Boots and all | HKRFU must fast-forward localisation drive as tighter residency rules loom
Current squad composition is better than many, but we will still be hit if World Rugby plan is passed
Last May, Hong Kong travelled to Colombo to take on Sri Lanka in the Top Five competition in the Asian Five Nations, the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup.
My friends in Colombo told me after the match that Sri Lanka had been beaten by a foreign legion and that there was only one true Hong Kong player on the pitch – prop Leon Wei Hon-sum, who scored a brace in the 41-10 victory.
I had to explain that it was wrong to judge a book by its cover as Hong Kong had a number of players who, despite the colour of their skin, were born in the city: Jamie Hood, Tom and Alex McQueen, and Rowan Varty among others.
I also mentioned others such as skipper Nick Hewson, Tom McColl, Pale Tauti and Tom Bolland, who regarded Hong Kong as their home. My audience grudgingly accepted the fact that maybe half of the squad had a right to be out on the pitch, but they didn’t accept my argument that everything was above board since the entire squad were eligible under World Rugby regulations.
The biggest problem is that the cream of our young talent goes overseas to complete university degrees and this leaves a large hole to fill
They countered that the three-year residency requirement was too lenient and it should be tightened.
It seems World Rugby was listening, as a few weeks ago chief executive Brett Gosper said plans were afoot to review the residency rules. It is believed that eligibility would require five years of residency if the changes were to get the green light.