WORLD RUGBY U20 TROPHY: HONG KONG URGED TO THRIVE IN ‘PRESSURE COOKER’ CONDITIONS
- City's team have not won a Trophy match in six years, but will seek to develop talent in a squad featuring several overseas players
Head coach Joe Barker says he wants Hong Kong's players to "strive for excellence" when they leave their "comfort zone" during the forthcoming World Rugby U20 Trophy.
Hong Kong, who begin their campaign against Japan on Tuesday, have won only two of 28 matches across seven previous appearances in the tournament.
They will aim to improve that record in a pool also featuring hosts Scotland and Samoa.
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Barker can count on a sprinkling of Hong Kong-qualified talent, cannily spotted overseas, for a competition his side when they won an eighth straight Asia Rugby U19 title last December.
"We are going to a huge tournament which is recognised worldwide, and exposing boys from Hong Kong to top nations," Barker said.
"They won't have experienced an environment like this, with much more happening on match days, and the intensity of Test-match rugby.
"The games will be physical and quick, and the challenge for players is to perform at their best in that pressure cooker.
"It is so valuable for their development, as people as well as players. We will see how they conduct themselves [off the field], and if they are able to move from their comfort zones and still perform.
"We want them to strive for excellence and try to be better every day."
Barker's 28-strong squad includes two England-based players and another two living in Canada.
Isaac Campbell-Wu, who plays for English Premiership club Bristol Bears, is a former England U18 international. He was identified by Hong Kong coaches while playing for Clifton College at the Rosslyn Park National School Sevens in England.
Barnaby Horberry, who studies at the University of Nottingham, represented the North of England in 2022.
Marcus D'Acre, who is at Queen's University in Ontario, played for Canada in the qualifiers for last year's World Rugby U20 Trophy. His dad, Nigel, is a former Hong Kong international.
Stephen Webb, from the University of British Columbia, represented Canada at U18 level.
"We are finding players through different resources," Barker said. "Sometimes we identify them, as in Isaac's case. People contact us, and we have parents emailing. There is a lot of communication, and working out how we can help each other, through the [recruitment] process.
"We want to find these players early and develop them. The lads have made a huge effort to get here, and they are contributing to the environment."
The eight-team Trophy is a second-tier tournament, with the world's leading 12 nations competing in the ongoing World Rugby U20 Championship in South Africa.
Barker's team face Scotland on July 7 and on July 12 play Samoa, who beat Hong Kong 30-27 in last year's edition. Classification matches are scheduled for July 17. Every fixture will be staged at Edinburgh's Hive Stadium.
Hong Kong have never finished higher than seventh, a feat they managed with victory over hosts Zimbabwe in 2016. They last won a Trophy match six years ago - a 56-35 pool success against Romania.
"We should have beaten Samoa last year, but we are not putting a huge emphasis on needing to win," Barker said.
"The end goal is for players to transition into the senior team. They are still developing personalities, and their physical and mental understanding.
"We will help them with that, so they are better humans coming away from the tour.
"When things don't work out, it is a life lesson. Sometimes, you put so much effort into something, but it doesn't go your way. You have to be resilient. We will help players with tough moments, and they will be stronger people for them.
"There will be skill, technical and tactical errors - those happen to the best players in the world.
"But attitude and effort are non-negotiable; they have to keep going, and put everything into it."
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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.
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2024-07-02T00:20:51Z dg43tfdfdgfd
