Trio following well-worn path from Hong Kong mini-rugby to international stage

Her backline partner Evans said she was “stunned” to make the final squad and the news had taken time “to really sink in”.

“I am just so glad that all the hard work finally paid off,” Evans said.

Muir, meanwhile, has been battling injuries all season and expected “a rejection letter”. Now the prop is looking to make the match-day squad and see how well she does on the international stage.

James Cooper, the England women’s U18 head coach, said he was excited by the strength and depth of his squad.

“Their selection is the next step in their rugby careers, which hopefully one day culminates in pulling on a Red Roses jersey,” he said.

The trio’s success brought a flurry of congratulations from former coaches in Hong Kong, where they first learned to play a game Muir said “just makes me happy”.

Former Sai Kung Stingrays coach Tim Felton said even as a five-year-old he could tell there was something about Knowler, who was part of the set-up until moving to England in 2017.

“She had an ability to read the play, had extraordinary grit and showed amazing determination and willpower,” he said. “We are all so proud of her making the England U18 squad.”

Muir, who attended Creative Secondary School in Tseung Kwan O before moving to England in 2019, was described by her coaches as “a quiet and unassuming young lady who was awesome when she found her rhythm”.

Joe Stanion, a Flying Kukris coach, said Evans’ ability as try scorer had meant she became immediately accepted at her new school in the UK once she left Hong Kong in 2018.

Robbie McRobbie, CEO of the Hong Kong Rugby Union, said the three teens were following in the footsteps of the likes of Ruth Mitchell, Sam Scott and Doris Chow, all of whom have been recognised by World Rugby for their achievements in the game, as well as the HKRU’s general manager Jo Hull and women’s head coach Royce Chan Leong-sze.

“And let’s not forget as well the inspiration of our women’s team qualifying for the 2017 Rugby World Cup in Ireland, and Gabriel Lee-Lehner who went from Hong Kong team player to refereeing at the Olympics,” he added.

McRobbie put the international success of Hong Kong’s women rugby players down to “passionate and committed coaching across our clubs, and proud and supportive parents”.

In addition to their England U18 commitments, all three are linked with professional clubs in the UK, Knowler at Harlequins, Muir at Saracens, while Evans is part of the Worcester Warriors set-up.

While Muir grew up idolising Jonah Lomu, and has based her combative style on his direct approach, which usually entailed running through defenders, Knowler said it was the physicality of the sport she loved most.

“I had no interest in the usual sports played by girls, like netball, or field hockey – there was way too little contact,” Knowler said. “There is no better feeling than taking an attacking player down hard. But you must also be able to take it, because on the rugby field what goes around always comes around.”

It is a good time for young players to be breaking into international women’s rugby, which is experiencing unprecedented growth around the world. According to the World Rugby Council, participation levels are at an all-time high with 2.7 million players globally – more than a quarter of the global playing population – and a 28 per cent increase in registered players since 2017.

The fast-growing fan base was on display during last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, and the England Rugby Union is confident it will be able to fill Twickenham for the 2025 final with 82,000 people.

If some of the newest members of the squad have their way they won’t be watching from the Twickenham stands in the future, all three have designs on representing England at senior level and selection for the U18 squad is the first step.

“This is what I have been playing for and I hope to keep moving up the pathway with the dream of becoming an England Red Rose one day,” Knowler said. “For now, though, I just want to play some rugby.”