WXV success about more than results for ambitious Hong Kong China Rugby

Hong Kong China Rugby believe that hosting WXV Global Series Challenger 2026 in September can help the union grow on and off the pitch.

In September, the union’s women’s side played their first games at home since 2022 and finished fourth in the six-team competition after a win and two losses.

Their win came on the opening weekend against Brazil at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground in front of 2,900 supporters.

Beating a team that competed at Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 was a huge confidence boost for the side, who last competed at that tournament in 2017.

On Saturday 21 November, a Hong Kong China Women’s XV will play Tonga at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground. The fixture will form a double header, with Hong Kong China’s men also playing Tonga.

“In the WXV we’ve learnt what we’re capable of,” Tanya Dhar, Hong Kong China’s leading points scorer at WXV Global Series, said. “If you saw us three months ago, I don’t think you would have thought that we would even put up a fight against teams like this.

“The way we’ve come along, and the fight we show – we’re really a never-say-die team – we might not be the biggest, or the fastest, but we are a bunch of girls that are willing to put their body on the line and work for each other and we can get through a lot together.”

The tournament also had an impact beyond the elite level. Across three weeks, 250 girls from Under-9 to Under-12 took part in a Mini WXV festival. The tournament also provided 80 shadowing opportunities in coaching and strength & conditioning, while four local performance analysts gained hands-on experience.

A Women’s in Rugby Summit also took place, in which leaders and advocates of women’s rugby discussed a variety of topics in the game.

“This legacy programme demonstrated how international events can strengthen the local game by creating meaningful opportunities for participation, learning and leadership,” Jamie Farndale, Hong Kong China Rugby’s General Manager of Club Development and Sustainability, said.

“The experiences and connections created through WXV will continue to benefit the rugby community long after the tournament has ended.”