New Hong Kong Premiership player Josh Henderson has been in the city for less than two months but already he has noticed a difference in the way promising players are managed. The 23-year-old fly-half, who outlined his dreams to play for Hong Kong after signing for USRC Tigers last month, has clocked a fair amount of experience for his age, having climbed up the Scotland youth set-up, joined Glasgow Warriors, loaned out to Stade Nicois in France, had a brief stint in Super 6 rugby, and even featured for the Scotland 7s team. “There have been a few stories that have come out lately from Scottish Rugby – I don’t want to talk about it too much, but – around their player management,” said the Kirkcaldy-born Henderson. “I can see from already being in Hong Kong for both Tigers and the [Hong Kong Rugby] Union, they’re just much better at looking after you. On a personal level, you feel cared for, whereas back in Scotland – personally and I know a couple of my mates – I didn’t have that same feeling. My first couple of weeks in Hong Kong [is] just such a difference and you’ll get a much better reaction from the players if you feel looked after and part of something.” Henderson, who had to complete a mandatory two-week quarantine, contrasted his initial apprehension towards starting a career in Hong Kong to how he was treated upon landing. “Tigers were unbelievable. They sorted me out with one of the other club flats, filled it with food, water and Wi-fi because I had my PlayStation with me. Sam Hocking, the head coach, was like ‘mate, if you need anything just let me know’. That’s the other thing that people keep saying to me out here: management and coaches know that if you’re happy and have no worries off the field, you’re going to do the business on the field, or it’s going to make it easier to do the business,” he said. A previous understudy of star Scotland playmaker Finn Russell, Henderson explained the ultra high-level competition faced in all positions, including his role of fly-half – also known as the number 10. While contesting for the same spot might be welcomed by most coaches, it can lead to fringe players questioning their abilities and, even more extreme, their future. “Being a 10, it’s hard to get into pro teams when you’re young. You almost need a bit of luck for someone to get injured, then get a run of games and get that opportunity,” Henderson said. “I’m really happy to be here and to have the opportunity to be part of the Tigers’ extended family. They have a really big youth section so I’ll be doing a bit of coaching as well. “Basically, since I came out of school I’ve been involved with the professional rugby. I was with the Glasgow Warriors Academy, then went on loan to the French league to develop me and as a 10. Then I signed a contract with the Scotland 7s for a new experience. It was a massive learning experience in terms of how to look after my body. I had never played sevens before so I struggled for game time. Player management is a massive issue in Scottish rugby. Proud of you @mattsmith230 for talking about stuff that isn’t easy to talk about, you’re a hero ️ https://t.co/QQrI9DyutZ — Josh henderson (@Joshenderson_10) July 28, 2020 “I found it really difficult, I won’t lie. When the contract came to play for the sevens, it was a developmental contract and if I’m absolutely honest with you, it didn’t really work out for me,” Henderson said, adding that while he was “glad he did it”, he felt much more comfortable upon returning to the 15s. Hong Kong men’s 15s head coach Andrew Hall, a former Scotland international and an instrumental figure in Henderson’s latest move, emphasised the importance of young player management in modern rugby. “It’s a massive part of coaching now. It’s all about relationships and making sure the players are settled and content,” said Hall, who replaced Leigh Jones as head coach of the men’s 15s team in May 2019. “It’s challenging sometimes because what we ask them to do in training is very hard and we purposefully stress them to replicate the experiences in the game. On the flip side, we have to understand that they’re people, they’re not going to be in great moods all the time, and they’ve got lives outside rugby. “So as a group of coaches [it’s about] having an understanding and awareness of that. We’re not working with robots, we’re working with people. We’re not perfect but we’re certainly striving towards that. Maybe that’s what [Henderson] is referring to,” Hall said. Correlation certainly does not always equal causation. However, there has been an influx of Scottish players heading east, whether in pursuit of more game time, money, or other reasons. Henderson touched on some fellow teammates who play or have played in Asia, such as former Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw who joined Shining Arcs in Japan this summer and former U-18s captain Euan McLaren, who joined Hong Kong side Kowloon. View this post on Instagram I’m honoured to announce that I have signed for Top League club NTT Communications Shining Arcs in Japan. I was able to experience the country, the incredible people and the culture for the first time in 2016 and again during last year’s RWC. It is a country that has provided the warmest of welcomes every time I have visited. To now be making it my home and joining the Shining Arcs family is extremely exciting. . I have played for some incredible teams during my rugby career and I’m excited to continue with NTT Communications Shining Arcs; I look forward to bringing my experience and what I have learnt with me to Japan and to experience the rugby culture and everything this fantastic country has to offer. I can’t wait to get started! @shiningarcs_official @craigwatsonpix @redskymanagement . *For interview requests please email Beckie@redskymanagement.co.uk A post shared by Greig Laidlaw (@g.laidlaw) on Jul 5, 2020 at 11:05pm PDT “Laidlaw, I don’t know on a personal level, but one of my other mates has just moved to another team in Japan as well,” Henderson said. “Boys that have experienced maybe – and this is just purely my opinion – a much tougher and cutthroat environment back home. Rugby is a business and boys understand that. “I certainly understand – there’s nothing personal there at all. But going back to the player management side, Asia has a much broader outlook on how important that is. Maybe it’s something that other nations are trying to develop.” Hall said players, as experienced first-hand about 10 years ago, move to Asia for reasons that do not necessarily all fall under the category of player management. “They are separate reasons. I think players moving [to Hong Kong] might not be coming here for a rugby perspective – it may be for a career and they can keep playing a decent level of rugby. Or it might be like Josh, where one door shuts and he’s Hong Kong qualified, he still has the opportunity to play international rugby,” Hall said. “It’s not the same as Japan. Players perhaps have more ‘rugby’ opportunities there because they have full time professional leagues but here that’s not the case. What [the recent trend] does do is represent how over the past 10-15 years that the game has become truly global, growing into this part of the world.”