Kowloon forward Mark Goosen has been included in Hong Kong's 12-man squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup Sevens, after gaining special dispensation from his employer.
Goosen was due to fly to Adelaide to commence his Pilots Training Course for Cathay Pacific on the same day as the squad left for Dubai, but the company has allowed the burly forward to postpone his commitments and play at the tournament.
"Fortunately Cathay Pacific was most supportive and accommodating in releasing Mark to represent Hong Kong in this prestigious tournament," said HKRFU Head of Performance Ivan Torpey.
"Directly on completion of the tournament Mark will travel to Adelaide to continue his course.”
Coach Rodney MacKintosh trimmed his personnel down from the 16-man Elite Training Squad after recent tournaments in Darwin, Australia and Wellington, New Zealand.
Late call-up for Wong
Nine members of the 12-man squad are Asian Games qualified, while the other three players are eligible to play under IRB residency requirements having been in Hong Kong for at least 36 months.
Another late call-up was scrum half Jeff Wong, who was unable to attend Wellington due to work comments.
“Jeff’s performance in the A programme and current form in the domestic league have forced him back into the squad," said Torpey.
"His robustness and physicality edges him ahead of others for the crucial half back position.”
Free-running back Keith Robertson, who impressed on home soil last year at the Hong Kong Sevens, is also included in the squad, which departs for Dubai on Sunday 29 February.
Hong Kong squad: Andrew Chambers (c), John Gbenda Charles, Mark Goosen, Anthony Haynes, Nick Hurrell, Alex McQueen, Tom McQueen, Kenzo Pannell, Keith Robertson, Rowan Varty, Jeff Wong, Mark Wright (v-c)
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