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Robby Nimmo

Nigel D'Acre's wife used to turn up at his matches and roar her support - problem was, it wasn't always for him.
Nigel captained Hong Kong at last year's Sevens and his international career spanned two decades, but Sharon is a force to be reckoned with, too. A banker, she played in Hong Kong's first women's 15s team as fullback in 1998 
'I regard myself as totally Australian, even though my parents are New Zealanders,' said Nigel. 'I grew up in Australia, so when I watch rugby with them, it's pretty interesting. 
'Sharon was born in Hong Kong, but grew up in Canada. She feels Canadian to the core. So, although she loves Hong Kong, if Canada are playing Hong Kong, she'll barrack for Canada every time, even if I was playing! 
'There was no love lost. She's very one-eyed about it.   The Hong Kong team were playing in the Pacific Rim tournament against Canada in 1997 or 1998. She supported us that time, but took no photos of us as a team after the game finished, just the Canadians!' 
The couple met in 1997, and rugby was at the heart of the relationship.
'When  we met, she was playing for  Valley - and I was playing for Kowloon,' said Nigel.  'We met at a Valley  dinner party. She was sitting across the table. It was instant, like at first sight.'
The Sevens came around soon after,  and this was the turning point for the couple. 'We ran into each other at the Sevens. It would have been a great year to play for Hong Kong, but I wasn't yet eligible  as I hadn't lived here long enough, so I played the Tens tournament a couple of days before. After the Sevens, Sharon and I went to the Valley rugby tent to party with a bunch of people. And yes, I confess, we had our first kiss in the Valley tent. That Sevens Sunday night was the turning point and we started dating straight away.'
Things have come a long way for the D'Acre family since. They've moved to New York and back again, and they have two children. A third is due any time, meaning Nigel will not be at the Sevens this time. Each of the children will bear a different passport, with the first child born in New York, the second in Hong Kong and the third in Shanghai, continuing the family tradition of national rivalry for many years to come.



Stolen kiss in Valley tent results in family of five