Typhoons, university flatmates and head injury assessments: The adventures of a Hong Kong referee at 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan
- Hong Kong Rugby Union’s Tim Baker recalls being right in the middle of contentious HIA call of New Zealand’s Sam Cane
- He describes representing Hong Kong among the best-of-the-best on the world stage
Typhoon Hagibis wreaked havoc on the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan in what was, other than that, a tournament filled with beautiful underdog stories.
Heart-warming videos of some strapping Japanese forwards carrying fellow Cherry Blossoms through Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium's flooded grounds for a training session soon made the rounds – and we consumed them from the comfort of our own homes.
Japan were due to play Scotland in Yokohama the following day and it was touch-and-go before brave organisers reassigned the match to go ahead despite torrential rain, halting transport and scrambling match officials.
Cue Hong Kong's top referee Tim Baker – based nearby after learning his originally scheduled game was cancelled – who was called up to help officiate the most memorable game for the home crowd and quite possibly the tournament.
The Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) senior match official's experience in adjudicating the Women's World Cup, the Six Nations and the French pro divisions certainly helped to settle the nerves.
