Making your Mark

Rugby forms a big part of Hong Kong’s Sporting Identity.

When I joined the Valley Rugby Club in 2009, I was surprised by the number of players from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, England, and Scotland playing for clubs across Hong Kong.

My surprise can be seen as Naive or that I didn't know much about Hong Kong Rugby and its expatriate community.

It made me realize that rugby has become global, and there are opportunities for players to continue their rugby journey worldwide.

Jacquin Moses is one South African making a mark in the Hong Kong rugby scene.

A fellow Captonian, Jacquin, signed for Hong Kong Scottish. Signed as a Utility Back, Jacquin's speed, footwork, and excellent side step keep opposing defenses guessing.

Like many young South Africans, his rugby journey started before he could walk. Growing up beside a rugby field, Jacquin watched his dad play, who represented the provincial military team and Kwazulu Natal.

Rugby was in his genes but also an accomplished and well-rounded sportsman. He earned provincial colors in cricket and athletics.

Not wanting to pursue rugby as a career, his passion and love for rugby grew when he attended the University of the Western Cape. At University, he achieved great success on and off the field.

He represented the Western Province 7’s teams, played Super League Rugby in Cape Town, and was part of the 7s Academy in Stellenbosch. All this while graduating with a degree in Sports Science.

The opportunity to play rugby in Hong Kong came as a surprise to Jacquin. Returning from injury and looking to play good rugby, Jacquin faced many obstacles and was at a crossroads on whether to start building a career or look for a new rugby challenge.

Being a determined and goal-orientated person, he decided to take on a new rugby challenge, and through social media, he found Hong Kong Scottish was recruiting new players for the upcoming season. Before he knew it, he was on the plane to Hong Kong.

Hong Kong has a unique rugby style. With many diverse cultures and players from each team from different parts of the world sharing their knowledge of the game, Jacquin feels that this significantly influences how teams play the game.

Some teams use their big ball runners for the go-forward ball, while Hong Kong Scottish rely on running rugby, which is right up Jacquin's alley.

Living in a new country can be a big adjustment for anyone. Hong Kong is a fast-paced city that takes some getting used to, but also a well-economically structured city. Even though he may long for home and South African food, Jacquin plans to be here for the long term.

His currently completing his PGCE and hopes to represent Hong Kong on the world stage.

His rugby journey has been full of ups and downs, and rugby is a very demanding sport that requires one to control their emotions. For Jacquin, it all comes down to how badly you want it and whether you are willing to make rugby your primary focus.

Regardless of your background or obstacles, remember you will achieve your most significant moment through hard work.