Emerging Nations World Championship in Australia braces itself for the tough tackling of Hong Kong Thunder’s Jason Yip
‘The Axe’ grinds out a daily four-hour commute from his family’s village to work at Universal Music Group and back
Jason Yip has all his playlists backwards. The rugby league star, who plays for the Wan Chai Warriors in the Hong Kong Rugby League, has no issue getting up for games, he is usually trying to calm himself down.
When he puts on his Bose headphones in the dressing room before a match, he is listening to classical or maybe Alison Lau, a Hong Kong soprano singer known for her soft, soothing voice.
“I’m a very nervous guy, as soon as I’m on the pitch, I’m fired up, as soon as I see the opposition’s eyes,” he said. “But in the time before I’m trying to calm myself down.”
After games, Yip, who is currently in Australia with the Hong Kong Thunder in the Emerging Nations World Championships, which runs until October 13, turns the volume up, way up.
“I’m actually a big metal fan,” he said. “Metallica, AC/DC, Guns ‘N Roses, so straight after the game I put that on. That is when I really enjoy music.”
To say Yip, who also works at Universal Music Group’s Hong Kong office as a regional business analyst, is a rabid music fan, would be a gross understatement. He lives and breaths it almost as much as he does rugby league.