Low-flying Eagles on par with HK

AT opposite ends of the spectrum in most respects, the distance between little Hongkong, my adopted home, and the land of my birth, the mighty United States, narrows to almost nothing when it comes to the sport of rugby union.

I have travelled the thousands of miles between these two contrasting cultures many times - and then a few besides - and seen the game in detail from both sides.

And the truth, which was brought home anew on my most recent visit to play in the US Territorial championship, is that for all it's world influence, vast size and sporting pedigree, the US is very much in Hongkong's league when you are talking rugby union. It looks likely to stay that way for some time to come . . . unless new head coach Jack Clark has his way.

The US Territorials were held in Denver, Colorado from May 29-31, the weekend of Memorial Day. While patriotic Americans hoisted their flags I was out on a converted high school football field taking part in what many perceive as a distinctly un-American pastime.

The rugby pitch had a picturesque backdrop of snowcapped mountains silhouetted by a pale blue sky, making an interesting contrast to my home ground at Happy Valley - a field within a racetrack surrounded by skyscrapers.

Provincial championships in New Zealand and South Africa are typically played over a complete season, but US Rugby, burdened by large distances and little sponsorship, battles it out in three gruelling days for territorial bragging rights.