Groundwork laid for vital PLA visit
Besieged national coach George Simpkin left all his worries behind him - and went to Guangzhou yesterday to lay the groundwork for the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) grand entrance into Hong Kong.
The PLA will make their first visit to the territory on Tuesday when they arrive to play at the Carlsberg International 10s from March 27-28.
Coach Simpkin, who was devastated by the pullout of his star Fijian playmaker Moape Ravuvu from the territory's sevens team on Wednesday, shrugged off his disappointment and left for Guangzhou to run a training session for the PLA.
'George will put them through a final coaching session before they come to Hong Kong. There are some other matters that also needed to be ironed out before they can come to Hong Kong,' said Pieter Schats, executive director of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) yesterday.
Wearing his other - and more important - cap as technical director of the HKRFU, Simpkin and his senior assistant K. K. Chiu left early yesterday for a one-day trip to the PLA Institute in Guangzhou.
Simpkin will return to the territory today, in time for this afternoon's sevens' practice games between Hong Kong and the American Eagles at Happy Valley.
The PLA's arrival is eagerly awaited by the HKRFU - in light of future ties with the mainland. They will receive preferential treatment from the HKRFU all the way.
The PLA tour party which is expected to number 23 - including three generals - will be put up at the Flying Kukris' billets at Sek Kong. Apart from the Carlsberg 10s, the local Union is trying to arrange some more games against local opposition.
'Of course we have to encourage them as this is a momentous occasion for both Hong Kong and Chinese rugby,' said Schats.
The PLA are grouped with the Nikon Mana Magicians from Fiji, BOSA Virgins from England and Wales, and Singapore side Bucks at the Carlsberg 10s. If they fail to qualify for the second day's play and are knocked out, the HKRFU will arrange a special match for them.
The HKRFU will also host the entire PLA party at the Hong Kong Sevens.
'They will be our guests at the Sevens and for the whole trip,' said Schats.
The visit by the PLA is important as the HKRFU is keen to develop ties with the Chinese Army into whose hands will fall the British military pitches after June, 1997. Grounds, or rather the lack of them, are key to the development of the game in Hong Kong.
Local rugby is also keen to promote cross-border ties in rugby. This past season, a number of Hong Kong Third Division teams have played games in Guangzhou. It is hoped that the traffic will soon be two ways.
The final key ingredient in all this is the importance of rugby gaining a foothold amongst the PLA. The HKRFU's strategy has been aimed at the largest organised body in China. The PLA Institute in Guangzhou is one which caters mainly for physical education teachers in the Chinese Army.
'Teach the teachers to play rugby and perhaps the message will spread' has been the gospel of the HKRFU.
'This visit is key to everything. The rest of the world will be watching and it is important to our plans that everything goes smoothly,' said Schats.
