Are JMC Kowloon taking the mickey out of the system by fielding a front rower who has played for another First Division club? This is the question that is being asked after a fiasco emerged during the midweek game against the PLA Sports Institute, which Kowloon won 22-3.
Kowloon had fielded Hong Kong international and Hong Kong Football Club hooker Alan Clark in the front row. Although the Chinese Army team had duly completed their obligations on the field, they have now submitted a protest to the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) at Kowloon's tactics.
In defence of Kowloon, it can be said that they have stayed within the boundaries of the HKRFU rule book. Apparently Kowloon have registered Clark as a member with the HKRFU.
A bystander might interject with the poser as to how Clark can be registered with two different clubs - Kowloon and Football Club. Funnily enough this is allowed by the HKRFU.
It all began a couple of seasons ago when Valley scrumhalf Robin Bredbury was coaching Gai Wu. He played for them too and the HKRFU allowed this as they felt it would be unfair towards Bredbury if they barred him from playing at a higher level just because he was coaching Gai Wu.
This allowance has now been taken a step further by Kowloon. Facing a shortage of front-row players, they asked Clark to fill in for them against the PLA.