All change at the top as Premiership powerhouses prepare for key clashes
Broony Quaich up for grabs as Valley, HK Scottish face off at the Rock
A frantic shuffling of several top-flight decks has taken place ahead of this weekend’s eighth round of the men’s HKRU Premiership with some of the league’s top contenders preparing for potential season-changing match-ups.
Undefeated Societe Generale Valley travel to Shek Kip Mei to fight Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish for the Broony Quaich and to extend their seven-match unbeaten start to the season.
Scottish are tied third in the standings with Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers who face surging second-ranked Natixis HKFC at King’s Park, while Sabre Kowloon – fresh from their first victory of the season last weekend – take on injury-ravaged Leighton Asia HKCC at Aberdeen Sports Ground. All matches kick off at 16.30.
Last week was a morale booster and a big turnaround from when we played Scottish at their place earlier in the season and lost heavily
Scottish are looking to bounce back after a 25-20 loss to HKFC and, after numerous positional changes last Saturday, they will fancy their chances with the return from injury of Lex Kaleca in the centres as Rob Cleary shifts to fullback in place of Dave Whiteford, who made a spot start last week.
The Scottish pack will inevitably come under pressure from Valley’s steam-rolling front row, anchored by hard-nosed South Africans Grant Kemp (prop) and Dayne Jans (hooker).
The boys at the Rock have themselves been forced to move first-choice hooker Lachlan Chubb to the flank to cover for injured Harris Grant while Frazer Wilford gets the start at hooker.
“Last week was a morale booster and a big turnaround from when we played Scottish at their place earlier in the season and lost heavily,” said Will Thomas, HKFC director of rugby.
