By George! Hunter hoping to impress in Hong Kong

George Hunter has previously represented the Bahamas at international level, but next week he will be aiming to impress in Hong Kong.

The 27-year-old prop/back-row will be turning out for the PROJECX Waterboys for the first time at the GFI Hong Kong 10s on April 3 and 4.

The Scottish-based invitational team has a great history in recent years of giving up-and-coming young talent from the Tennent’s Premiership and beyond the chance to shine in some top quality sevens and 10s events around the globe.

And this will be their fourth time at the world famous Hong Kong 10s which is played at the wonderful setting of the Hong Kong Football Club and attracts some cracking teams.

George grew up in Aberdeen and played for Aberdeen Wanderers and Robert Gordon’s before he moved down to Glasgow.

He then played for Glasgow Hawks before moving into the Academy at Glasgow Warriors and he also turned out for Scotland at age-grade level.

Since then he has had a stint at London Scottish as well as giving great service to Ayr as the Millbrae side became one of the main forces in the club game north of the border.

Most recently he has been playing for Barnes in National League Two South in England having moved to London with work.

And in 2016 he earned a cap for the Bahamas – where his grandfather hails from – in a Rugby Americas North Championship match with Mexico.

“It is great to be involved with the Waterboys and I would like to thank Alistair Munro and James Robertson for selecting me to go to Hong Kong,” George said.

“I know a lot of the guys who are in the squad with me having played with or against them over the years and I think we have some really good players involved.

“Over the years everyone who I know who has played for the Waterboys at various events all over the world have spoken so highly of the tours and we will be focused on going out there, gelling quickly and putting in some good performances.

“I know the standard will be high, but every player loves to test themselves in that environment and you don’t get the chance to play in Hong Kong every day so I will give it my best shot.”

This year in Hong Kong the Waterboys are ninth seeds and are in a pool including Biarritz Gavekal (1) and Kir Club Pyrenees (8) both from France plus Shanghai Silver Dragons (16). All games will be live streamed.

The 16 teams in the tournament are, in seeding order:

1 Biarritz Gavekal (Cup winners 2017, 2018)
2 Tradition YCAC (Cup runners-up 2014, 2015, 2018)
3 Grove Penguins (Cup winners 2013, 2016)
4 Mourant Fiji Army (Debut 2019)
5 Samurai International (Cup runners-up 2010, 2013, 2016)
6 Asia Pacific Dragons (Cup winners 2012, 2014, 2015)
7 A-Trade Overseas Old Boys (Plate winners 2016; Plate runners-up 2018)
8 Kir Club Pyrenees (Cup semis 2009; Bowl winners 2016, Plate winners 2017)
9 Projecx Waterboys (Plate semis 2016, 2017, 2018)
10 Taikoo Place Scottish Exiles (Cup semis 2015; Bowl winners 2018)
11 Classic Wallabies (Bowl semis 2017, 2018)
12 Hunter and Boo East Africans (Bowl runners-up 2018)
13 Tiger Rugby (Bowl semis 2018)
14 Natixis HKFC (Shield Winners 2012, 2016, 2018)
15 Irish Vikings (Bowl runners-up 2009, 2017; Shield winners 2010, 2013)
16 Shanghai RFC Silver Dragons (Shield winners 2017)

PROJECX Waterboys squad for Hong Kong

George Hunter Barnes *
Ross Graham Watsonians *
Johnny Matthews Boroughmuir Rugby (C)
Ewan Miller Dumfries
Michael Fedo Watsonians
Robert Lind St Andrews University
Alasdair Mackie Stirling County *
Ali Harris Watsonians
Kaleem Barreto Glasgow Warriors *
Andrew Goudie Stirling County
Archie Russell Boroughmuir Rugby
Ewan MacGarvie Stirling County *
Jack Steele Boroughmuir Rugby
Scott Bickerstaff Marr RFC
Robert Nelson Currie RFC
Ben Robbins Currie RFC
Michael Vernel Currie RFC *
Mungo Mason Scotland Sevens

Denotes first Waterboys tour *

Head coach: Bruce Douglas

Assistant coach and team manager: James ‘Cakes’ Robertson

Physio: Leanne Brunton

Physio: Heather Ramsay

Thanks to George McMillan for the main image

The PROJECX Waterboys are again supporting the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation and their strips reflect this in their vibrant branding.

 The 2019 sponsors who they are very indebted to are:

 Signature Pubs www.signaturepubs.co.uk

Kyloe Restaurant www.kyloerestaurant.com

JA Resorts & Hotels www.jaresortshotels.com

ACE Property www.acepm.co.uk

Orion Systems www.orionsystems.com

Arbikie Distilling www.arbikie.com

Avocet Natural Capital www.avocetnc.com

4 Navitas www.4navitas.com       

Gaia Wind www.gaia-wind.com

Edinburgh Airport www.edinburghairport.com

PROJECX www.projecx.biz

Donations were also received from Broxburn Bottlers and the legend that is Rab Brown.

The amazing kit is once again supplied through:

AKUMA Sports www.akumasports.com