Asia is next on the travel itinerary for a group of Bay of Plenty rugby players as the Chiefs form a partnership with the Hong Kong Rugby Union to take their brand abroad.

A 26-man squad representing the Chiefs' Development team began their eight-day tour of Hong Kong on Thursday, which involves training as well as a match against their hosts.

Bay of Plenty hooker Joe Royal on the charge for the Chiefs Development against the Blues Development. Photo: Bay of Plenty Rugby.

The tour will serve as preparation for the Hong Kong national squad's upcoming test matches against South Korea and Japan and as well as their future goal of qualifying for the RWC in 2019 in Japan.

Hong Kong is currently 27th in the World Rugby rankings.

Among the squad are seven Bay representatives. In the forwards are prop Aidan Ross, hooker Joe Royal and loose forward Matt Axtens, while Jono Kitto and Te Aihe Toma fill both halfback spots along with Dan Hollinshead at first five and Brynn Uriarau in the outside backs.

Fellow Bay of Plenty teammates Solomona Sakalia and Tim Bond are not available.

The Chiefs Development side will join with their hosts to undertake local rugby development community engagement with local junior players and interact with a group of coaches.

Former Chiefs player and All Black Richard Kahui will join the first part of the tour in a personal capacity, helping the squad and joining in community engagements.

Chiefs high performance manager Chris Tindall says the Asian tour is a great opportunity for the player's personal learning, development and experience. It is also a chance for the young players to impress for the future.

'We are really pleased to form a partnership with the Hong Kong Rugby Union commencing with this tour which stemmed from our discussions on working together,” says Chris.

'We are looking forward to working alongside the Hong Kong Rugby Union in our shared rugby development for players and coaches, in exchanges of activity between us, to build a beneficial and progressive long term partnership together.”

During the tour the Chiefs and the rugby union will work with local rugby communities at every level, from grassroots right through to the national team programme.

The Chiefs Development touring squad contains young players from across the Chiefs provincial unions – Counties Manukau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty and Taranaki.

The squad includes Atunaisa Moli, Scott Mellow and Brian Alainu'uese, who all played in the 2013 and 2014 IRB Junior World Cups, representing New Zealand and Samoa.

Four of the squad have played for the New Zealand Secondary Schools over the last two years. Those four are Moli, Ayden Johnstone, Fin Hoeata and Shaun Stevenson

Chiefs Development – Hong Kong tour squad:

Props: Aidan Ross, Ryan Cocker, Atunaisa Moli, Ayden Johnstone

Hookers: Scott Mellow and Joe Royal

Locks: Brian Alainu'uese, Ricki Hoeata, Fin Hoeata.

Loose Forwards: Valentino Mapapalangi, Ryuta Yasui, Matt Axtens, Josh Dowling.

Halfbacks: Jono Kitto and Te Aihe Toma.

First Fives: Dan Hollinshead and Bryn Gatland.

Midfield: Cardiff Vaega, Joseph Ikenasio, Sasa Tofilau, Naoya Minamihasi.

Outside backs: Ngataua Hukutai, Kanzo Nakahama, Brynn Uraiau, Codey Rei, Shaun Stevenson.