This Saturday’s international between the Hong Kong Residents XIII squad and the Manilla Storm is set to cap off what has been a record year for the code in Asia.
In a area not traditionally associated with the code, in the past 12 months a series of Rugby League events have been held across four countries, as the game continues to make inroads into the region.
In Japan, the nation with the longest association with Rugby League, the sport expanded from its traditional Tokyo base to the Kansai region on the main Island of Honshu.
The expanded domestic setup saw a number of new clubs not only join to play in the National Cup competition but also saw a number of Nines competitions hosted around the country as well.
Thailand saw witness to the formation of a domestic competition around Bangkok in late November – Early December. The four team competition saw the Pattaya Sharks defeat the Asoke Bangkok Eels to claim the inaugural domestic premiership, whilst more recently the area has hosted multiple Nines competitions including the recent Thailand National Nines and Asian Nines events in Bangkok and Phuket respectively.
The Philippines, the destination for the Hong Kong Residents XIII team, hosted its third PNG Independence Day challenge, plus saw the formation of two domestic clubs in the form of the Manila Storm and the North Luzon Headhunters.
Whilst in Hong Kong, the HKRL ran its first inter-school games, the HKRL Nines and a Mixed-Tag Challenge.
In addition to the domestic games, there were also a series of internationals, with Thailand and Japan playing a home and way Test series whilst the Philippines took on Vanuatu in late 2014.
Whilst only small steps, each development has helped lay the foundation for the continued growth of the sport in the region, and the continued support between nations for the growth of the game.
