By no means performed in The Prem, now they face hosts Australia in 2027 World Cup opener

It is 1 October 2027. There are 61,000 followers inside Perth Stadium.

There is a world TV viewers within the hundreds of thousands as two groups undergo their remaining warm-ups making ready to open the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

For hosts Australia, twice planet champions with a proud rugby historical past throughout the codes, it’s acquainted territory.

For their opponents Hong Kong China, it’s something however.

It can be their World Cup debut and for his or her gamers it is going to be greatest match of their lives.

Among them, all being properly, are Jack Combes and Alex Post. Two gamers extra used to the decrease semi-professional tiers of the English league system than the worldwide highlight.

It is David v Goliath – in soccer parlance it’s Spain v Cape Verde.

Twelve months earlier to the day, Jack and Alex are in Hong Kong. It is a nationwide vacation and each have taken day trip to inform BBC Sport about how their sporting and private lives have been reworked.

“I believe the entire run-up to the entire qualification course of was already a dream in itself. To qualify for a males’s first World Cup was large,” stated Combes, a scrum-half.

There are glints of their eyes and smiles on their faces – why would not there be?

Hong Kong China have been drawn in Pool A on the World Cup, the place not simply the hosts await, but additionally Chile – and the All Blacks.

“People will say it is daunting and it is an enormous problem to have these two prime nations in your pool, but when you are going to do it, do it correctly. Why not?” stated Combes.

“People may query whether or not we should be there. But for me, should you requested anybody as a child, should you may open up the World Cup in that first recreation in a 12 months’s time, it is genuinely wonderful. A dream come true.

“And I’m certain anybody who does give us any criticism about us being there, there isn’t any approach they would not be doing the identical factor if they may, 100%.”

Despite having made his cross-border debut a decade in the past, till lately Post was hooking for Richmond in The Champ.

“Unfortunately, I’ve by no means performed at The Prem stage. But The Champ positively does not get the credit score it deserves,” stated the 31-year-old.

“It’s a really powerful league. And that was nice preparation for the cross-border video games.”

Post was a full-time rugby participant with Hong Kong China, earlier than the Covid pandemic introduced that to an finish and he started a Masters diploma on the University of Oxford.

The Varsity match at Twickenham stays one of many bigger crowds he has performed in entrance of.

“One of the distinctive promoting factors for Hong Kong is the gamers are contracted all 12 months spherical and spend all their time collectively,” stated Post.

“So it wasn’t actually possible for gamers like myself to remain at Richmond.

“Hong Kong was very a lot, ‘we’d like boots on the bottom’.

“I’ve moved my household and myself over the past couple of weeks and yeah, type of chase the dream for the following 12 months.”

A full-time skilled contract has enabled better concentrate on the sport away from being a monetary analyst.

“With Richmond, we would prepare twice every week and you then would do your individual health club classes in your individual time,” added Post.

“But you may in all probability do twice as a lot as that with Hong Kong now.”