Kidd cleared of fracture as Pacific Rim series nears
Star scrum-half Stephen Kidd will be available to travel with Hong Kong for the opening game of the Pacific Rim championship against Japan on May 11.
Kidd, who is still unable to run, was cleared of a stress fracture to his shin bone on his right leg. An X-ray has revealed that Kidd has an inflammation around his shin and not a stress fracture as originally feared.
According to Dr Mike Fleming, the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union's medical director, 'rest and intensive physiotherapy' should soon clear the problem.
National coach George Simpkin said Kidd would be included in the 21-strong tour party due to leave for Tokyo next Friday.
'He should be okay, if not properly fit for Japan. There is a good chance the inflammation will settle down by next week,' Dr Fleming said.
At the moment, however, Kidd is still in a lot of pain and unable to train with the rest of the Hong Kong squad.
Kidd said: 'It is still painful. I can't run or even walk. I'm taking anti-inflammatories and hopefully with physiotherapy and rest I should be fit to play against Japan.' He said the pain had started soon after the Hong Kong Sevens.
He has missed a couple of training runs and did not play in last Saturday's trial game between the Hong Kong squad and their second stringers. But Kidd said he has still been continuing his aerobic exercises.
'I'm keeping fit the best way I can,' he said.
If he plays, it will be his second opportunity to have a go at the Japanese. Kidd was part of the Hong Kong team which met Japan in 1994 in Sapporo when Hong Kong went on a build-up tour before that year's Asian tournament.
'I made my Hong Kong debut on that occasion and I would love another chance to play against the Japanese,' Kidd said.
The HKRFU's board of directors could be streamlined at the June AGM according to executive director Pieter Schats.
Schats revealed that a number of the ten positions were under review and that some portfolios could be amalgamated while other's may be abandoned.
Schats said: 'I don't see any significant reduction in numbers but there could be some shifting of jobs around. Any change will have to be voted in by the 19 members of the Union at the AGM.'
