Hong Kong Sevens | Moonlighting as eye candy for the 'cougars'

Personal trainers, topless waiters, underwear models ... what do they all have in common? Outside of their busy schedule of parties, charity events and hanging around the entrance to Abercrombie & Fitch, they might well be rugby players.

There are plenty of opportunities available to players willing to flaunt their well-sculpted bodies in front of the adoring eyes of Hong Kong’s socialite women.
Asked to help out at the inaugural Christina Noble Children’s Foundation Ladies Long Lunch ahead of the Sevens, I was glad to put my hand up and assist with auctioning some items for charity. Little did I know what was in store ... 

After the ladies listened to a few speeches, enjoyed a splendid meal – and their fair share of champagne – it became apparent the real entertainment was yet to be enjoyed.

After being handed a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan “official eye candy”, I realised the rugby boys were a big reason for the large turnout of women armed with their husbands’ credit cards.

The Ladies Long Lunch, now in its fourth year, was perhaps payback of a kind for the women of Hong Kong. After hearing about what goes on during other rugby lunches, the wives and girlfriends decided it was time to have their own fun and help out a charity at the same time.

With a few items up for grabs, including a meal with two young good-looking rugby players, the MC asked how he could tempt the women to spend a little bit more of their husbands’ bonuses for this great cause.

“Take your shirts off!” came a cry from the back of the room, at which point the well-lubricated crowd began to stamp their feet and scream their support.