Meet the new kid on the block as 20-year-old Paul Altier makes Asia Rugby Championship case
- As the 15-a-side squad is forced to watch the 2019 Rugby World Cup from the sidelines, the focus now turns to preparing for 2023 in France
- New head coach Andrew Hall has turned the page and looks to offer some young guns some caps at the upcoming Asia Rugby Championship
The result: a blatant high-tackle the referees clearly missed. But Altier, young, spry and looking to make his name with the big boys, popped up off the ground in a split second and found his way back into the play none the worse for wear.
It’s this youthful exuberance that has Hong Kong’s rugby community hopeful looking into an immediate future that appears bleak for the 15 a-side programme. No appearance at the 2019 Rugby World Cup, a massive missed chance via a last gasp repechage in France and a team that has to switch to a long-term focus.
Now the sights turns to 2023 and a potentially expanded Rugby World Cup, again in France. New head coach Andrew Hall, who has informally assumed duties from Leigh Jones, said young players like Altier, who could make his national team debut in the Asia Rugby Championship, which kicks off on June 8 in South Korea, are exactly what the Hong Kong Rugby Union need going forward, but they may not be good for his personal health.
“It’s not good for the blood pressure that’s for sure,” said Hall. “But they bring that youthful exuberance and creativity, and that, ‘Well I’m just going to have a crack.’ And I think it’s good at times because we tend to beat that out of most of the older players.”
The youthful experiment did the trick on Saturday as Altier and winger Harry Sayers, 22, ran through tackles and into space on a number of occasions as the national squad downed the Tigers 32-17. Sayers also saw action for the Tigers in Global Rapid Rugby play.