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Former Connacht prop Brett Wilkinson looking to impart knowledge gained from Irish rugby legends in HKCC role

The 33-year-old is looking to draw on experience of years at the top end of the game ahead of the Hong Kong Premiership’s season-opening Super Saturday

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New HKCC coach Brett Wilkinson is looking to better himself in Hong Kong. Photo: Jonathan Wong

He comes armed with years of experience working alongside the likes of Irish rugby greats Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll and new HKCC coach Brett Wilkinson is ready to make his mark in Hong Kong.

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Wilkinson, who is from South Africa, played 183 games for Connacht in the Pro 14 and is looking forward to leading his new side for the first time when they take on Bloomberg HK Scottish in the opening round of the Hong Kong Premiership on Saturday.

“It’s a new challenge for me, something completely new,” said 33-year-old, who replaces Kevin West at HKCC. “It’s going to take a bit of time to get to know all the systems and get to know my players.”

Signed as a project player while at the University of Cape Town, Wilkinson went on to play for Ireland A and spent years training with the national team.

“It’s frustrating in a way that I didn’t get capped, I played in an uncapped game against the Barbarians in 2012 and from that I made the tour to New Zealand but didn’t get a run,” he said.

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From South Africa, new HKCC coach Brett Wilkinson calls Ireland his second home. Photo: Jonathan Wong
From South Africa, new HKCC coach Brett Wilkinson calls Ireland his second home. Photo: Jonathan Wong
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