However, Slatem would have to sit out the team’s first match against Western Force in Australia in late March as he was back home with his wife welcoming their baby boy into the world. Now he has been named a co-captain along with James Cunningham as Hong Kong’s national programme looks to the future and a potential 2023 Rugby World Cup berth in France.
Slatem, who got the nod to captain at the start of GRR, said his captaincy ideology is one to lead by example, not elaborate speeches or pep talks. He takes pride in his technical knowledge of the game and holds a bachelor’s degree in social science, majoring in sociology and industrial psychology from the University of Cape Town, as well as a slew of coaching certificates from World Rugby.
“I’d say I’m pretty calm, I’m not a shouter, I’m not a screamer,” said the South Africa-native who got his first cap for Hong Kong back in 2017 against Kenya. “I don’t really do the whole psyching the boys up, but as I said, I’d like to think I’m quite technical so I would always put a technical point before the bravado shouting.”
The national team is entering a new period, and now face an endurance test: the long and winding road to qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Although Hong Kong does have something to look forward to, all indications from World Rugby are that the tournament will be expanded to 24 teams. Hong Kong are currently ranked 24th, and Global Rapid Rugby appears on course to expand to a full season in 2020.
Two key young players who Slatem is going to be tasked with helping along are 20-year-old Paul Altier and 22-year-old Harry Sayers. Altier, who has slotted in at fly half during under-20 games got his first taste of running the backs against Malaysia in Hong Kong’s second game of the Asia Rugby Championship at Hong Kong Football Club last weekend. Malaysia pushed head coach Andrew Hall’s squad to the final whistle, coming within three points late in the game before a penalty kick gave the hosts some breathing room.Slatem said playing scrum half allows him and Cunningham, who slots in at second row, to split captaincy duties both on and off the field.
“I think obviously playing at scrum half allows me to be the link between the backs and the forwards,” he said. “So I guess on field (Cunningham) will take charge of the forwards and I’ll take charge of the backs, but considering my position, it is a bit easier to manage everyone.”
He said working with 29-year-old Cunningham, who got his first cap in 2015, comes naturally. Cunningham, who was born in Hong Kong but raised in Australia has long been a stalwart for the Hong Kong team when it comes to leadership duties.
“We’ve always kind of bounced ideas off each other and we’ve both been in the system a while since it started so we kind of know when we need to talk and when someone else needs to talk.”
Of course, Slatem admits he does at times act like a characteristic “chippy” scrum half given he often has the referee’s ear.
“I would probably call myself quite shifty or mouthy too,” he said with a laugh, “but along with a bit of age I don’t have the breath or the energy to talk as much as I used to.”
Now as Hong Kong look to secure their second straight ARC, Slatem is also on dad duty when he is at home with his infant son. He said sleep has become a luxury but he wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Of course, travelling to places like Malaysia this weekend for Hong Kong’s final game does give him a momentary break from late night feeding sessions.
“My wife is very jealous. She said she needs a trip herself, so that will probably have to happen.”
This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Slatem leads by example as HK develop a future path
