Crouch, touch ... engage | Hong Kong’s ‘absent sons’ leave a fine rugby legacy

Last week’s numerous Burns Supper celebrations were a reminder of how expatriate social and business groups have long played a prominent role in Hong Kong’s societal fabric – from the swirling kilts and skirling pipes of the St Andrew’s Society to the hanky-waving Morris Dancers of the St George’s Society.

But equally significant is the impact expatriate Hong Kongers have made in numerous spheres around the world, and none more so than international rugby.

A brave, and rather unlikely claim you might feel – after all, rugby was for most of the period of British colonial role a minority sport with a small but dedicated expat following.

It would appear, however, that our little “Fragrant Harbour”, with its unique gene pool of adventurous overseas sons of the old empire combined with the hard-working local Chinese ethic, has combined to provide more than its fair share of international rugby stars.

Indeed, if one was to select a fantasy sevens team comprised solely of our “missing sons” – those eligible to wear Hong Kong colours but who have ended up elsewhere – you’d have a pretty impressive line-up.

Let’s start with the forwards, and for our front row we have a full complement of internationals with a Hong Kong-born parent or grandparent.

Admittedly Gareth Delve, the Welsh international who was the first overseas player to captain an Australian Super Rugby team, is yet to visit our shores, but his grandfather was Hong Kong Chinese