Former Dragons captain Lewis Evans helps Hong Kong China qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup as part of the coaching team.
Hong Kong China have made history by qualifying for a first World Cup, and a Welsh rugby stalwart helped them do it after a 6,000-mile gamble.
Former Dragons captain Lewis Evans, whose 236 appearances remains a club record, has been part of the national set-up since 2021 and was on the management team for a sixth successive Asia Rugby Championship triumph.
The trophy, earned by a 70-22 hammering of Korea, wasn't the main prize this year, it was a place at the expanded 24-team Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027.
Forwards and defence coach Evans, a back-row forward in his playing days, will watch December's draw with interest.
The 38-year-old from Newport could be hatching plans for South Africa, New Zealand, France, England, Ireland or even Wales as Hong Kong, currently ranked 23rd in the world, aim to earn respect Down Under.
"We aren't going to win the World Cup, but look at what Portugal did last time, we want to be the darlings of the tournament," said Evans, referring to the European minnows who stunned Fiji and drew with Georgia.
"Winning one game will be a challenge and so would be staying competitive given that we are going up against top teams.
"Facing South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand, England would be very tough, but if you can't build yourself up for that…
"Give us another year with a full-time programme and we will show that we've got good players who deserve to go up against quality teams.
"Expansion of the World Cup is important to give emerging nations the chance to be on that big stage trying to compete."
Building to qualification
Evans was head coach when Hong Kong were close to qualification in 2022 after winning the Asia Rugby Championship.
They lost to Tonga in a play-off then took part in a qualification tournament that featured USA, Kenya and winners Portugal.
The expanded 2027 World Cup, with 24 teams split into six groups, presented a big opportunity that they took.
"Since the Chinese New Year we have had 22 players who are full-time and that has got them physically fitter and working to a game plan," said Evans.
"We are in a good place to build and are able to utilise sevens boys, who are full-time, while other players are on a hybrid model.
"We have personal trainers, teachers, bankers and our starting 12, Tommy Hill, is a crypto solicitor who has made a lot of sacrifices."
'Leap of faith'
Evans was a whole-hearted back-rower over 15 seasons for the Dragons and his exploits earned two Wales call-ups.
He was denied a place on the summer tour to North America in 2009 because of a fixture clash with a European Cup play-off and missed out on the matchday squad for the post-World Cup Test against Australia in 2011.
The move to Hong Kong in 2021 has given the former Wales Sevens and age-grade international a chance to experience Test rugby.
"It was a big jump considering that I had never lived further than three or four miles from the M4," he said.
"To suddenly move 6,000 miles away to Hong Kong was a big leap of faith and it was initially the plan to do two years and come back. Four years on and I have just signed another two-year contract."
Evans works under New Zealander Andrew Douglas on a staff that features former Scotland prop Alex Allan, South African Marno Meyer and Kiwi Logan Asplin.
"It will be a six-year mission that I have loved and leaving my comfort zone has been massive for my coaching development," said Evans, who worked with Dragons age-grade teams, Newport RFC and his boyhood club Newport High School Old Boys in Caerleon while playing.
"Hong Kong is a brilliant place for a young coach because you get experience of international rugby, but also work alongside coaches from around the world and are exposed to different ideas and thinking."
Welsh connections
Evans is following in the footsteps of the likes of Leigh Jones, Dai Rees and Will Thomas in Hong Kong and is part of a sizeable Welsh contingent featuring former Cardiff coach Paul John, ex-Dragons forward Jevon Groves, former Dragons and Ospreys back Tom Isaacs and ex-Newport RFC favourite Adam Frampton.
But would the former flanker, who is expecting a daughter with partner Lizzie in the coming weeks, return home for the next step of his professional coaching journey?
"At the age of 25 I would have said that I'd eventually love a transitional role before going on to become forwards coach or head coach at the Dragons, but it didn't work out that way," he said.
"The ambition is to come back to the UK, but leaving for Hong Kong opened my eyes up and in coaching you have to be ready to take the opportunities when they come."
First, Evans has a World Cup to build towards.
Category: General Sports
