NRL side South Sydney Rabbitohs, Super League club St Helens eye Hong Kong for 2027 clash
St Helens boss Eamonn McManus played rugby union for Hong Kong and lived in the city for 20 years
Hong Kong could host a clash between Australian rugby league giants South Sydney Rabbitohs and English side St Helens in 2027, if officials from both clubs have their way.
St Helens chairman Eamonn McManus, who played rugby union for Hong Kong, has thrown his considerable influence behind the idea, which would form part of a groundbreaking global round of matches being considered by the NRL in Australia.
And McManus has reportedly been backed by Blake Solly, CEO of the Rabbitohs, who are sponsored by MG Motor, which is owned by the Chinese car company SAIC Motor.
While officials in Hong Kong said they had yet to be approached by anyone about the plan, which would see Kai Tak Stadium host one of several games to be played worldwide to start the 2027 season, there was considerable enthusiasm for it among those running sport in the city.
As there has been from McManus, who told Australian newspaper The Age that he had “been pushing Hong Kong for 25 years”.
“In the first instance I was pushing it as a venue for the World Cup Challenge,” said McManus, who lived in the city for 20 years. “It just seemed like the natural place to go … and now they’ve got a fantastic new stadium. It’s always been a venue that is open to international sporting events. Obviously, they have the Hong Kong Sevens.