How Hong Kong rugby sevens star Liam Herbert went from age-grade reject to national team game-changer
- The 23-year-old Edmonton Sevens player of the tournament discusses his partnership with Max Denmark, and the future of Hong Kong rugby
- ‘I had to pull myself together and say [rugby] is what I want to do,’ recalls Herbert, who failed to make the cut at Aston Villa football trial
It’s tied 14-14 with seconds to go. The Hong Kong men’s rugby sevens team are on their own try-line against World Rugby Sevens Series core team Ireland.
Liam Herbert, who starred throughout the double-header Vancouver and Edmonton Sevens tournaments, wriggles away from a couple of Irish tackles, then offloads the ball to teammate Max Denmark, who palms off Jordan Conroy – Ireland’s record try-scorer – before sending it back to Herbert to score the unlikeliest of overtime winners.
“When they score the first try, our heads would go down and we’re just pushovers to them. But in this tournament we actually went for it. After they scored, we thought ‘we’re good enough to get back at them’.
“Denmark always had a rivalry with Conroy because they’re similar players. Earlier he made a line-break and popped the ball straight up to Conroy who scored their first try. Max was fuming – I saw it in his eyes from the bench. After [we scored the winning try] he said ‘that’s how we do it’ and gave me a massive hug.”
It was the perfect way to thank head coach Paul John, who handed the promising pair starts at both tournaments. Herbert and the 22-year-old Denmark’s performances earned plaudits from several pundits and neutrals.
“It was the first time going into a tournament that the coach told me I was going to be in the starting line-ups. Usually I come on for the last three or four minutes, which is all right, but it doesn’t give you much time to show what you’re made of,” Herbert said.
“When they told us we would be starting, we were like, ‘Well, let’s do what we do in training’. We have a good connection – he’s a big and fast ball-carrier and I’m more of a steppy guy – so I’ll take it around them and give it to him.”
“I’ve thought for a long time that you’re going to have to give the young guys a chance. This was our time and Johnsy [coach John] trusted us. And we did well – we put in a shift and stood out,” Herbert said.
“The future of Hong Kong rugby is actually looking really positive. The connection as a team, a bit of banter in the gym with the players and coaches. But we know when it’s time to be serious. The team’s come a long way and I’m looking forward to us sticking together.”
It was not all smooth sailing for Guernsey-born, Hong Kong-raised Herbert, however. Born into a sporting family, he studied at Bradbury School and the Hong Kong Academy before a stint at a boarding school in Phuket, Thailand with his siblings. He joined South Island School upon returning, then tried to pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
“I was like, ‘Football career’s over’ and went back to Hong Kong and played rugby again. I played at [Hong Kong Football Club’s] Taipan’s Day and the then-Hong Kong sevens coach said ‘I want you to come play with us’. I’d been kicked out from the age-grade level for not doing stuff well, but since training properly the seniors have enjoyed what I’ve been doing.
“I started from the bottom, on a bad salary, not getting picked for teams, not having mates, being scared to talk to the likes of Rowan Varty and the McQueen brothers because you looked up to them as a kid. Now I’m comfortable with them all. Times have changed.”
The Hong Kong Rugby Union did not take long to identify Herbert and Denmark’s talents, convincing them to halt their university plans and stick around for the sevens team’s Olympic qualifying and Asian Games campaigns.
“I had to pull myself together and say this is what I want to do. You saw the other guys flying around the world and waking up every day doing what they love. Sometimes you wake up and can’t be bothered, then you see the lads and get a boost,” Herbert said.
At club 15s level, Herbert made a stunning move from his lifelong Football Club to league rivals Tigers. He cited more playing time in his preferred position, as opposed to being used on the wing for the ever-deep Football Club squads.
Though the transition between sevens and 15s never gets easier, Herbert’s obvious thirst for sevens will be quenched in no time.
First up is the Asia Sevens Series, scheduled for November, which doubles up as a World Cup qualifier. There are further Series tournaments in Dubai the following weeks – just some of several warm-ups for next year’s 2022 World Cup in South Africa and their title defence at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
“We’re definitely going in to win the Asia Sevens Series. We’ve always come up short against Japan but the way we’re playing rugby now is the best we’ve been playing since I’ve been here,” Herbert said.
“Next year is all up in the air, but we want to win the Asian Games again for sure. It’s massive for us to show that [the 2018 Games gold medal] was not a one off.
“Before that is the World Cup – the top two teams of the Asian Sevens Series qualify. We want to show that we weren’t invited to fill up a spot.”
