Former Scotland U-18s captain Euan McLaren ready to make his mark in Hong Kong rugby adventure
- The 21-year-old describes discovering rugby in Dubai, lack of game time for young Scots, and being confined to quarantine in Hong Kong
- ‘I’m just so excited to play for Kowloon,’ says McLaren after frustrating run of injuries
Former Scotland U-18s captain Euan McLaren spent his first two weeks in Hong Kong staring at the newfangled skyscrapers through a window as he counted down his days of mandatory quarantine.
It was the first time the 21-year-old tight head prop, who signed for DAC Kowloon RFC ahead of the 2020-21 Saxo Markets Men’s Premiership season, has visited Asia.
“This is the first time I’ve been this side of the world – it’s very different. It was pretty surreal coming here and going through the airport, obviously wearing a mask, before getting to my flat. I thought the procedures were really professional,” said McLaren.
“It was quite tough getting through two weeks of not being able to go outside and often looking out the window and seeing everything go by – sitting there and not really experiencing it. Now I’ve been out and about and a lot of the guys have been helping me get set up. The club have been great getting me out here and settling me in. I look forward to repaying them with some good results this season.”
Born in Paisley, west Scotland, McLaren has represented Scotland up to U-20s level, making the squads at last year’s World Rugby Championship and Six Nations.
