in the 2023/24 season.

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World Cup newcomers change head coach 2 years out from tournament

Andrew Douglas, the man who led Hong Kong China's successful World Cup campaign, has moved 'upstairs' and been replaced as head coach by fellow Kiwi Logan Asplin.

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Comments on RugbyPass

c
cnw 12 minutes ago
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry deep dive - what has happened to the All Blacks’ scrum?

NB I did not accept the central thesis your article after the England game that the ABs had a scrumming problem. I do now. The Boks dominance from game one especially in this area left the ABs scrambling to make up for the deficit. They did well to cover the cracks with some brilliant all of field tries, but I remember even in the glow of the first win, that ominous feeling that we just could not match the Bok set piece especially at scrum. For my part I think we saw some improvement in the fourth test - yes the ABs gave up some penalties, but it was not the ice skating kind. However, that fragility meant that the ABs had to place disproportionate pressure on the open running game to win, as well as pushing boundaries across every other facet of the game. Ultimately, when playing the most efficient, organised team on the planet - it was always going to be a too big of an ask. And if there was ever a time for a change of forward coach - and new position of director of high performance forwards development - it’s now.

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TokoRFC 14 minutes ago
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry deep dive - what has happened to the All Blacks’ scrum?

Im not sure the regression is that clear. This was a tough tour with little lead up.

If they can’t fix these issues by the end of year tour though. Then I’ll be worried, mistakes will be made but they need to keep progressing to make it through that quarter final



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PB 29 minutes ago
Dave Rennie's initial assessment of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series

Ok we will revisit this topic. I think it is a myth. France have become more consistent, but still tend to lose against teams that can A, match them physically, and B with a strong defensive pattern.

For the record. Since 2013 Boks have played France 9 times and Boks lead 8-1. Only loss was in 2022 by 4 points



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PB 33 minutes ago
Jordan Petaia returns as Les Kiss reshuffles Wallabies for Springboks

Well that is pretty much consistent with Rassie’s tenure. We were pretty poor until he started building a new culture and attitude amongst the players.

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PB 34 minutes ago
No.1 Springboks are third-best in the World Rankings record books

Yes I did agree that Rassie has capped less players. That doesn't necessarily equate to blooding more players. If you give a player 1 cap, that isn't blooding. Giving him

Many hours in the saddle is.



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SF 35 minutes ago
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry deep dive - what has happened to the All Blacks’ scrum?

The All Blacks have regressed. Where are the hard men All Black men of old? This fancy pansy type of rugby that the AB's want to play now is so ridiculous. Sort your scrum, sort your line out, sort your collisions. Before you play airy fairy.

France will also decimate this AB team.



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Jacque 35 minutes ago
'That sort of thing doesn't sit well with you': All Blacks coach left miffed by tackle on Josh Moorby

Ben, you write a load of BS 99% of the time.

Come with FACTS.



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PB 37 minutes ago
No.1 Springboks are third-best in the World Rankings record books

Your post…. With respect, I don’t buy this. If Rassie had thought he could win every test prior to 2024, he would have tried to.

Hence why I asked, how do you know what Rassie thinks….



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TokoRFC 40 minutes ago
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry deep dive - what has happened to the All Blacks’ scrum?

I’ve been waiting for a place to reflect on the tour without the unnecessary negativity that popped up after the 4th test.

Well done Springboks, I think 3-1 was a fair result. Living with this Springboks side for 80mins is enough of a challenge, let alone 320 minutes! So the All Blacks can hold their heads high too. Perhaps a few bounces of the ball our way in the second test and we could have squeaked a drawn series, maybe.



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SF 42 minutes ago
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry deep dive - what has happened to the All Blacks’ scrum?

The modern AB's want to play touch rugby. Colin Meads will turn in his grave with this AB lot. No grunt no hard men. The AB'S must continue with heir flower and pansies type of play. They will regress. Shame that the old school AB grunt is gone

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Hellhound 42 minutes ago
Jordan Petaia returns as Les Kiss reshuffles Wallabies for Springboks

Its Rassie and no one can predict what he will do, but I suspect that there will be massive changes. This series was brutal on both the Boks and AB's and 4 tests of that calibre will take a lot out of the players. They will get rest yes, or rather it's what I expect. The Wallabies confidence will be high after their inferior opponents they faced and will think they stand a chance.

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SC 44 minutes ago
'World class': Neil Barnes weighs in on Richie Mo'unga's Test return

Mo’unga will start one of the two Bledisloe Cup tests.

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SC 46 minutes ago
'World class': Neil Barnes weighs in on Richie Mo'unga's Test return

Moorby proved he has neither the pure speed or footwork to be a test wing against top tier nations. He certainly is not good enough to be an attacking fullback. Super Rugby is his ceiling, same with Carter.

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Hellhound 48 minutes ago
Rassie Erasmus pinpoints 'pivotal' moment during triumph over All Blacks

That was rehashed and dealt with a long time ago. Did Gatland and Rennie got the same treatment? Nope, because WR got one set of rules for the Boks and a set of rules for the rest. Despite that, the Boks are still top and that is why you are so sour. Did you see all over social media how your own so called pundits rip Rennie for accusing the Boks of walking around in the scrums, and it's shown that it's actually the AB's walking around in the scrums? Karma coming home to roost don't you think?

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TT 50 minutes ago
'That sort of thing doesn't sit well with you': All Blacks coach left miffed by tackle on Josh Moorby

& he can count.

& every other distracting trick from the actual topic…as you'veno doubt forgotten, the trip.



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NoLongerARuck 51 minutes ago
Rugby's Greatest Rivalry deep dive - what has happened to the All Blacks’ scrum?

Alot of people have talked about how the AB's are making progress and getting closer to the Boks. Its also important to ask where the net gain has been. In 4 games under Razor the AB's attack failed dismally and struggled to score tries. The Boks outscored them comprehensively. Even so the All Blacks led for long periods in Joburg and Cape Town in 24. They lost each game by one score. They led all the way in Auckland and led for a quarter of the match in Wellington. Razors team always lost control in the final quarter of matches against the boks where the Boks bench completely overpowered them.

Under Rennie the AB's have scored plenty of tries, more than the Boks, they have rediscovered their attacking threat but they have regressed in other areas. Their scrum has totally capitulated, their lineout has been hammered, they are turning the ball over more at break down and in the tackle. They are making mistakes within their attacking template that has cost them and presented the Boks opportunities and so their defence has suffered with the Boks making hay in the last 3 games outscoring them in terms of tries and pts during that period. They have conceded 2 and 3 score leads in the last 3 matches heading into the final quarter. At Cape Town it was 16 points, Soweto 12 pts and in the US 15 pts. The Boks established control of Rennies team earlier and led for longer with AB's forced to chase games. They won the second half in Ellis Park comprehensively and the final quarters in the next 2 matches matches but little else illustrating the lack of control for the AB's.



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TT 53 minutes ago
'That sort of thing doesn't sit well with you': All Blacks coach left miffed by tackle on Josh Moorby

The problem with continuing a hole of your own BS is that just that your hole gets deeper eg To START your video AFTER the OFFENDING EVENT (ie the foot 2 foot clip & trip - THE WHOLE ISSUE - just as cnw video below shows) proves your desperate enough to delude yourself with your own BS.

‘The crowds are so happy with me’ said the NAKED king in front of the LAUGHING crowd.’



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H
Hellhound 53 minutes ago
Rassie Erasmus pinpoints 'pivotal' moment during triumph over All Blacks

You got it wrong. Both teams got very harsh calls in all 4 tests, not only the Boks. I react to the stupidity of the fans. It's quite simple

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SC 54 minutes ago
Dave Rennie hints at former captain return, shares Bledisloe Cup squad plans

ABs front row cannot scrum, win lineouts consistently, or maul.

DeGroot and Lomax really harmed their reputations. Bower performed well as a reserve as did Numia. Newell the only tighthead who can scrummage.



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H
Hellhound 56 minutes ago
Rassie Erasmus pinpoints 'pivotal' moment during triumph over All Blacks

If the Boks need the luck against the Wallabies, what does the AB's need to beat them when they got smashed 3-1?😂😂😂

59 Go to comments
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