Domestic League Newsletter - Issue 9 by HKRU

JAN

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THE OFFICAL NEWSLETTER OF THE HONG KONG RUGBY UNION

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HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR FROM THE HONG KONG RUGBY UNION!

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A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

ISSUE 09 | JANUARY 2020

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CEO

ROBBIE MCROBBIE MBE

CEO | HONG KONG RUGBY UNION It’s that time of the season when thoughts turn to silverware, and whilst winning isn’t everything, it certainly makes the beer taste sweeter! Congratulations to Societe Generale Black Ladies who have already etched their names on the KPMG Women’s Premiership Cup, whilst the Saxo Markets Men’s Premiership hangs in the balance as I write, with old rivals Natixis Club and Societe Generale Valley taking the tussle down to the wire. Still plenty of trophies up for grabs in our other divisions of course, and we have the Grand Championships yet to come – and the eternal late night debate as to whether you’d rather be League or Grand Champion… Since the last Try Time our national U19 men’s 15s team have successfully retained their Asia Rugby Championship, which in turn qualifies them to return again to the World Rugby U20 Trophy, to be held in Spain in September; it was great to have an opportunity to watch many of the squad in action in our New Year’s Day Tournament, along with our U14 and U16 boys and girls who will be the Hong Kong stars of the future. Our current Sevens stars haven’t had it all their own way as both men and women’s teams have battled for Olympic qualification, but they head to France in June for their respective Repechages and a last chance to book a berth in Tokyo – best of luck to both squads! And finally, our FWD South China Tigers are getting ready to rrrrroar once more, as we look ahead to the first full Global Rapid Rugby season – I’m really looking forward to watching the action with games at the Hong Kong Stadium, Mongkok Stadium, Siu Sai Wan Stadium and Aberdeen Sports Ground. Kung Hei Fat Choi, and enjoy the rest of the season!

STARTING 2020 STRONG WITH THE ANNUAL NEW YEAR’S DAY TOURNAMENT!

ISSUE 09 | JANUARY 2020

STARTING 2020 STRONG WITH THE ANNUAL NEW YEAR’S DAY TOURNAMENT!

As usual,

the 2020 New Year’s Day tournament kick-started the new decade with a bang. The 54th edition of the tournament showcased an array of talented youngsters, displaying what Hong Kong has to offer from its junior section. This year saw six high-class and entertaining games played throughout the day, a positive ‘pick-me-up’ for those feeling slightly worse for wear after the previous evening’s activities! The day commenced with an awesome game from the U14 Girls teams. There were line breaks, big hits and full pitch runs, with the Island Lions finishing victorious 27-17 over the Peninsula Dragons. The Lions retain the trophy this year whilst Dragons’ Lisa Trimingham was awarded ‘Best and Fairest Player.’ The U14 Boys were next onto the turf at Hong Kong Football Club competing in another close contest for the Stuart Leckie Cup. Following a late surge, the Lions got their revenge on last year with a 22-14 win over the Dragons. Congratulations to Dragons

ISSUE 09 | JANUARY 2020

STARTING 2020 STRONG WITH THE ANNUAL NEW YEAR’S DAY TOURNAMENT!

Prop Minjun Koo who took home the ‘Best and Fairest Player’ award. The afternoon kicked off with the Girls U16s fighting it out for the Naylor Cup. The Hong Kong Dragons retained the cup this year with a great performance slaying the Lions 31-17. A stand out performance from Hayley Cheuk Yiu Lai saw her take home the ‘Best and Fairest Player’ award. The U16 Boys followed shortly after, the first instance to feature the Overseas Lions. The Lions gave it their all but couldn’t dominate the Hong Kong Dragons who brought it home with a thumping 58-7 win, retaining the George White Trophy. The ‘Best and Fairest Player’ award was granted to Dragons #3, Fergus Condon. The fantastic day climaxed with both Boys and Ladies U19s showing us what they were made of. This fantastic display of rugby from both sides shows great promise for a strong foundation for our HK National teams in the coming years. Kicking things off with the Ladies, the Overseas Lions pulled away to take the Lassies Quaich Trophy with a 17-7 victory, Lions #2 player Lara Carolan taking home the ‘Best and Fairest Player’ award. On to the last game of the day, played against the backdrop of a fantastic crowd for the U19 Boys. Both teams showed great ability and brilliant skills. There was a ferocious intensity to the game which made it brilliant to watch. The Overseas Lions came out on top with a 38-7 victory and retained the Wright Naylor Trophy. A standout performance from Lions Hooker Charlie Walsh, who scored a hat-trick, meant that he was the recipient of ‘Best and Fairest Player’ award. The Larry Abel Trophy, awarded to the ‘Best and Fairest’ from the entire day was a tough choice for the HKRU’s General Manager of Rugby Performance, Leigh Jones. There were plenty of great candidates from the first game to the last, but was eventually awarded to Hayley Cheuk Yiu Lai of the Hong Kong Dragons, from the U16 Girls game.

Once again, another fantastic way to start to New Year and indeed new decade. A big thanks to HKFC, referees, medical team, HKRU staff, coaches, parents and players for making it such an enjoyable event. We wish everyone a happy and healthy 2020 filled with lots of rugby development and success, see you all 1st January 2021!

TOPIC

ISSUE 09 | JANUARY 2020

SAXO MARKETS 2019/20 MEN’S PREMIERSHIP SEASON UPDATE

SAXO MARKETS 2019/20 MEN’S PREMIERSHIP SEASON UPDATE The 2019-20 edition of the HKRU Men’s Premiership is taking place under a new format, in short a five week, Challenge Trophy then introduces a new 10-week Premiership, with a league that ends on January 18 and a Grand Champion found on February 8 - and with Hong Kong’s reputation for the odd personal wager…there’s a bit cash in for the teams. The Challenge Trophy also encouraged the Premiership Team clubs to promote Premier talent internally, Kowloon was almost the exception, with the Clubs best players already in the Premiership fold and so it was that Kowloon began to impress. In the 2018-19 season Kowloon suffered several close defeats, often outperforming forward packs for a period but not the entire eighty-minutes.

TOPICMARKETS 2019/20 MEN’S PREMIERSHIP SEASON UPDATE SAXO

ISSUE 09 | JANUARY 2020

an exciting role in the newly established Scottish Rugby Union created Super 6 tournament, his record in the Red & Black testament to the ability of Valley to select many very good Rugby players and within them, some exceptional clubmen. The retirement of Nick Hewson also a major moment for Valley, Mark Fatialofa retains the continuity role, having also coached through the Jack Isaac era.

But Kowloon were turning heads last season for more than just close results. Loose forward and talisman James Sawyer, who through nothing less than sheer courage and determination, has bonded around him a willing innercore of players that reaches across the park, Cunningham, Bury, Kinloch, Warner, Stiles, Best, Kenny, Tsoi, Phillips and Swanson. The arrival of Cris Pierrepont from Club and quick forming combinations at Second Row with Markham, Green and Kenny has produced a pack with some real snarl about it, the bristling play of Bristow and Simaile give the Kowloon pack an edge; experienced utility forward Jevon Groves made mention of Kowloon’s likelihood to be very ‘sticky’ for most of the teams in the 2019-20 season and this was central to their effort at The Rock in their Round 8 clash with Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish in the Saxo Markets Premiership. The Challenge Trophy was dominated by Natixis Club, Kowloon’s biggest scalp coming in the form of Societe Generale Valley 20-07 just a week after dropping to Club with a stubborn 25-14 loss. In the final shakedown Kerry Hotel Kowloon took fifth place, only 2 points off Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish and so when the two sides lined up on December 14th the situation on paper looked very much the same, however closer analysis tells a much more interesting story. Club; deservedly, claimed the Saxo Markets Challenge Trophy and along with Valley have led the way in the Saxo Markets Premiership, Valley’s form is somewhat unsettled as a generational change takes place behind the scenes. The much loved Andrew Kelly has blown full-time in Hong Kong, bound for

But Valley do have some frighteningly good talent at their disposal, Ruan Du Plooy being the name on the lips of most considered observers, as the Scrumhalf role becomes ever more pivotal, Valley have a player of considerable value, adequately supported by Adam Rolston, Du Plooy has torn defensive patterns to shreds, his instinct on when and where he’ll win the race to the gain line with the ball in hand, manifests itself purely and simply as a clean line break. After the international window in November, Valley took down the Hong Kong Scottish team with no less than 5 successful scoring attempts from seven; perhaps eight genuine opportunities. The rest of the match was dominated by the home-side, it almost seemed unfair that Valley should do so little to score so much. For Hong Kong Scottish it was another loss, despite playing with tremendous vigour in a loss to Club the week prior. The Hong Kong Scottish contribution to the national team must be factored in, but then Club also missed out on some of Hong Kong’s finest players through commitments to the national Sevens team. Jamie heads a furiously talented group including the likes of Max Denmark, playmaker Russ Webb, the mercurial Liam Herbert as well as the talented loose forward pairing of Raef Morrison and Mike Coverdale, both of whom add massively to a pack brimming with both size and mobility, where Patrick Jenkinson leads the charge with likes of Andrews, Groves, Pim, Field, Lind and Gualino hard on his heels. Halfbacks Jonty Wood and Jamie Lauder then have some of the Premiership’s real speed merchants to feed in the HKFC backline, Eremia Tapsell being an outstanding offshore find for this mix of backs. South China Tiger Tommy Hill, Hong Kong International Ben Axten-Burrett and newly capped International Nate de Theirry are never far from the scoring action and it’s all set to the backdrop of the safety provided by Glyn Hughes as he continues to penalise opposing teams from virtually anywhere inside their half with the reliability of a Swiss built timepiece.

ISSUE 09 | JANUARY 2020 So Hong Kong Scottish can’t say they’re alone when the selectors come calling, but they can lay claim to being far full strength, which makes the losses to HKFC and Valley that much deeper, especially returning to the Premiership with the chance of creating some space between themselves and…you guessed it Kerry Hotel Kowloon. The Round 8 win over Kowloon in the end, not just needed optically, but also from a morale perspective. Kowloon may have lost an early advantage as January brings with it the resumption on play, the match up in Round 9 of the Saxo Markets Premiership against Club making the job seem more in the hand of fate, than the Kowloon team. With two rounds remaining, the Premiership moves swiftly into three distinct groups, starting with Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish as they look forward as much as over their shoulder, knowing a strong performance will see them past the hapless BorelliWalsh USRC Tigers, but with some breathing space from Kerry Hotel Kowloon who run head-on into probable Premiership winners Natixis Club.The treble must sit on the horizon for Club, with the Saxo Challenge Trophy in the cabinet and the League title to be settled fully and finally in the last round when Club host Societe Generale Valley at HKFC. Rob Lennox and his men have sat in the pocket with all the nerve of a firing Marc Cavendish, as the pace has warmed, Valley have excelled only to take the points and then slipped back into the cover off the pack, but they are most certainly there and projecting that threat onto Club as sit just two premiership points adrift.

SAXO MARKETS 2019/20 MEN’S PREMIERSHIP SEASON UPDATE

Kowloon and Hong Kong Scottish, Valley and Club - who then makes up the third group? The run of Herbert Smith Freehills HKU Sandy Bay to lift the Grand Championship is straight from the dream factory. Barely a mention last season saw the boys from ‘The Bay’ dismiss League Champions Club at home in a remarkable display, the feats of Matt Lamming, Alex Post, Dylan Rogers, Mark Prior, Lawrence Babe and Liam Slatem, while two tries from Angus Cameron and another powerful display by the Premiership Player of The Year - Luke Van Der Smit, that saw the underdogs seriously humble the home-side. The following weekend and off a seven game winning streak, they were crowned Grand Champions, against a Hong Kong Scottish who were unable to break the Sandy Bay line despite being camped on the try-line for what seemed the entire final 10 minutes of the game. It was magic, not only for the team and those involved, but also the many mini-Rugby players who now have a pathway to performance Rugby lit up like a runway at HKIA. So, HKU Sandy Bay create a second storyline in the lead three teams, for they’ve shown if they can make the final four, then they don’t know any other way but being - the one. And what’s worse is that they’ve used every form of smokescreen available, from length of the park, final minute wins, to finally

reveal themselves in third place overall, a team and a situation that cannot be ignored is fast developing. Last year the suggestion that a team like Sandy Bay could come from behind to beat the lot, would have been laughed off as something some silly it was funny. Well - that joke is not funny this season and nor is the serious shadow HKU Sandy Bay cast over the final 4 as the post season takes shape, will it be the ‘Bay Boys’ launching another final raid on what was once Valley’s day of the year? Or will Valley be on for a double after ankle-tapping Club in the final round? Or maybe Club really is in a class of its own as they eye a history making treble.

Don’t miss a moment of action, see all the 2019-20 Saxo Markets Premiership unfold, every weekend, every game between now and the Grand Championship on February 8, on Facebook Live through the HKRU page.

KPMG WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP ROUND-UP

KPMG WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP ROUND UP Valley race ahead with Tigers in tow

We are now well into the second half of the KPMG Women’s Premiership and once again, the Societe Generale Valley Black ladies sit comfortably at the top of the tables having conceded no losses so far this season. Coach/player Bella Milo and her team are currently 7 points ahead of last season’s Grand Champs winners, the Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers. Valley have had an injection of youth this year with hardhitting flanker Hanna Lane who has come up from the National Age Grade teams and proven she can more than adequately play amongst the seniors. Joining her in the strong forward pack for the Black Ladies are Valley stalwarts Olivia Coady and Suzanne Sittko who certainly pack a punch in defence and relish an opportunity to run a short hard line in attack. Another fresh face on the team this year is New Zealander Claudia Mcmeekin, who has taken the reigns at fly half to command the team and displayed her abilities to spot a gap in defence and put her players into space. The USRC Borrelli Walsh Tigers sit in second position, having seen two nailbitingly close matches with fierce competitors the Gai Wu Falcons who are tagging just one point behind. The ladies in yellow and black are on good form this year with veterans Bena Yu, Winnie Siu and Lindsay Varty bringing a few decades worth of experience to the team. Despite missing a few key players from last year including Sarah Lucas, Nam Ka Man and Maelle Picut, the ladies have recruited powerful outside centre and former South Africa 7s player, Tyler Botha, and ex England Under 20s prop Emily Underwood who has brought her excellent knowledge of the game and formidable power to the forward pack. The team have also recently welcomed back long time Tigers player Eunice Lai and Wong Yuen Shan who were out for injury last year. with just days to go before the Grand Championship competition begins, the Tigers will certainly be eager to retain their trophy from last year.

ISSUE 09 | JANUARY 2020

KPMG WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP ROUND-UP

Natixis HKFC Ice became the fourth team to join the top tier of teams this season, replacing bottomranked Kerry Hotel Kowloon from last season. Despite not yet claiming a win in the league, the HKFC ladies have seen some standout players emerge in the likes of flyhalf Aileen Ryan and lock Roshini Turner who were both pivotal in the recent Hong Kong XVs victory against Holland – Hong Kong’s first win on European soil. After coming up through the ranks of National Age Grade rugby and a 3 year stint at Durham University in England where she played for her 1st XVs side, Turner returned to Hong Kong, eager to get a chance in the national kit. She has since represented Hong Kong in XVs and is currently training with the national 7s team. In the Prem A division, the competition is hotting up in preparation for some upcoming changes to the Women’s league structure.

“There have been significant developments in the Women’s Premiership this year, with the new format coming in 2020-2021 season (6-team Premiership), the Prem A teams are fighting for the top 2 spots to ensure a place in the premiership next season. We are seeing more competitive games with an increase in the intensity and pace of the game which is very pleasing and helping towards the development of the National teams” – said Jo Hull - HKRU Women’s Performance Manager

Kerry Hotel Kowloon currently sit at the top of Prem A, with new recruit and superstar youngster Flo Symonds at outside centre bringing her prized pace and power the team. Symonds has not only been a great addition to the league side but also made an impact on the Hong Kong national 7s team in the Olympic Qualifiers last November when the home team reached the finals. Causeway Bay trail closely behind Kowloon, with Hong Kong representative and XVs ‘player of the year’ Man Man Tsang putting in some huge tackles this season. The Bloomberg HK Scottish Kukris have been picking up steam and showcasing huge improvements this season and are definitely an energetic team to watch as they look to rise up through the ranks over the next few years. As the Grand Championship semi-finals draw closer (tentatively set for 23rd January), the scene is set for another dramatic showdown between rivals Valley, Tigers and Gai Wu. Valley will be hungry for a win this year after narrowly losing 3-8 in the finals last year to an ecstatic Tigers team who won

the cup for the first time in nearly two decades. Gai Wu have been feverishly training all season and certainly won’t go down without a fight either. As the excitement builds, so does the support for women’s rugby in Hong Kong, which continues to grow stronger – this year, there are more girls than ever playing mini rugby in the city.

ISSUE 09 | JANUARY 2020

THE ROAD TO THE OLYMPICS

THE ROAD TO THE OLYMPICS Hong Kong Men’s and Women’s 7s teams suffer heart breaking loss in Olympic Qualifier finals. Both teams now face tougher challenge at Repechage in June in final bid to reach Tokyo 2020. For many, the Olympic dream was all but over when the Hong Kong men’s sevens team were defeated at the final hurdle by a strong Korean side in the finals of the Olympic Qualifiers tournament in November. Despite leading 7-0 at half time, Korea came back in the second half and scored a breakaway try in sudden death extra time to finish the game 12-7 in front of an ecstatic home crowd in Incheon. The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for regional tournament favourites Hong Kong, who recognised the occasion as possibly the best chance they would ever get to reach the Olympic Games. The heartbreak echoed that of the Hong Kong women’s sevens team who also narrowly missed out on securing their ticket to the Olympics when they were defeated by China in their own qualifying tournament. The final score was 33-0. Despite the devastating loss for the men, Head Coach Paul John was still immensely proud of his players and put the defeat down to Korea’s efficiency at the breakdown. “The guys were working their socks off, but we could not get the ball away from the Korea ruck really,” said coach John of his players’ performance in the final. Following their momentous victory, Korea will now make history as the second Asian sevens team to compete in the Olympics after Rugby Sevens was reinstated in the Games in 2016. Korea join hosts Japan, HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series qualifiers Fiji, USA, New Zealand and South Africa, along with regional qualifiers Argentina, Canada, Great Britain, Australia and Kenya, in the line-up for Tokyo 2020. In the women’s competition, China’s qualification will see them join Japan, New Zealand, USA, Canada,

Australia, Brazil, Great Britain, Kenya, Fiji and two further teams in the Games.

Knocked down, but not out For both Hong Kong teams, the focus is now on the Olympic Repechage tournament, set to take place in June in Biarritz, France; admittedly a much tougher tournament with more challenging opponents, however a chance nonetheless. “There is still an opportunity but it is a lot more difficult,” explained coach John immediately after the qualifiers. “We knew this was our best route and things will have to go well for us at the Repechage, but it feels a long way off at this moment.” Only three Olympic spots will be available via the Repechage – two in the women’s competition and one in the men’s. The Hong Kong men will battle it out with China who won the third-place play-off against the Philippines 19-14 in the regional qualifiers, as well as powerhouses Ireland, France, Samoa, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Mexico, Jamaica, Tonga, Brazil, and Chile. In the women’s competition, Hong Kong will face Madagascar, Tunisia, Kazakhstan, France, Russia, Jamaica, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Argentina and Colombia. This will be the definitive opportunity for Hong Kong to make it to the 2020 Olympics, and it’s not going to be easy; Hong Kong need to quickly overcome their recent upset, mend their broken hearts and power on to the next challenge. It’s a harsh lesson in mental toughness, but one they must quickly realise.

A Broader Perspective Hong Kong are no strangers to a high profile loss on the field; in the past year, the men’s 15-a-side squad have lost to Canada in a Repechage tournament for the final slot in the 2019 Rugby World Cup, and the men’s sevens team lost to Ireland in the final of the qualifying tournament at the Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, which would have given Hong Kong a ticket to the World Series. Four years ago, Hong Kong lost at the last minute to Japan in the same Olympic qualifying tournament that would have seen them make history as the first Asian team to be featured in the Rugby sevens event at the Olympics. Well aware of these setbacks, Hong Kong Rugby Union Chief Operations officer Dai Rees believes that Hong Kong players and fans mustn’t lose sight of the improvements and achievements of the teams over the years.

ISSUE 09 | JANUARY 2020

THE ROAD TO THE OLYMPICS

“We set ourselves the goal of making the final and we got there,” – said Hong Kong Women’s Head Coach Iain Monaghan, reasserting the silver lining of losing the final match at their tournament in China. 2019 also saw the Hong Kong Women’s XV’s squad win their first ever test in Europe against Holland and the Hong Kong men’s sevens team won their first Asian Games gold medal in September, beating Japan in the finals. Rees’ comments came to remind us to not let these losses overshadow some of the recent victories of the Hong Kong rugby programmes. With all hopes pinned on the Olympic Repechage, it’s time to rally the Hong Kong supporters, use these lessons in losing to grow, and get behind the local heroes. Hope is still alive for the home team, so don’t sell your Olympic tickets just yet – but perhaps buy one for the Repechage too.

“They only know about those losses because we are there, they never picked up on those losses because we weren’t there before.” – said Rees.

He makes a valid point; Hong Kong can only have high profile losses because they are in high profile games. In terms of improvements, one need only look at the Women’s teams in Hong Kong. After coming 3rd in the Qualifier for the 2016 Olympic Games and 5th in the 2019 Asian Games, the sevens team were able to improve on their previous performances and make it to the final of last November’s qualifiers.

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ISSUE 09 | JANUARY 2020

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ISSUE 09 | JANUARY 2020

2020: HONG KONG PLAYERS TO WATCH

2020: HONG KONG PLAYERS TO WATCH With the 2019/2020 rugby season well under way, a host of standout players have emerged and caught the eye of coaches, spectators and teammates alike. The fight to be noticed is tougher than ever, but these two athletes have shown the passion, tenacity and talent that it takes to be the best at their game. Homegrown young prop Vincci Leung showcased her fearless spirit against physically dominant teams in Europe last month when the national squad took on Holland and won in December. She also made jaws drop on the sideline at King’s Park when she sprinted the length of the field to chase down a breakaway winger and make a try-saving tackle for her club team. Ruan Du Ploy has been a consistently first-rate scrum half during his 3 years in Hong Kong with a relentless work rate and ability to control his teammates at Valley. Imminently qualifying to play for the national XVs squad, there is not doubt that he will be one to watch both in the league and internationally.

Q: VL:

Who is your most inspirational player and why? Hing Hung - As my first coach in rugby, he’s just like a dad who shows me love and support and gives me lots of advice

Q: VL:

Hong Kong National VIIs/XVs debut? 2018 Spain & Wales Tour.

Q: VL:

What is your rugby dream? Definitely going to a World Cup!

Who is your best roommate on tour and why? Angela, cause she is the best listener and we share the same music preference

VL:

Q: VL:

HONG KONG PLAYERS TO WATCH

VINCCI LEUNG

Q: VL:

Tell us one thing most people don’t know about you? I have performed in track and field since I was 4. My mum was the previous HK rep of track and field. I mainly did 100m during primary school and secondary school What is your life motto? It does not matter how slow you go as long as you do not stop

Favourite things to do on your day off? Watching dramas and sleeping

VINCCI LEUNG When, where and why did you take up rugby? I started rugby at university. I did track and field when I was in school and wanted to try something new, so someone suggested rugby

VL:

What is your favourite rugby moment? The time that Tai Po Dragons came back to beat HKFC right at the end after we were losing by 2 tries in the first half

2020: Hong Kong Players to Watch

Q: VL:

Age 23

Position

Prop

Club Team

Tai Po Dragons

Nationality Job

Hong Kong

Teaching Assistant

ISSUE 09 | JANUARY 2020

2020: HONG KONG PLAYERS TO WATCH

HONG KONG PLAYERS TO WATCH

RUAN DU PLOOY Age 27

Position

Scrumhalf

Club Team Valley RFC

Nationality Job

South African

HKRU Player

2020: Hong Kong Players to Watch RUAN DU PLOOY Q: When, where and why did you take up rugby? RDP: I started playing rugby when I was 6. It’s always been a massive part of our family and I’ve loved playing ever since. I enjoy being part of a team and playing with friends Q: Who were your previous clubs/teams? RDP: Club - Hautapu & Valley RFC Representative - Waikato ITM Cup Squad, Waikato Under 20, Chiefs Development, Poverty Bay

Q: What is your rugby dream? RDP: To play for as long as I possibly can and hopefully represent Hong Kong in the 2023 RWC Q: Who is your toughest opponent? RDP: Liam Slatem Q:

Who is your best roommate on tour and why? RDP: Nate De Thierry - makes good coffee!

Who is your most inspirational player and why? RDP: Fourie du Preez - I’ve watched him play since I was a little kid and he motivated me to keep playing scrumhalf. His understanding of the game and the way he leads the team on the field is something I admire

Q: What is your favourite rugby moment? RDP: Winning the Hong Kong Club Premiership title for the first time in 2017

Q: Hong Kong National VIIs/XVs debut? RDP: I qualify to play for Hong Kong in January 2020

Q: What is your life motto? RDP: Don’t sweat the small things

Tell us one thing most people don’t know about you? RDP: I’m a professional fisherman

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ISSUE 09 | JANUARY 2020

GLOBAL RAPID RUGBY AND THE FWD SOUTH CHINA TIGERS ARE BACK!

ISSUE 09 | JANUARY 2020

GLOBAL RAPID RUGBY AND THE FWD SOUTH CHINA TIGERS ARE BACK!

Rugby Union across the Asia region is set to gain from the unprecedented exposure generated by the 2019 RWC in Japan. The 2019 Global Rapid Rugby Showcase successfully unveiled a new format for XV’s and now the first ever full season prepares to explode with six teams confirmed, including Hong Kong’s own FWD South China Tigers. The GRR tournament seeks to bring together Asia and the Pacific Islands into a

professional competition to tap the massive support that lies within the region. While Rugby fans in Asia will always have their favourite tier one teams, locally now they can lend their support to one of the six teams breaking new ground in Global Rapid Rugby. Despite some uncertainty about the quality of these teams, the rationale behind the invites to participate has generated a very interesting field entrants, to the casual observer it’s very much territory based, with fans across the region given a side to call their own as the tournament develops.

ISSUE 09 | JANUARY 2020

GLOBAL RAPID RUGBY AND THE FWD SOUTH CHINA TIGERS ARE BACK!

Malaysia - Valke, if you ask any South African who has played representative Rugby in South Africa about the Valke, the response is almost the same...their shoulders drop, the head goes back and eyebrows go up. Where do you begin when it all ends with, being hurt in the process, so let’s move along to the next team.

TEAM ASIA

Team Asia, now this must be GRR’s dream come true, Bay of Plenty are a New Zealand province and undeniable breeding ground for athletes of all disciplines and not just Rugby Union. Sir Gordon Tietjens halls from the BOP and many of his World Series winning selections were built on the backbone of the Bay of Plenty talent, the Team Asia will be ‘one to watch’. Fiji & Samoa - Globally speaking, Pacific Island players have a huge impact on the game at the professional level and any league considered competitive will ultimately have players from the Pacific Islands. However, no opportunity to hold talent to the Islands has been to the detriment of their international status, Fiji showed signs of stabilisation in Japan last year, meanwhile the performance of Tonga and Samoa continue to be agonising. The Asia-Pacific connection is fundamental to long-term aims of GRR, and the largest city in Polynesia is Auckland. The Force - The South China Tigers were dealt with on the day in Aberdeen, size and power in the closing stagers of the game, hint to a group of players with superior strength and endurance. This lap they will be sharpened up and going full gas on each engagement, in a 10-week tournament there is no room for error in the opening 6-7 games. Tiger Season Opens in March against Manuma Samoa, Friday the 13th at the National stadium. Already it screams ‘theme’ night for the spectators, when Hong Kong rolls out the red carpet to Global Rapid Rugby for the opening game of the South China Tigers campaign. The Darryl Suasua coached Manuma Samoa have substantial depth and it’s likely to have some All-Star talent, but does it have the discipline? It’s a young and talented player group, but relatively untested in this type of Rugby, although consideration must be given for the internal competition for selection, ten weeks of travel and effort will be a genuine test for them. The Tigers have them first up, in cruel twist of fate, is there a better night to stage an historical game of Rugby than Black Friday 13th..?

Over to Mongkok Stadium on Friday 20th March for Round 2, from history making to the story of two old friends, Hong Kong and Fiji, no other nation has climbed the mountain more. Together they presented Sevens to the world, the world watched Fiji in Hong Kong, now the world plays Sevens. The opening RWC performance in Japan saw Fiji best Australia for an hour, the ability to take on the world is clear, the avenues for development were not - until now. It’s almost like a little piece history repeating. The match against the Fiji Latui is a celebration of Hong Kong and Fiji Rugby, together they’ve already created so much, Mongkok will be Little-Suva for the night.

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