Posts from the park | Followers of game should sit up and take notice
Hong Kong’s beaten Belgian opponents boast record of attention-grabbing results against respected rugby rivals
Apart from the fantastic result and grabbing a 1-0 advantage in the two-test series, Hong Kong’s players took away a number of other significant benefits from that opening Belgium test match.
The first and most obvious of those is the experience gained by our six new caps – Paul Dwyer, Jake Phelps, Andrew McCulla, James Cooper, Josh Li and Ben Rimene.
As a player, winning your first cap is a very special day. Many emotions go through your head and one thing you find out when you achieve this is how much support you have, from family, friends, club mates, even old school mates. Everyone recognises your achievement and hard work as you move up to the very privileged status as a "test player".
It is amazing how many old boys name their first cap as the most memorable game of their international rugby career – a reflection that it is the start of something unique and something that very few players ever achieve.
Come Saturday it will be all on for young and old to enjoy ... so come along and support the boys with a big, loud Hong Kong voice
I remember receiving my first Hong Kong cap in Heidelberg, Germany on the first Christmas tour in December 2009. It was a cold, intimidating place and the score wasn't in our favour that day as we lost to a very physical German side. But that test sticks in my mind as a special day for me personally.
