Gay rugby player finds camaraderie in Cantonese team, and hopes his story will inspire others to be open
- ‘My teammates are there for me no matter what,’ says Alessandro Calanca
- Italian has no Cantonese language skills but forms bond with City RFC players thanks to their ‘unconditional’ support
When Alessandro Calanca moved to Hong Kong he had never player rugby before. So, it might seem like a bizarre decision to begin a brutal sport at the age of 27.
But Calanca, originally from Italy, has found a level of “unconditional camaraderie” at City Rugby Club he never expected.
The club attracts local Hongkongers, making Calanca the only non-Cantonese speaking player. He is forced to rely on his teammates for translations during huddles and coaching sessions.
His decisions to start rugby and join a local team, rather than one filled with fellow expats, is not the only unique aspect to his story. Calanca is gay, and before coming to Hong Kong had heard that the city’s attitudes towards the LGBTQ+ community was not open.
“I was expecting to have a few issues here and there with the teammates and people in sports, but it turned out to be a very smooth process,” Calanca said. “I was lucky to be in a very supportive club, I was very lucky to have understanding and open minded people around me.”
