Hong Kong rugby Premiership goes to a decider, but the big questions are off pitch
- Valley upset Hong Kong Football Club to leave title destiny in balance before final day
- Leading figures hail intensity of club competition despite ‘financial and facilities limitations’, but acknowledge a big step up to international level
Leading figures in Hong Kong rugby launched a staunch defence of the city’s Premiership club competition after Valley beat Hong Kong Football Club to send the title race into next weekend’s final round.
HKFC could have finished Saturday’s fixtures with the silverware sewn up, but were stunned 23-20 and must visit second-placed Sandy Bay in a winner-takes-all clash to end a five-month campaign in which the six teams have played each of the others three times.
Valley trailed 13-3 after 34 minutes, but stunned the leaders after Elden Schoeman and Alistair Stacey both flew over in the corner for second-half tries.
Off the pitch, Logan Asplin, the HKFC head coach, insisted matches were of “a really high intensity, and exposing players to this level provides them with a good test”.
However, Asplin, who is also on the Hong Kong international team’s coaching staff after time as under-20 head coach, argues that growing the city’s meagre playing pool should be a priority.
