Belgium beat Hong Kong China 27-17 at the Edmond Machtens Stadium in Brussels on Saturday, handing the visitors a defeat as they head into the World Rugby Nations Cup. Hong Kong China, who have qualified for the 2027 World Cup, started the match in ideal fashion, winning a scrum deep inside Belgium's 22 after Isaac Campbell-Wu's probing grubber kick was fumbled, but they could not turn that early promise into a win.

Belgium take control late

The match stayed in the balance until the final ten minutes, when Belgium finally put the game to bed. Cortez scored in the corner following a sustained attack to give the Black Devils a 27-10 lead, a margin that proved decisive even though Hong Kong China scored again to close the gap to ten points by full time.

What it means for the Nations Cup

Hong Kong China will head into the Nations Cup on the back of this loss, with fixtures against the USA, Canada and Tonga to come over the following weeks. A defeat in Brussels will give their coaches plenty to work on, particularly in turning early territory into points, while Belgium can take confidence from beating a World Cup-qualified side in front of their home crowd.

A useful test for both sides

For Belgium, the win is a statement result against higher-profile opposition, and it shows the value of staying patient until late in a tight game. For Hong Kong China, the lesson is equally clear: a fast start is not enough without the accuracy to finish, and the Nations Cup will punish the same lapses if they are repeated against the USA, Canada and Tonga.

Sources: RugbyPass, 2 November 2026.