Terry Hart is the 'chosen one'. The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union has decided to stick with him for a further two years as coach of the senior 15-a-side squad rather than reigning League champions Valley's player-coach Semi Iafeta who had challenged for the position. 'The Union's board of directors decided to go with Hart. Terry has done a good job and it was felt that it was best to continue with him,' said Hong Kong head coach Chris Roden yesterday. 'I'm the chosen one,' grinned Hart when asked for his reaction to the news of his reappointment. 'I'm delighted to be involved again and to carry on for a further two years. I love doing it.' Roden and Hart have a busy schedule ahead with the squad. First up will be two matches at home, including a Test against Taiwan in September, followed by the Sars-postponed Asian quadrangular series against Japan, Sri Lanka and the Arabian Gulf. 'We will use the Taiwan games as a build-up for the quadrangular series which will be played in October. There'll be more rugby next year with Hong Kong hosting the Asian Championships. Also in 2004 will be the preliminary qualifying rounds for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. So there'll be a lot of rugby in the next two years,' said Roden. 'It will be a pretty big commitment, time wise. But I enjoy doing this and that's why I'm happy to continue as coach,' said Hart. A preliminary squad is currently in training for the season ahead. But work will pick up in earnest after the summer holidays. 'The league season will only commence late in September and it is crucial that the guys keep training. We need to have sessions over the holidays, although I know it will be difficult with players away,' said Hart. Taiwan's two games will be on September 10 (v Hong Kong Select XV) followed by a Test on September 14. These two games will be well before the League season commences. The quadrangular games will be on October 11 (away to Sri Lanka), October 19 (away to Japan) and October 31 (home to the Arabian Gulf). In their two-yearly reappraisal of all representative coaches, the HKRFU called for nominations for all positions - barring the national sevens job which Roden solely holds - from senior level to Hong Kong under-19s. 'Apart from a couple of positions which still have to be filled, we have picked coaches for all the spots and they will be in place until June 2005,' said Roden. Former under-19 coach Andrew Tranent will be in charge of the women's squad while Quinton Wrigley replaces him on the schoolboy squad. Rambo Leung will be in charge of the Hong Kong Development XV. Laura Cowan will coach the women's under-19 team.
