Photo credit: HKRU
Hong Kong's very own Mong Kok Stadium will set the scene of the Week 14 clash between Japanese side Hito-Communications Sunwolves and South Africa's DHL Stormers on 19 May.
Having welcomed Racing 92 and Cell C Sharks to Aberdeen Sports Ground earlier this month, the fixture marks the second time the city has been chosen to host a high-profile rugby fixture this year.
The Sunwolves, sitting 12th in the overall standings following a narrow 32-25 loss to Brumbies, are now coached by former All-Black Jamie Joseph- a championship-winning coach who guided a Highlanders side featuring All-Blacks star Malakai Fekitoa to the Super Rugby crown back in 2015.
On the other hand, the Stormers were rewarded with a timely boost as the Springbok trio of captain Siya Kolisi, Damian de Allende and Steven Kitshoff penned new contracts. The South African outfit notched a 28-20 win over Jaguares, but fell to Waratah 34-27 last weekend and will be looking to fresher faces in the squad to mitigate the absence of lock Eben Etzebeth.
"We are very much delighted to hold our first ever Mistubishi Estate Super Rugby home match in Hong Kong against the Stormers on May 19th at Mong Kok Stadium,” said Mr Yuji Watase, Chief Executive Officer of the Japan Super Rugby Association.
“We are excited to engage with the Sunwolves fans in Hong Kong, which is home to one of the most populous rugby communities, and one of the biggest Japanese communities, in Asia," he added.
Stormers' head coach Robbie Fleck similarly expressed his excitement at engaging with Hong Kong-based supporters and locking horns with the Sunwolves.
"This is another first for the DHL Stormers and something that all of the players and management are really looking forward to. Our matches against the Sunwolves in Singapore have been tough encounters, so we know that we are in for a real test once again,” he said.