Speedy, young HK side contain record five Chinese players
A record five Chinese players will represent the SAR at the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens later this month. They will represent the future of local rugby and will also carry Hong Kong's hopes at the Asian Games in Doha in December.
The local Chinese brigade will be led by impressive DeA Tigers flanker Kwok Ka-chun, and include Tsang Hing-hung, Andy Yuen Kin-ho, Jeff Wong and Ricky Cheuk Ming-yin.
Apart from Cheuk, the other four will be making their Hong Kong Sevens debut at the March 31-April 2 tournament.
'Their selection bodes well for the Asian Games in Doha. There has been a lot of competition for places and we have had to make some tough choices. But this is a young and exciting squad with a nice blend of experience,' said Ivan Torpey, Hong Kong Rugby Football Union head of performance.
One tough choice was the decision to overlook teenager Rowan Varty. The UK-based Varty (he is in his second year studying law at Nottingham University), has been ignored in favour of regular wingers Cheuk and Alex Gibbs.
It seems the 'evil eye' of the Hong Kong Sevens poster has struck again. Varty is the pin-up boy on this year's poster. In 2003, Chan Fuk-ping - one of the first Chinese players to represent Hong Kong - was framed in the poster. He lost favour the following year after he was banned for kicking an opponent during a local league game.