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Homecoming for Scots heroes

In the taxi bringing Scottish internationals John Barclay and Graeme Morrison to King's Park for a prize-giving ceremony, Hong Kong Rugby Football Union official Robbie McRobbie tried to explain to the driver in Cantonese the significance of the two players in his cab. The bemused taxi driver looked round and shouted: 'Ah, NBA!'

He actually wasn't that far off the mark. Although Morrison and Barclay couldn't be compared to Chinese NBA superstars Yao Ming or Yi Jianlian, in local rugby terms this was as good as it gets because Hong Kong could also lay claim to them.

Both spent their formative years here and this was where they first caught the rugby bug.

Morrison was born in the Adventist Hospital, attended Kellett School and Peak School until primary six, before moving to Dollar Academy in Scotland.

'My dad, Kenneth, played for Scotland at B-team level so he was always pretty keen on me playing. I got the taste for playing rugby here,' Morrison said.

'At boarding school at Dollar I played a lot more seriously. My experiences of playing in Hong Kong after that was coming back here on Christmas holidays and playing for the Overseas Schoolboys in the annual New Year's Day tournament at Hong Kong Football Club.

'Kenzo Pannell [who scored for Hong Kong against Portugal yesterday] played scrumhalf on these teams. He e-mailed me recently to see if I was coming out here. He's the only player I really remember from those days.'

Morrison played in three New Year's Day tournaments for the Overseas Schoolboys at under-15, under-17 and under-19 level - even winning the best and fairest player award for the under-15s. During this time he also trained a couple of times with Hong Kong Football club and featured at flyhalf for Kowloon in a game.

'My mum and dad were born here and still live in Hong Kong so I get back to see them whenever I can. My dad's an accountant and my mum does volunteer work for MSI, which sends medical help to the poorer parts of China,' Morrison said.

Barclay, 22, was born in the Matilda Hospital and attended Bradbury Junior School for three years, during which time he joined Stanley Fort Mini Rugby Club.

'My dad was involved in coaching with Stanley Fort Mini Rugby Club and I started off playing rugby with them,' Barclay said.

'I can't say I can remember too much as I was so young, but that's what sparked my interest in the game. That and going to the Hong Kong Sevens. My family never missed it.'

Subsequently, Barclay played in the Youth Showcase at the Sevens.

'I vaguely remember playing in it but I have more memories of attending the Sevens with my family and friends and what a great occasion it was,' he said. 'When I was seven or so my family left Hong Kong but we returned over the next few years to go to the Sevens and meet up with family friends. But this is the first time I've been back here in about 12 years.'

Like Morrison, Barclay also attended Dollar Academy and after leaving school signed with the Glasgow Warriors at the age of 17.

Both have since become fixtures in the Scottish national squad.

Morrison, 26, won his first Scotland cap on the 2004 tour to Australia and scored his first international try against Japan in November 2004. He was also part of the team that won last year's Calcutta Cup against England.

Barclay made his Scotland debut in the 2007 Rugby World Cup match against New Zealand, and scored his first international try in Scotland's 41-0 win over Canada in 2008.

Because the Six Nations finished last weekend it gave the two Scots a chance to revisit Hong Kong and more importantly get reacquainted with the Sevens.

'We had to do a bit of begging to our coach at Glasgow Warriors because the rest of the Scottish squad will be playing for their clubs in the Magniers League this weekend,' Morrison said.

'But he realised we needed a break as we were both heavily involved in the Six Nations this year, so we've been lucky enough to be given the chance to come back out.

'It's not often you get the chance to see world-class sevens rugby, although the last time I was here, I was in the South Stand and let's say not too much rugby got watched. We've done some corporate but our girlfriends have come out with us, so the least we could do is let them experience the South Stand for a few hours.'

Unfortunately, they had to be up at 6am this morning to get an 8.30am flight back to the UK. It was an early rise after an exhausting Saturday at Hong Kong Stadium, but it did not stop them getting into the Sevens spirit.

'It would have been rude not to,' said Morrison.

Thistle amaze you

Graeme Morrison

Born: Adventist Hospital, October 17, 1982.

Position: Centre

Junior rugby: Attended Kellett School and The Peak School.

Schools rugby: Moved to Dollar Academy, but continued to return to Hong Kong for the New Year's Day tournaments for overseas schoolboys in the under-15, 16 and 17 age groups.

Club career: Signed for the Glasgow Warriors in 2003.

International career: Made his debut on the 2004 tour of Australia, and scored the first of two international tries against Japan in Perth. A four-year hiatus followed, before he returned for the Six Nations against Wales in 2008. Was in the team who won the Calcutta Cup the same year.

Fun fact: Ken Morrison, Graeme's father, was a Hong Kong international, and prior to that won a Scottish B cap.

Caps: 16

Tries: 2

Height: 1.90m

Weight: 105kg

John Barclay

Born: Matilda Hospital, Hong Kong, September 24, 1986.

Position: Open-side flanker

Junior career: Played at Stanley Fort Mini-Rugby Club while at Bradbury Junior School. Played at the Youth Showcase of the Hong Kong Sevens.

Schools career: Helped Dollar Academy win the Scottish Schools Cup in 2004.

Club career: Joined Glasgow Warriors at the age of 17. In 2005-06 season he started for the Warriors in all six of their Heineken Cup pool matches, and played all 27 of the Warriors' games the following season.

International career: Represented Scotland at under-18, 19, 20, 21 and A levels. His full debut was a baptism of fire - against New Zealand at the 2007 World Cup - a day before his 21st birthday.

Caps: 11

Tries: 1

Height: 1.88m

Weight: 96kg

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