Achieving sporting success alongside your siblings can give you an incredible feeling of fulfillment as you understand the hard work you have put in to achieve success.
Mark and Anthony were born and raised in Hong Kong and have been part of the Discovery Bay community.
Mark started playing for the u12 Discovery Bay Pirates rugby team, with Anthony following in his older brother's footsteps in the u8.
They are not the biggest or tallest rugby players, but if you know them, they are aggressive numbers 9’s who have excellent ball skills and footwork, never shy away from contact and have big hearts.
They developed their game through the Discovery Bay Pirates age groups. They credited the club for stressing enjoyment and fun during the early years of playing, encouraging the importance of brotherhood, coaching fundamental skills, and creating a competitive environment full of expectations.
Mark and Anthony have achieved great success, both in Hong Kong and on the International stage.
Anthony was drafted and introduced into the HK Rugby Podium Program at 14. The primary focus and vision of the Podium Program were preparing young rugby players for the 2020 Olympics.
From a young age, he learned the importance of high performance and doing extra outside training.
The brothers have represented Hong Kong u19 rugby team, with Mark captaining them on two occasions at the World Junior Rugby Trophy.
For Mark, the World Junior Rugby Trophy was an important stepping stone for his rugby career and allowed him to test his skills against teams like Fiji, Namibia, Tonga, and Canada.
Mark has also earned 6 International caps for the Netherlands through his Dutch Heritage and has recently played against Canada.
Over the last few years, the brother has been studying and playing Rugby in the Netherlands. When comparing European Rugby to Hong Kong, Mark and Anthony say the game is more aggressive, physical, and territory-focused due to the weather.
The 1st of January is an important date on the Hong Kong Rugby Calendar. The New Years day rugby tournament sees rugby players from Hong Kong go head to head for bragging rights.
It also gives young rugby players in Hong Kong the opportunity to showcase their skills and talents to their family and friends.
The tournament is a memorable day for Mark and Anthony, with Mark winning Player of the tournament and Anthony winning Man of the Match in his game.
They want to wish all those playing in the Tournament the best, express themselves, and enjoy the experience.
For any young aspiring rugby players, the brothers have a few messages for you:
Learn and Always Practice the Basics
Express yourself on the Field
Education and Sport go hand in hand.
Touch Rugby is an excellent way to develop your game.
And if you have a big heart, you can achieve anything.
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