Updated: November 8, 2026, 10:48 UTC (11:48 a.m. in Bourg-en-Bresse, France, Central European Time, UTC+01:00). Match information was checked before kickoff.
Hong Kong China and the United States meet in the fourth round of the 2026 World Rugby Nations Cup on Sunday, November 8, at Stade Marcel-Verchère in Bourg-en-Bresse, France. Kickoff is confirmed for 3:45 p.m. CET (UTC+01:00), or 14:45 UTC. The U.S. Men's Eagles arrive unbeaten in the competition and leading the Americas and Pacific pool, while Hong Kong China are seeking to improve their position in the Europe, Asia and Africa pool.
USA head coach Scott Lawrence has named captain Jason Damm in the second row and Oscar Lennon at scrum-half for his expected Test debut. There is no verified final score as of this pre-match update; the result, points scorers and final table movement should be checked after the match through the tournament's official channels.
The round-four match is scheduled for Sunday, November 8, 2026, at Stade Marcel-Verchère in Bourg-en-Bresse, France. Hong Kong China are the designated home side despite playing outside Hong Kong. World Rugby's November schedule specifically places two of Hong Kong China's designated home fixtures in France before a later match in Hong Kong.
| Location | Kickoff on November 8, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Bourg-en-Bresse, France — CET (UTC+01:00) | 3:45 p.m. |
| Coordinated Universal Time — UTC | 14:45 |
| U.S. Eastern Time — EST (UTC−05:00) | 9:45 a.m. |
| Hong Kong — HKT (UTC+08:00) | 10:45 p.m. |
France is on standard time for this fixture, following its October daylight saving change, and the eastern United States is also on standard time following its November change. World Rugby lists French official Luc Ramos as the referee. The kickoff shown above is the scheduled start, not a confirmation that play has begun.
USA Rugby's published matchday team contains 15 starters and eight replacements. Lennon is paired with fly-half Chris Hilsenbeck, while Rufus McLean and Noah Brown start on the wings and Perry Mayo is named at fullback. Up front, Damm partners Nathan Den Hoedt at lock, behind a front row of Payton Telea-Ilalio, Shilo Klein and Tonga Kofe.
16–23: Kaleb Geiger; Ezekiel Lindenmuth; Charlie Abel; Sam Golla; Marno Redelinghuys; Michael Baska; Cassh Maluia; Tom Pittman.
The published match lineup lists Josh Hrstich among the back-row starters, with Jack Combes at scrum-half and Nathan de Thierry at fly-half. The listed backline also includes Harry Sayers, Isaac Campbell-Wu, Marcus Ramage, Sebastian Brien and Dylan McCann. The matchday lists remain subject to late changes before kickoff; supporters should use the official match center to confirm the final playing group and any withdrawals.
This is a cross-pool fixture. Teams play opponents from the other six-team pool, but their competition points count toward their own pool standings. The highest-ranked team in each pool at the end of the competition will become an inaugural 2026 Nations Cup champion, so Hong Kong China and the USA are not competing for the same pool position.
In World Rugby's standings checked ahead of this match, the USA have 14 points from three games, with Samoa and Tonga next on 12 points each after four games. A USA win would extend that lead and maintain the Eagles' unbeaten record. Even a defeat would not automatically remove the USA from first place after this round, although it would reduce their margin for error in the final two fixtures.
Hong Kong China enter with five points from three games in the Europe, Asia and Africa pool. Georgia have 19 points from four matches and Portugal have 17 from four. A Hong Kong China victory would add important competition points and help close the gap to teams above them, but it would not by itself put them at the top of their pool. Bonus points and the remaining results will also affect the final rankings.
The Eagles won all three July Nations Cup matches: 30–29 against Portugal, 31–15 against Zimbabwe and 29–22 against Spain. Those results explain both their three-match winning streak and their 14-point pool total. Their preparation for November included a two-week training block and games against an Australia XV side in Nashville and New Jersey.
Hong Kong China's July campaign produced one victory and two defeats, including a high-scoring 42–40 win against Uruguay. That result demonstrates their ability to produce points against an opponent from the Americas, even if the USA's unbeaten tournament record presents a separate challenge. World Rugby reports that the teams have met eight times previously, winning four matches apiece. The most recent meeting was in 2022, when the USA won 49–7 in Dubai during Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification.
For the USA, a key question is how Lennon manages his first Test at scrum-half alongside Hilsenbeck, particularly against defensive pressure and at the breakdown. For Hong Kong China, territory, disciplined defense and the ability to convert attacking entries into points could make the difference. These are pre-match areas to watch, not claims about events that have already taken place.
The USA's next Nations Cup opponent is Romania on Saturday, November 14, in Bucharest, before a final-round meeting with Georgia on November 21 in Tbilisi. Hong Kong China are scheduled to face Canada on November 14 in Chambéry, France, before hosting Tonga at Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground in Hong Kong on November 21.
In the United States, the USA Rugby match preview identifies Paramount+ as the live broadcaster. For audiences elsewhere, World Rugby directs viewers to RugbyPass TV where no local broadcaster holds the rights. Streaming availability can vary by territory, so checking the authorized service before kickoff is recommended. For the confirmed result and any final lineup changes, consult the World Rugby Nations Cup match schedule and its linked match center.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:45 p.m. CET (UTC+01:00) in Bourg-en-Bresse, France. That is 14:45 UTC and 9:45 a.m. EST in the eastern United States.
Jason Damm is the named USA captain. Scrum-half Oscar Lennon is selected for his first official Test appearance.
Not at this article's November 8, 10:48 UTC verification point. The game was still scheduled to start later that day. Check the official World Rugby match center for the result after kickoff.
England vs. Australia on November 8, 2026: confirmed starting XVs, 15:10 UTC kickoff at Allianz Stadium, key matchups and Nations Championship standings stakes.
Hong Kong China vs. USA on Nov. 8: confirmed 3:45 p.m. CET kickoff, U.S. lineup, Oscar Lennon's Test debut, pool standings and viewing options.
France vs. Fiji Nations Championship Round 4: 9:10 p.m. CET kickoff in Lyon, confirmed match squads, flanker-number discrepancy and updated standings.
Wales beat Japan 28–21 in Nations Championship round four on Nov. 7, 2026. See Josh Adams’ two tries, confirmed lineups, kickoff and standings impact.
Portugal hosts Chile at Estádio do Restelo on Nov. 7 at 15:00 UTC. See confirmed team news, kickoff time, where to watch, and round-four pool stakes.
New Zealand beat Scotland 43–21 at Murrayfield on Nov. 7, 2026. See the verified final score, Ashman hat trick, lineups and Nations Championship standings.
South Africa beat Italy 66–7 in Turin on Nov. 7, 2026. See the nine-try breakdown, halftime score, confirmed teams, kickoff time and standings impact.
England vs. Australia on Nov. 8, 2026: verified starting XVs and benches, 3:10 p.m. GMT kickoff, captaincy, referee and latest team news.
Spain beat Uruguay 18–12 on Nov. 7, 2026, in Madrid. See Gauthier Minguillon’s winning try, full scoring summary, confirmed lineups and next fixtures.
France vs Fiji kicks off Nov. 7 at 9:10 p.m. CET in Lyon. See confirmed lineups, match officials and Round 4 Nations Championship stakes.
