AFTER living in Hongkong for two years, Marcus Carling finally made it to the Sevens yesterday - as a player for Thailand. The 28-year-old centre or stand-off, elder brother of England rugby union captain Will Carling, played in Thailand's Group E games against Western Samoa and Japan. And although his side suffered two heavy defeats, he left the national stadium a happy man after tasting the festival atmosphere. Carling, now in property management in Bangkok, spent two years in the territory as a member ofthe Royal Regiment of Wales at Stanley Fort.
A key player in their successful rugby team, he also played for Hongkong at sevens tournaments in Dubai and Sicily.
But he never made it on to the bigger stage - until yesterday. Said Carling: ''I was obviously disappointed to miss out on the Sevens.
''So it's nice to come back as a player and see what I missed. ''I desperately wanted to experience it and, after this, I am thinking of calling it a day at representative level. ''I play for the British Club in Bangkok but I find it difficult to put in the training commitment.'' Carling was one of three expats in the Thailand team, the others being Australian Jordan Jansen and Fijian Semi Tui. He said: ''I think the Thai players have lovely skills but seem to be lacking in confidence as players.
''We had good possession but kicked it away two or three times when we could have run it.'' Carling was in contact with former Welsh team-mate Gareth James before leaving Bangkok.
James was the man who scored Hongkong's Plate-winning try against Tonga in last year's final.
