He gave up on his Wallabies dream to represent Hong Kong. Now he’ll play against Australia instead

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Elation came via deduction when the Hong Kong China rugby squad gathered at the ritzy Soho House club in Sheung Wan to learn their World Cup fate.

The Dragons were there to watch a broadcast of the 2027 Rugby World Cup pool draw, which was being beamed in from Channel Nine’s studio C in Sydney, the regular home of A Current Affair.

Having qualified for their maiden Rugby World Cup in July, Hong Kong China were seeded in band four, and with the last spots in pools F to A being filled first, the new boys were one of the final two sides whose ball hadn’t been pulled. It was known hosts Australia were in pool A, so when Romania was drawn in pool B, the cheers went up: the Dragons would play the Wallabies.

The same cheer-by-deduction occurred at the end, and when the Springboks were drawn in pool B, only the All Blacks remained of the band one big boys. Hong Kong China would face the haka, too.

“There’s a bit of buzz in the room,” Hong Kong China coach Logan Asplin said. “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. This morning I said this would be my dream draw.”

For Asplin and a handful of Kiwi ex-pats in the Dragons squad, locking in an All Blacks clash on Wednesday was special. But for four Australian-raised players in the Hong Kong China squad, the draw provided even more of a dream scenario: they’ll get the chance to play against the Wallabies in front of family and friends, and at a ‘home’ World Cup.

Four Australians are part of the Hong Kong China squad: former Eastwood premiership centre Tom Hill, ex-Norths pair Guy Spanton and Dylan McCann, and Australian under 18 lock Lachy Doheny.

Guy Spanton on the charge for Hong Kong against Japan XV in October.

Hill and fullback Spanton were part of Hong Kong’s campaign in 2022 when they narrowly missed qualification for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and veteran no.12 Hill was again a key man in July this year, when the Dragons beat South Korea and qualified as Asian champions in the expanded 24-team tournament in 2027.

Lachlan Doheny in the Australian under 18 side in 2023

Doheny is yet to debut but it’s only a matter of time for the promising Sydney youngster, who walked away from an academy contract at the Waratahs and a potential Super Rugby future to chase a World Cup dream with Hong Kong.

After a stellar junior career that saw Doheny play for Australia’s under 18s in 2023, the NSW under 19s in 2024 and Eastwood first grade in 2025, the 193cm Oakhill College product was put in touch with Asplin mid-way through the year. He was then offered a chance to sign a central contract with Hong Kong China Rugby Union.

Doheny’s mother Catherine was born in Hong Kong and moved to Sydney as a teenager.

“I’m half Hongkongese, as some might say,” Doheny said. “So I’m lucky enough to have that heritage eligibility in my back pocket. Obviously it was an incredibly hard decision. I took some time to think about it and then I eventually agreed.

“At the age of 20 and with the 2027 World Cup looming up, having that opportunity to potentially play in a World Cup at the age of 22, I thought that is just too good of an opportunity not to pass up.

Lachlan Doheny in Hong Kong rugby colours

“I had a few different things where various people tried to get me to stay and see where my luck landed in Australia, but I thought if I don’t take it now, I might never get the opportunity to go play possibly in a World Cup again. I didn’t want to regret it.”

Former NRL coach Anthony Griffin, who is now director of rugby at Eastwood, said Doheny has a big future.

“His biggest asset is he’s got a great attitude,” Griffin said. “He works hard, he’s gifted, obviously with his height and his size, but the thing I saw in him most was his strong work ethic and his attitude.”

Doheny arrived in Hong Kong six weeks ago, moved in with his grandmother and is two games into his club footy with Kowloon, who play in the competitive six-team domestic competition.

While though there are some homegrown Hong Kong China players, Doheny and the Aussie contingent are among the majority of the squad who hail from Europe or the Pacific.

“A lot of boys were actually born here. Although they might not have any Hong Kong blood in them, they were born here due to their parents either working here or living here at the time,” Doheny said.

“And a lot of boys have actually just found their feet in terms of coming over to Hong Kong for an opportunity for work or to expand their rugby knowledge, and become eligible through residency.”

Watching Hong Kong China - the world no.23 side - get drawn alongside the Wallabies and the All Blacks was a “surreal experience” on Wednesday, Doheny said.

“For the guys who have the opportunity to play in those matches, they’ll get a crack at the Wallabies, and one of the most iconic rugby teams in the world in the All Blacks, and a strong Chile side as well,” he said. “That’ll be a genuinely amazing experience. I am going to work very hard to see if I can get amongst it.”