Hong Kong hero’s emotional journey to 2027 Rugby World Cup
Tom Hill thought his chance had gone but, now 35, has helped his team seal a spot among the elite
Three years ago, Tom Hill was contemplating a one-and-only shot at qualifying for a Rugby World Cup.
In his 30s, the Australian-born centre considered the 2022 global repechage tournament in Dubai to be a singular chance to reach the pinnacle of his sport, having already committed five years to doing so.
“I think most [of the squad] are like that, some of the younger guys might get another shot in four years, good luck to them, but this is it for me,” he added.
How things change. On Saturday, Hill, alongside plenty of those from Dubai, was on the pitch as Hong Kong qualified for the 2027 World Cup in Australia with a 70-22 victory over South Korea.
The opportunity for direct qualification, courtesy of World Rugby expanding the tournament to 24 teams, was a “massive” reason for Hill to continue working towards that goal.