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Thirty-seven new foreign players beat the eligibility deadline for next year's Pacific Rim Championship, which expired on September 30.

 The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union yesterday said the 37 players had been registered by Aberdeen, DeA, Hong Kong Football Club, Kowloon and Valley - the five First Division clubs.

 'We have been inundated with new registrations,' said Allan Payne, the HKRFU's new executive director.

 Most of the players are believed to have impressive credentials. It is not yet known what standard they are, or at what level they will fit in to the local league, starting next Saturday.

 'We did not ask on our registration forms what level they had played at . . . we asked if this was their first season in Hong Kong,' said Candy Yiu, HKRFU administrative official.

 The entry of this new crop of players - mostly from the southern hemisphere - will be welcomed by the Hong Kong rugby fraternity, which will aim to put out a competitive side in the annual Pac Rim competition from May 3 to June 20.

 Only players resident in Hong Kong on or before September 30, and who complete a full domestic season, will be eligible for the four-nation event, which includes Canada, Japan and the US.

 Defending First Division champions Valley have acquired three forwards from New Zealand: John Gordon, Jason Bartley and Matthew Phillips.

 But Rodney McIntosh, a Valley coach, said his side would struggle as they had been unable to get most of the players they had targeted.

 'The provincial season is still going on in New Zealand and most of the guys we were looking at are contracted. It is going to be tough for us this year, especially as we will be in a rebuilding stage,' said McIntosh.

 'The league has turned into some sort of an 'arms race', and I would tip Kowloon and Football Club as the two superpowers this season,' added McIntosh.

 Football Club, having overcome internal dissension from some committee members who were against recruiting professionals, are confident they will be competitive this season.

 'We have the players to play a fast, expansive game. We will be very competitive,' said Football Club captain Martin Robertson.

 Club's new signings are from Australia. They have taken on four players, including fly-half Chris Yates, winger Matt Reede, prop Andrew Croft (all Sydney Norths) and openside flanker Robert McDonald (Brisbane).

 'With guys like Warren Warner and Chris Gordon in the side, I think our backline will be good this year - and you can expect a more expansive style from us,' said Robertson, who will turn out at scrum-half.

 Aberdeen, having looked at one stage as if they would not be able to field a team in the First Division, have managed to pick up three Australians - flanker Andrew Barr from Cairns, full-back Roger Leeson and lock Paul Ahern (both Brisbane).

 Officials from Kowloon and DeA were unavailable for comment yesterday, although it is understood that Kowloon's attempt to get ex-Wallaby winger Paul Carozza has proved fruitless so far.

 Kowloon will go for the hat-trick today when they try to add the Valley 15s crown to the Aberdeen Sixes and Kowloon 10s titles they have already won this season.

 A purse of HK$20,000 will be on offer, with the senior Cup competition winners receiving HK$5,500.



Foreign boost to HK's Pac Rim hopes