By MAXINE LAGMAN
Filipino rugby star Rob Fogerty is reportedly suiting up with the Societe Generale Valley in the Hong Kong Premiership league after leaving his rugby club in London.
*South China Morning Post reported that the 23-year-old Fogerty had left Brighton club to join five other players in Valley RFC, including South African fly-half Siya Alam.
“Rugby in England is a bit stagnant at the moment, there are a lot of cuts to funding and the opportunities are fewer,” the former Philippine Volcanoes captain said. “Finance is one of the reasons I’m moving to Hong Kong but it’s mainly about progression, it’s a challenge, it’s something new.”
Born to an English father and Filipino mother, Fogerty grew up as an Englishman and played for rugby clubs Lewes, Hove Colts, Sussex, England Counties and Worthing Raiders.
After his career in the United Kingdom, then 20-year-old Fogerty played for the Philippine Volcanoes in the 2018 Asian Rugby Championships before steering the national team to the gold medal in the 30th Southeast Asian Games last year.
True to his late English father’s dream, Fogerty hopes to pursue rugby as much as he could and believes that the Hong Kong stint will allow him to get closer to the national team headquarters.
Fogerty is set to arrive in Hong Kong next month and has secured employment at a fitness club while 24-year-old Alam is currently in quarantine for 14 days due to health protocols in light of the coronavirus pandemic before being allowed to join the Valley squad.
Fogerty is set to arrive in Hong Kong next month and has secured employment at a fitness club while 24-year-old Alam is currently in quarantine for 14 days due to health protocols in light of the coronavirus pandemic before being allowed to join the Valley squad.
