Rico Gear and Todd Clever add power to the Penguins
Experienced duo joins host of youthful talent from New Zealand for next week’s HKFC Tens
Penguins have added former All Black Rico Gear and American “player of the decade” Todd Clever to a fearsome squad looking to make amends for last year’s disappointing showing at the GFI HKFC Tens.
The Penguins, seeded fourth, will be looking to Gear and former USA Eagles captain Clever to spearhead their challenge, alongside a host of youthful talent from New Zealand at Hong Kong Football Club next Wednesday and Thursday.
With our experience and fire-power, we’re looking to go all the way to the title this year
“The quality of the rugby in the Cup competition is fantastic,” said 37-year-old Gear, who is making his second appearance at the Tens.
“Given I’m one of the senior players in the squad, I’ll be looking to the young fliers to do all the running while Todd and I pull the strings. With our experience and fire-power, we’re looking to go all the way to the title this year.”
Also capped by New Zealand Maori, Gear scored 11 tries in 19 appearances for the All Blacks and still holds the record for most tries in a Super Rugby season with 15 for the all-conquering Crusaders in 2005.
Gear, whose brother Hosea is also an All Black, was a devastating exponent of the short-format game and a key part of the gold medal-winning All Black team at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
