Hong Kong rugby appoint England legend Simon Amor as interim men’s 15s head coach to oversee Asia Rugby Championship title defence
- Former England captain and coach wants to ‘help players adapt’ and become ‘best semi-professional set-up in the game’
- Amor on post-Elite Rugby Programme era: ‘To be an elite rugby player on an amateur basis is eminently achievable’
Former England coach and international Simon Amor will be Hong Kong’s interim coach for the upcoming Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) campaign, the Hong Kong Rugby Union announced on Monday.
Amor has coached both the English men’s and women’s sevens teams, 2016 Olympic silver-medallists Great Britain, and was part of Eddie Jones’ England rugby union coaching staff – helping to win last year’s Six Nations Championship – before departing in May.
“This is a fantastic opportunity to share the knowledge I have gleaned from over a decade of coaching, but it’s more important than that. This situation is a test of my ability to build relationships and to help players fulfil their potential. I am keen to see how I can help the players adapt in what is a unique moment for them,” the former London Irish, Gloucester, Wasps and Scottish player said.
Two-time defending ARC champions Hong Kong will not be satisfied with anything but a third crown. Though they have not played in international competition since March 2020, a win over South Korea and Malaysia in November would provide a boost to their chances to contend for one of the eight remaining 2023 Rugby World Cup spots.
“There is solid infrastructure and planning in place with the squad so it will be a collaborative effort. It’s an explorative kind of piece, which is what excites me most,” Amor said.
“What we are trying to do is attainable. To be an elite rugby player on an amateur basis is eminently achievable. As long as you get your planning, discipline and focus right, you can be an outstanding player, represent Hong Kong and still balance a challenging and rewarding job.”
Amor laid out “compromises we have to make”, which require serious discipline and commitment. That should not be an issue for a group that has remained largely intact despite the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and short-notice coaching change-ups.
“From everything I hear, this is a committed, passionate group who want to be successful. For me, the only question is how can we make it the best semi-professional set-up in the game? Can we be the absolute pinnacle of the world in terms of the way we operate? That’s a very good aspiration for a team like Hong Kong to have now.
“The position has come about quickly and the time left is short, but that is the next step. Hong Kong has always been brilliant for me and I have such great memories of this place. I am so grateful for what it has done for me, so this is an opportunity to hopefully provide something back.”
Union chairman Patrick Donovan said he was “delighted” to have secured Amor for Hong Kong’s ARC defence later this year, reiterating the team’s long-standing aim to reign over the continent.
“His achievements on the pitch are talked about to this day, but we are most excited about his coaching accomplishments and we believe he will make a positive impact on the team,” Donovan said.
“As we push for a third straight Asian championship, Simon’s appointment is a clear indication of our resolve to become a top team in Asia and to qualify for future World Cups.”
