A hard-working and proud First Nations and Pasifika team has been told they will “play to keep the jersey alive” in their first Tradition HKFC 10s match next month.
Featuring players of Australian or Pacific Islander descent, First Nations and Pacific gave the British and Irish a big scare in their first match last year.
Although the team that won 24-19 featured “the best of the best”, according to general manager Matt Sonter, it will be a small but no less enthusiastic group that comes to Hong Kong under the management of Australian legend Glen Ella.
“The way they train and the work ethic; they are a credit to the game and to their families,” said Sonter, the former captain of Australia’s 7s team.
“I’m glad to see some of them put themselves on the national selection radar by playing well in Hong Kong.
“There is an element of passion in the jersey that is not there in others. They represent their culture, their people and their families. In Melbourne (before the Lions match) the language used was that we needed to play well to keep this jersey alive; to give young First Nations and Pacific Australians a chance to represent them.”
