Under-20s grow in stature despite heartbreaking loss
Hong Kong are narrowly beaten by Canada but several players put their hands up for the future
Hong Kong squandered a golden opportunity to make a mark at the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy when they lost 33-30 to 14-man Canada to finish winless and last in the eight-team competition at Hong Kong Football Club.
But there is a silver lining.
Several of the under-20 squad put their hands up for future representation in the senior team.
Among them were Alexander Post and Zac Cinnamond, both front-row forwards - an area which Hong Kong always have a manpower dearth - as well as skipper Michael Parfitt, Raef Morrison, Chris Maize and Mike Coverdale, and in the backs the talented Hugo Stiles.
Hong Kong failed to play "smart" was the assessment of coach Pale Tauti who despite the loss praised the squad for "not being around just to make up numbers" in the tournament, which ended with Japan booking a berth in next year's IRB Junior World Championship in Italy.