Latest / Cut The Kak / Katch-Up 3: What it's really like building rugby in Hong Kong China with Guy Spanton and Marno Meyer
Transcript
- Byron: Welcome back to Cut the Cock. Today we're talking all things Hong Kong China with two guests who's experienced the game from very different angles. Marunumea is a former South African pro who played rugby in France before moving into coaching and is now helping shape the future of rugby in Hong Kong, China. Alongside him is Guy Spanton, a Hong Kong China international who worked his way through the local premiership system to the national team. From player development and professional standards to the ambitions of Hong Kong China Rugby, we're diving into what it takes to build a rugby nation. Let's get into it. Chad: Perfect, nailed it. ⁓ so let's get straight into it. I've got a couple of questions. I guess I'll start. Barnu, you're you started off grade college, priquas, a couple French sides, then Hong Kong, China. how does the South African end up on this journey? Marno: Thank very much. Byron: Ha ha ha. Marno: Almost like I did everything by chance I think. I just sort of say yes to everything and then I make it up as I go along. which was the case with rugby at school. I of stopped playing rugby, standard 9, 11, I think. ⁓ Went into got a scholarship to go to university with that side of things. And then two into that, got asked to play off-stor rugby. Played a on a night. The next Monday I was in with Peshamaas. And then went from there. And from there... Byron: Keep us. Marno: from there went to Greek Wars for a year, played a game, I think we played the Lions or something. The game was on Sky Sports in the UK. French coach saw that they needed a winger. Somehow they got hold of me, ended up being in France two months later and then spent nine years there. And then after that, got an opportunity with someone else to come to Hong Kong for six months. Ended up being here six years later, seven years later, and now into coaching full time. So yeah, it's been a story of just saying yes and then get going with it. Chad: That's a crazy story. That is that's not your typical rugby journey. Marno: To be think it's sort of the Hong Kong journey. think a lot of the guys are that. I think everyone's sort of gone their own route and sort of found their way together in Hong Kong, which Hong Kong like that, to be fair. Not just interact with everybody in life. I everyone comes from everywhere, somehow ends up in Kong and ⁓ sort of gives you opportunities and you just go with it. And I think the work's out for the... most of it and for the most of the time. Chad: Yeah. is that is it safe to say that like a fair few of the coaches on that have had a similar experience or is it just a money? ⁓ Marno: No, think from the coaching set up within Hong Kong the coaching set up is sort of a bit more traditional. think sort of our general manager Simon Amor went through the normal systems, England, England, Japan, all those kind of things. Andrew Douglas did the same, coached in Japan, America. Logan Asplund, New Zealand head he sort of went through schools right, he came into the Hong Kong system at club level and then called into the national side. then Lewis Evans, forward coach, he's the most cap Dragons player, guy from Wales. then got opportunity to in Hong Kong and took that opportunity with us as well. And then our scrum coach, Kane Ames, ex All Black, he went playing, coaching now he's Hong Kong as well so think everyone else sort of did the more traditional there. Chad: So would you recommend doing it the Manu Way? Marno: Yes, it's a lot more fun. Guy Spanton: Yeah. Chad: good. and follow up on that one, Ka, from a player's perspective, obviously Manu's got his own crazy story there, what was it like for you coming through the system? Guy Spanton: Yeah, so mine was a bit more stock standard. I ⁓ I started playing rugby for Sandy Bay at a young age, about six, seven years old. and that's actually currently the club that I play for now, which is quite nice. Still playing for the junior club, but I I kind came through the system. I was in Hong Kong to about twelve years old and then got shipped away to boarding school, which you know, about fifty percent of kids in Hong Kong normally do. Some stay and and some head across. ⁓ I went over to Sydney and I was very, very fortunate 'cause Chad: Yeah. Guy Spanton: Rugby to junior level in Hong Kong is quite tough. There's only, you know, s five, six teams. ⁓ there's not a massive pool of players. So the the level does vary a bunch, especially in the juniors. ⁓ so I was quite lucky to go across to to Australia and and and play over there for for six years through through school. and then after school played three years for Norse, which is I'm actually repping my Norse jersey now. I didn't think I'd wear a Sandy Vat, I thought I'd wear Norse just to just to rep then. But I played for Norse about three years ⁓ throughout university. And then ended up coming back to Kong to play for Sandy Bay because of the ⁓ international setup and what they had going here. And actually my first season, it's a fun fact, my first season ⁓ playing, I I was you know, I was kind of a bench player a bit at thirteen and and sometimes I'd come on and my my ⁓ right side winger was yours truly, Mar Mano May ⁓ the wing. So yeah, yeah. So that was obviously quite cool. Back then I didn't really know, but now him being the coach and and all that sort of stuff was ⁓ it was pretty cool. Chad: No. That is a that is such interesting. Marno: I didn't know that, actually. Chad: Yeah. Guy Spanton: We still there's there's a couple of pictures floating about and ⁓ and a a few videos, but yeah, I've always thought it was quite cool. Chad: Yeah. ⁓ Byron: That's a good. ⁓ Marno: try and them. Chad: Sorry, Barry, I'm hogging up all the time here, but I've got a million questions going through my mind here. ⁓ Gy, you s you mentioned about the like growing up the the playing pool being so small. Is that still the case like today or is that growing and is the rugby I don't know what to call it, the rugby culture in Hong Kong, China getting bigger and better? Marno: No. Byron: No, please, go ahead, go ahead. keep dropping out anyways. Guy Spanton: Look, I you know, it's definitely been growing over the past few years. Unfortunately, COVID, which is, you know, kind of took a hit everywhere around the world, but especially Hong Kong. Hong Kong's quite a transient place. You know, you have people coming in and out constantly. and it's always quite a challenge keeping people here. and I think one of the biggest issues junior rugby has is a lot of the talented players end up going overseas at a young age, whether it is boarding school or whatever it is to to grow. And the challenge is trying to retain those players, trying to bring them back into the setup, you know, later down the line is always, you know, a really tough thing. but yeah, I th you know, junior rugby here is growing, but again it ha has its challenges and all that sort of stuff. But yeah, it's ⁓ it's slowly getting better and better. Chad: Good to hear. Sorry, Byron, I was I'll stop. Byron: No, please go ahead. missed a lot of it, unfortunately, some internet problems, but I'm happy to hear it. I did have a question that I don't know if it came across for Marnu. ⁓ were you during that first game you had that you landed up going to the cricket was afterwards? That first game back? ⁓ Marno: Must have been alright. To be fair, must have been alright. remember I scored two tries. ⁓ the most physical guy back then. I was quick. So just caught and ran. And I think that must have done something. yeah, and then ended up with the university team the next Monday and then it all became a bit real. And you had to do the nitty-gritty stuff, right? ⁓ yeah. ⁓ what time. Byron: Yeah, no, that's such a fun story. Chad: So and Yeah, it's crazy. how so you said you were playing wing. What is your your main role as a th ⁓ in coaching squad at the moment, Manu? Marno: also something that's sort of gone a special way. So when I got drafted into the national set up, ⁓ I ⁓ brought to do the collision side of it, attack and defense side, so the breakdown type of stuff, all those of things. which is something I wasn't probably used to at the time. I sort of had to learn on the go sort of just make it this specialist which I've done, I think. But then ⁓ over last year, I think I've gone more into my traditional side of things where I look after the transition stuff, counter-attack, I after backs and fends at certain areas and stuff. So I think it's a bit broader now. But when I did come in, it was all based around collision. And the fact that I'm South African, maybe, ⁓ played a in ⁓ that. ⁓ Chad: I was gonna say I don't think you often get a wing that works in the collision and contact space. ⁓ Marno: No, no, I think one of one of very few I think. Byron: Hahaha! Chad: Yeah. I mean a as a as a wing played in high school and stuff, I was I was not the most or was never the first person at the breakdown. Marno: Yeah, I would say I was the same. now, I a different story now. Chad: Yeah. Byron: Of course, yeah, now it's all about getting in the nitty gritty, taking the hard challenges. ⁓ Marno: Exactly, and I love it to be fair. I've sort of grown to really enjoy that part of it and the importance of it. Chad: Yeah, Byron and I've been kind of speaking on other podcasts. This is a little bit off topic and this is what we do often. Is ⁓ there's there's this massive debate about ⁓ rugby league and rugby union. And I forced Byron to watch his first game of rugby league the other day. And we had a bit of a debate and saying that it's for rugby union. We love that there's a contest at every single part of the field, whether it be at the breakdown, whether it'd be at the scrum, and that we We don't enjoy that about rugby league and it's a it's a bit of a tough watch. So we are big into the breakdown and love the nitty-gritty and also a bit of a fun fact, Byron's becoming a an actual real life referee. So he's he's getting more into it. Marno: Nice! Good luck! Byron: I've still got a long way to go, but yes, it is part of the Marno: a difficult thing to go after. ⁓ Guy Spanton: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Byron: Yeah, especially because no one likes them, but we need them. Guy Spanton: Correct. Marno: We do need them. We do need them. I'll never see them. Byron: Yeah, I've got a question on that. Speaking of referees, we're a big fan of Holly Davidson. And we know earlier this year in the game that you guys played against ⁓ she the ref for that game. From a player's perspective, Guy, having a referee like that in the game, do you feel the difference when you have a referee that's doing such a good job and has such a history of doing such a good job? Guy Spanton: ⁓ for sure. For sure, for sure. I mean, having a referee of her standard is obviously really, really good. I think a key key indicator of that is the ball and play is obviously a lot higher. She tends to be less whistle happy. I I think she was really, really good for us. But I'm a bit biased. I did actually get a yellow card at the ⁓ back end of the game. And i in my defense, in my defence, look, he did jump. It was a dumb tackle, but he did jump. But the the funny story about that is the connection between the on field, you know, VAR, where she could go and have a look and Chad: Yeah. Byron: Yeah. Guy Spanton: the the camera had cut out. So she couldn't go and see the hit. So she just had to take the advice from the linesman. And unfortunately it was the yellow card and I was absolutely spewing about it. But ⁓ yeah, so I digress. But no, yeah, you definitely do feel the difference. And I think she's ⁓ it's awesome what she's doing at the moment and she's obviously progressing to the levels and really well deserved. and yeah. Byron: Hahaha Because yeah, mean, a ref really can change the, not just the outcome of a game, but the entire look and flow of the game as well. And that's something we try to play close attention to. Obviously we watch as much rugby as possible and we get to watch refs from all over the world. And you can see that in the gameplay. If you've got a ref that's not allowing the game to flow or isn't, let's say, confident in their decisions, it really does affect not just the outcome, but the flow of the game as well. It's good to hear that what we're seeing is actually what the players are experiencing as well. Nice. Chad: Yeah. But w let's talk about how you guys for the the World Cup. That's the the big story that we we both love. we've been trying to get hold and speak to many of the the the nations that have come against their Rugby World Cup journeys. so when you guys played it was at the career game, at half time it was I think forty two three. at what point did you guys like say, Okay, this is happening, we're going to a Rugby World Cup. Marno: I don't know, I don't think we did to be fair. I think you're engulfed in the day and the moment and making sure everything goes right that you don't actually give yourself the opportunity to think about it until after the game. think, was weird, think after the game everyone's like, no, this is ⁓ now a this is now real. We've got two years, we're going to a World Cup. ⁓ And I that took a bit to... sink in I think for us. I don't think it happened immediately. I don't know about Guy but I think for me it took a while to sink in. Guy Spanton: yeah, well I'm unfortunately I wasn't playing that sort of ARC campaign. I dislocated my kneecap earlier that year in the in the Prem, but I was on the sideline watching and same sort of thing. I didn't think it took quite a while. ⁓ After final whistle blown, you know, obviously we qualified and everyone was jumping and celebrating. But I still, you know, even now it's still only just sinking in. I think obviously as the pools have been drawn and all that sort of stuff, it's still it's still not really properly sunk in yet. I think till a couple of months before. Marno: Yeah. Guy Spanton: it all kicks off. I think it will really, really sink in. Byron: What was the, ⁓ go ahead. Marno: Yeah, I think as well, Nogis, because we did this whole screening thing when the pools came out and we were all together when they draw everything. And I think when we got Australia, Zealand, Germany and all these things, I think even then it wasn't real. I think it felt real. You see these names or these and you're playing against them, but I don't think it will be real like guys said until two, three months before. Byron: Yeah, I was going to ask that question sitting when the pools were drawn, obviously with Australia and New Zealand and Chile being in the group. But then what it like when the fixtures were released and you found out you would be part of that opening game? I mean, that must have been surreal. Chad: Yeah. Marno: guy. Guy Spanton: I mean, I'm a bit swayed. I'm I'm an I'm an Australian, obviously. and to see, you know, it's obviously an honor to play a host nation, ⁓ but to be the opening game is pretty I mean, I think w I think the first the opening games ⁓ in it whereabouts is it, Mars? It's Perth. And that that'll be about, you know, p pack crowds, sixty thousand people plus however many more watching online 'cause everyone wants to watch the the opening game of the World Cup. but I mean it's pretty insane. Chad: Press. Marno: Right, yeah. Guy Spanton: We've got a couple of Olives in the group, a few Kiwis, a few South Africans, obviously a a lot of English and and a couple of locals, but everyone's pretty excited with the draw. Marno: Yeah, I think from outside everyone's quite happy. everyone's of just going, well, in there now, we might as well make the of it. You're playing two of the biggest teams in the world, doing it opening Do it for the time, but do it right. I guess we are doing that. So we're doing everything big for the first time, ⁓ Byron: That's excellent. When we saw the draw as well, it was a cool experience because normally those first games, sometimes the host nation's not even involved. So I like the fact that Australia's going to be part of the first game. then I think for you, an awesome experience, first World Cup and opening game all the same time. So if you've got nerves, they're just throwing them all in one match. ⁓ Chad: Mm. Marno: yeah, don't know actually. Chad: I got a bit of a kind of a question on that one. It's it's kind it's for both ⁓ both of you. So in twenty nineteen and twenty three, really near misses, what's different about this group that's ⁓ that's made you qualify for a Rugby World Cup? What's what's been different Marno: wasn't part of the previous groups. Guy part the previous Reperture. You guys post COVID. So I didn't really know different. ⁓ Guy Spanton: ⁓ yeah, I I can I can I can I can kind of speak on that. Yeah, so our our last reprochage was I think it was twenty twenty twenty, right? prior to those, I wasn't a part of those group. I was ⁓ still in Australia. but obviously with the change in in the World Cup qualification this year, which allowed another Asia team, it made an e a slightly easier pathway for Hong Kong to qualify, right? Making ARC the the second spot for an Asian team to qualify for the World Cup made it a bit Marno: Yeah, COVID times, Guy Spanton: easier. Now easy is probably not the right word, but just you know, a a more clearer path. ⁓ but our our last repercharge in it was in Dubai was s really, really tough. You know, we had Portugal who ultimately qualified for the World Cup then. We had Zimbabwe ⁓ we had Kenya who are always tough to play. And then we had the USA ⁓ who you know again really different and this was back end of COVID as well and Hong Kong was really hit hard with COVID. So we had a lot of boys a part of that squad who lived overseas. And when we all kind of came together was about a week and a half, two weeks before the repercharge. So it was quite a tough, you know, sort of few weeks just to try and get all the boys together, training properly in Hong Kong fields were still closed and all this sort of stuff. So it was really, really tough. we were kind of going into it a bit, you know, all over the shop. and that wasn't because of ourselves, it was just because what was happening at the time around the world. but yeah, it's obviously the qualification from last year was just a slightly different. Chad: Yeah. That's that's it. Marno: Yeah, and think leading into the repercussions, I with the rules and regs in Hong Kong, I think at one stage the guys were training in groups of six because we couldn't be more than six guys training together. also everything insane. ⁓ was, can't even, exactly. How do you have a racket with groups of six, 10 meters apart, know? It was weird. It was just, ⁓ yeah. Chad: Mm Byron: Yeah, you can't even pack a scrum at that point. Guy Spanton: Yeah. Byron: Yeah. No. Marno: It's surreal. And I think the group now, the full-time group into the ARC, ⁓ train together four days, five days a week. I think it's been a whole different environment. Guy Spanton: Mm. Byron: Well, there was something we found online. We saw now that there's been a shift where you have more contracted players. Does that help in like your day-to-day planning leading up into something like this? Marno: 100%. I think also with us, have one of the teams with a different model. the teams get together on a campaign basis, ⁓ Where are actually together 24-7, ⁓ five a week, ⁓ every of the week. We train as a franchise team, be fair. gives us a lot of time together but we need that time because we need to make up for a lot of years to of get up to a certain standard. So us it's been good and we're in a fortunate position where we can do ⁓ So it's very good. Byron: I didn't know that. That's excellent. must be, mean, the group must be insane to have that many rugby players together for that amount of time. I suppose the shenanigans can get pretty high. Chad: Speaking of that, I actually have a question. got a question. So Byron and I speak about this and I we spoke to the Zimbabwean team a couple of weeks ago. I asked them this question. So in the Rugby World Cup, it's your first Rugby World Cup, you go in you've won your first Rugby World Cup game. How does the team get together and celebrate? What do they do? Marno: guy. Guy Spanton: a tough one. I mean, if you look at us, if we beat Australia in the first Rugby World Cup game, that'd be a real tough one. You'd probably try and stay away from the booze, but it you'd you know, you'd have to have a couple for sure. ⁓ For for sure. Chad: Yeah, just one. Marno: Yeah, you have to. You have to enjoy the moments. But yeah, I don't think, yeah, we'll see how we go. ⁓ Chad: I feel like you answered that way more truthfully than we got from the Zimbabwean team. Byron: Yeah, the Zimbabwean team was to remain focused on the goal. You might have achieved one thing, but there's many more things to achieve. And you can worry about celebrating after the fact. And I know that's probably the correct response, but I can't imagine winning your first rugby cup, your first rugby World Cup game, shaking hands and then going back to go do laps or something. I can't imagine that being the case. Marno: I think, yeah. think the one thing you'll struggle with is to get an on-com team or this group to do that. I think they will have it there. think if there's one thing I can say about this group is do know how to have a good time, they do know how to work extremely hard but they do spend good quality time together and when they do get the opportunity to enjoy each other's company they really do it and they're very to be around, they've got a great sense of humour and there's of a of characters within our group dynamic which makes every day fun guess, yeah. Byron: Excellent. That's great news. That's exactly what you want from a team, Marno: Yeah, guy being one of them. He's a character. yeah. Byron: Hahaha! Guy Spanton: Now it it is an interesting point because Hong Kong, the our team is made up of a a bunch of different players from all over the world, right? Like I mentioned before, we've got a couple of South Africans, a couple of local Hong Kong Chinese, a couple of people from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, all these places around the world and each kind of bring their unique part of rugby, but also, you know, how they how they celebrate postgame and and all that sort of stuff and how you interact as a team. And I think that's probably one of the most unique parts about playing rugby and and and being a part of Hong Kong China. It's just that yeah, that diverse but group of players that will kind of come together over yeah, solid goal. Marno: Yeah. Byron: to hear it. Yeah. Different sizes, different shapes, but all there for the same thing. And we need them all. You need the big boys. You need the fast boys. You need the tall boys. Chad: And that's kind of what rugby is at the end of the day. Guy Spanton: Mm. Marno: Yeah. 100%. You need a scrum. That's all I know. You need a scrum. Chad: Yeah. Byron: And we are major scrum advocates. We know there's a kind of a world rugby thing going on at the moment about minimizing the scrums. And if there's those changes in the MLR this season where knock-ons are no longer scrums, they're tap and goes. And if you watch one of those games, it just takes away one of those contest points. And I know some people might not be fans of scrums, but the people that love scrums. Guy Spanton: Mm. Marno: same. Byron: and appreciate them for what they're for. I love to see it. ⁓ was a hooker as well when I played, so scrums for me are definitely one of my favorite things. Last thing I want is a line break. So. Guy Spanton: Yeah. Marno: a former winger I can tell you I love a scrum as well which shouldn't the case but I think I have very ⁓ obsession scrums which I don't know where comes from but ⁓ I love good scrum. ⁓ It must it must be. Byron: Yeah. I just think that's the South African blood. Chad: was gonna say, yeah, it's the ⁓ the it's the Biltong and the Buddha Worse and the Branavane. It's ⁓ it's ⁓ does to you. ⁓ Byron: Hahaha Marno: Yeah, it must be, but I love a good strong. Byron: I've got a question if you guys don't mind me moving on to obviously you've got the Nations Cup coming up. There's three games that you guys are playing in South America. It's Samoa, Chile and Uruguay. You guys have Chile in your group. So how does this match against Chile? Is there anything different? Do you use everything you have? Do you go in a little less aggressive or is it business as usual against Chile? Marno: think from outside it's... business as usual. think we want to test and see where we are more so than what the other teams are doing. I think we want to really see if we are progressing and like what we are doing. I think we also played Chile two years ago. think we played them two years ago and that was quite a close game and that sort of put us on the road to qualifying for the World Cup. And we get another opportunity to play three good teams and test and see where we are. And I think that's the beauty of the Nations Cup. I think a lot of people maybe thought, bringing something in is unnecessary, it's another competition that fits in between the World Cups and they don't really know where it fits in. I think for tier two countries like Hong Kong it's massive. like just for now get opportunity to play six guaranteed proper teams within the calendar year. We had Portugal as well which means it's seven. ⁓ We've got ARC two extra games so we're probably playing 10, 11 test matches now. Where in the past played two or three. ⁓ Byron: Wow. Marno: And that's a massive difference for us. And I think going into your first World Cup, having that exposure is insane. I think if we had to go into a World Cup not playing against these types of teams, it would be tough. At least now we get to exposure, I guess. Chad: Mm. Byron: I think it's Chad, no Chad, it's all you. Chad: And ⁓ Gar. ⁓ sorry. From the from the player perspective of going from someone that's been so established in the squad for quite a while now and playing two or three Test matches a year to playing eleven as a squad, what is that like? Guy Spanton: ⁓ it's massive. It's obviously massive for us as players. I think over the past couple of years, the times where we have had internationals have been over ARC and that's predominantly been Korea, Philippines, and I think is one of the new ones, but and Malaysia, right? And and while while these teams are obviously international teams, the standard is is a lot lower. And ⁓ and then each November we would have a a test period where we'd go, we went to Spain one year, played Spain and Belgium. Marno: Leisure. Guy Spanton: Who are obviously much, much better. And and what we found is moving from the ARC into these kind of international friendly to the back end of the year, the jump was huge. each we were always, you know, asking, Can we we need to get progressive teams throughout the year so we could obviously get better and better? And that's the one problem with Hong Kong. ⁓ at the end of the day, it's expensive to travel as a team. ⁓ we're not fortunate to be able to jump on a bus and go across to you know, X, Y, and Z and play local internationals. Everywhere we go we have to fly and all that sort of stuff. So it's always been quite tough. But obviously with the nations cup coming in this year, it's it's awesome for us and getting these games under our belt 'cause it's the only way we'll at the end of the day get better. We can train as much as we want, but as if we're not playing to that intensity, it's very, very hard to to be at the level and the standard of of what we need to be, come World Cup. So yeah, it's awesome for us. Byron: And this might be a stupid question, but I assume with teams like Samoa, that increase in impact as well might play a big difference in terms of your conditioning. Because I imagine getting hit by 120 kilograms Samoan any day of the week. So to prepare for that, I think might be a little helpful. ⁓ Guy Spanton: ⁓ for sure. For sure, for sure. I think I'll be interesting to see first contact, ⁓ how how it feels, how different it is getting smoked by ⁓ yeah, you know, a hundred and twenty Samoan center, but I think that's the ⁓ that's the fun of it and I think that's what a couple of lads are most looking forward to as well. Marno: I don't see it. Yes, I think like we played. Chad: The boys that always look for contact to me, something's not right. Byron: Well that's why they're pros and you're not, Chad. Guy Spanton: Yeah. Chad: trained. Byron: I love to hear it. The Nations Cup as well, Chad and I have spoken about it in quite a lot of depth. with the expanded amount of teams in the World Cup, we don't get to watch a lot of other nations other than the tier one nations play rugby. So for us, we're also spoiled because now we get to watch all of these other teams as we lead the World Cup. So I like... I like what you said there, Manuel. It was just about that experience and then Guy, about getting in front of these teams so that you can prepare yourself for 2027. Marno: So. Chad: Is there any other country that you guys want to play against? Like if you had to choose one ⁓ team to play, even if it was like a three three test matches, who would it be? Marno: I don't know. Spanish? Guy Spanton: Probably Georgia. I'd love to play Georgia. Georgia away. Georgia away. I think that'd be seriously cool. Those guys, I think they're they're different gravy. I think that'd be quite quite an interesting game to say the least. But Georgia would be on my map for sure. Chad: Yeah. Marno: Yeah. Byron: like that challenge. Also very strong boys, great scrum. Guy Spanton: Mm-hmm. Correct. Correct. Correct. Marno: Yes, apparently Spanish loves the scrum. So yeah, Georgia, tough. I would have for Spain, but yeah, Georgia, there you go. Byron: Hahaha! Okay, very nice. you, with Hong Kong Sevens being as big as it is, is there a connection between what you guys are doing and then when Hong Kong Sevens comes around? Marno: I think from a player base, yes, think quite a few of the players that play in the play within the 7s group as well. flow over there. And then we also, I think this year, there was a big promotional side where the 15s was part of the 7s and they were in corporate boxes and really trying to push the 15s narrative. think just, the 7s being such a big thing, or the Hong Kong 7s, I it's just a really good way to get exposure for the 15s guys. think just use that platform to put the 15s on the map and exposing the Hong Kong people to the fact that Hong Kong is actually going to a World Cup, which they Byron: Very nice. Exactly. Yeah, that's cool. Marno: might not know otherwise. Yeah. Chad: Yeah, I would bring a massive market into just rugby as as as a whole, and get a couple of more younger players like I was saying earlier, watching the game, wanting to play the game and just yeah, growing growing rugby as a whole. Marno: You guys should come over to the 7th. It's a hell of a week. Byron: I've seen. Guy Spanton: I was gonna say that was that Chad: I'm a hop skip and a jump. I can I can do it. Barnes got a Barnes the problem. Marno: Ha Byron: Hahaha Marno: Yeah. Guy Spanton: That was gonna be my next question. Sur surely. I was gonna say, have you guys ever been to the Hong Kong service in the past? But obviously obviously not. Byron: Yeah, the answer is no, it's assumed to be yes. something we've talked about, yeah. Guy Spanton: ⁓ it has to be on the cards. It has to be on the cards. Chad: Yeah. Marno: We can tell you now, organize you for tickets and we can invite you next year, 100%. Guy Spanton: For sure. Byron: ⁓ stop it. stop it. Chad: We'll Would don't you don't you threaten Baron out with a good time? Marno: Not a big deal. Byron: Yeah. Marno: No, 100%. But you have to come for the entire week though. That's the only thing you have to go Monday to Monday. If you can survive Monday to Monday, then you're proper. Byron: OK, Chad. If we learned anything from this podcast, Manu says you must say yes to everything. So we have to say yes to this. And if things go on like this, well, we could end up coaching the Sevens team within the next three years. Chad: Єс, єс. Marno: Yes. Guy Spanton: You never know. never know. Or at least refering one of the games for you by and by then you'll be a certified ref. ⁓ Chad: Yeah. Byron: Hahaha! Marno: an easy gig man. Yes. ⁓ Byron: There we go, you see, there you go. ⁓ Speaking of coaching, Manu, did you have any coaches that had the biggest influence on your coaching style or what you learned in terms of coaching? Marno: There we go. brilliant. Chad: ⁓ Marno: I was very fortunate though within a very ⁓ I was coached by some really good people. think Fistins Africa, Tuat Emanou was Chemilas when I was there, Davitron was, and then sort of in France, that's a really good one there. But probably the would be Richard Hill. I think he was my last coach in France. Great guy. I wasn't the easiest So the way I am as coach. Honestly, I've been very about this. think the way I was as a player is degrees than what I am as a coach. I think I was a very difficult guy to ⁓ coach. ⁓ since for and sort having people like that in my life, ⁓ I think ⁓ that into coaching philosophy has been like, it's been a huge influence. think I'm just sort of seeing ⁓ how I was a player and how... Chad: Yeah. Marno: And on the flip side now seeing how I could have been if I just had the right people around me from the get-go, making me see or understand things a bit differently. I such people me makes a big difference and they did have a big influence on my coaching philosophies. ⁓ Byron: ⁓ that's awesome. Thanks for sharing. suppose it comes with maturity, right? As a youngster, you might have thought you knew everything already, but as you get older, you realize that's never the case. Marno: Nah. Yeah. No, and I think sometimes you try and be funny or be liked or just be, I don't know, something, being a bit of a rebel. I think you just sort of forget what's important along the line sometimes and what makes a good rugby player and the coaches aren't there to help you and not there to just pick you at the end of the week. They're actually there to be part of your journey. Byron: Very nice. Well spoken. got a quick question for Guy, also unrelated to everything we've spoken about. Which player would you say was the hardest hit you had either tackling them or being tackled by? Chad: Yeah. Guy Spanton: Twenty nine twenty twenty we played after the ARC in COVID. We beat Korea, which then gave us two weeks preparation for Tonga. And that was for direct that was for direct qualification into the World Cup. and obviously we just beat Korea. Everyone's stoked. ⁓ we get to Sydney. I'm sorry, we get to Sunshine Coast in preparation. We're all super, super keen. And when we played Tonga, I got absolutely smoked by my opposite winger. Tima Fango Nuku, he absolutely killed me. an ⁓ legend, but that's definitely the hardest I've been hit outside of, you know, a couple of training games, a couple of Hong Kong boys, but that is ⁓ the hardest of I I've been hit. there was ⁓ different for sure. Byron: Yeah, I mean, it's fair that you said that. mean, watching him this season has been incredible. So that makes perfect sense. Chad: Yeah. Guy Spanton: Yeah, yeah, yeah. So no. He's he he was definitely by far Byron: Great. anything more from your end? Chad: I'm all out of questions. You boys have been outstanding. Byron: Yeah, thank you so much to the both of you. It's been for us, it's an honor just to chat with you guys. We think what you've achieved and what you guys are gonna be doing leading up to this, we're gonna watching along the way and supporting you guys. Probably get our hands on some Hong Kong, China jerseys as well leading up into the World Cup. You've got two fans, so thank you so much. And ⁓ if you have else that you'd like to share, please feel free to do so. Marno: Thank you guys. ⁓ We can use all the fans we can get so choose Golden and yeah remember your to the Hong Kong Sevens standing so hopefully see you guys here next year it's hell of a time so please do accept them. Guy Spanton: Now yeah. Cheers. Byron: Hahaha Excellent. No, we'd love to. think we'll find a way to make it happen. Whatever it takes, we'll figure it out. Guy Spanton: We'll h we'll hold you to that. We'll hold you to that. Marno: 100 % ⁓ Byron: Yeah, that's perfect. I'm in. I'm all in. Perfect. Well, gentlemen, thank you so much. Chad, appreciate your time as always. And ⁓ you for watching Cut the Cock. Chad: I mean, I'll I'm there. Marno: Brilliant. Guy Spanton: Perfect. Marno: Thank you guys. Guy Spanton: Cheers, Jen.