A turbulent 1998 draws to an end at last. It has been a year of change, mostly unexpected, and one during which a landmark move to go back to the old ways was taken.
The decision to pull out of the expanded Pacific Rim Championship - as the level was deemed to high for Hong Kong - and instead concentrate purely on development was the most significant issue of 1998.
This probably came about as a result of what occurred at the start of the year.
It began on an uncertain note with the Hong Kong Sevens under a cloud after sponsor Peregrine was rumoured to be in trouble. Peregrine had signed a three-year deal reputedly worth around $30 million in late 1997.
But no sooner had the ink dried than there was all sorts of speculation that the investment company was in trouble. All the fears of Union officials were realised in the first week of January, when it was confirmed that Peregrine was bankrupt.
All credit to the Union then that, three weeks later, in early February, they announced that they had a replacement sponsor - Credit Suisse First Boston.
