Local talent holds key to greater on-field success, says new Hong Kong Rugby Union president Peter Duncan
The New Zealander replaces Brian Stevenson in the role and is ‘honoured’ to be in the job after a 16-year hiatus
Convincing the local population that rugby and education can compliment each other will help Hong Kong reach greater on-field heights, says new union president Peter Duncan.
Duncan, a New Zealander, was first involved with the union as Hong Kong’s coach in the 1970s and has served various other roles since, including two stints as chairman – first for a year in 1988 and then for four years from 1997.
While he is still settling into his new role after taking over from the outgoing Brian Stevenson in August, Duncan acknowledges that keeping the best young players in the game is crucial.
Over time, retaining talent has been an issue in Hong Kong, with expat students heading elsewhere to study and pursue their rugby careers.
While the full-time professional sevens and 15s programmes on offer have seen this slow in recent times, the local population’s heavy emphasis on academic success remains a stumbling block.
“I think what we have got to do, I think we have always recognised this, but we have always struggled to pull it off, is to persuade the local population that study and sport are not mutually exclusive,” Duncan said.