Sevens stars face tough Olympic rule decision

Players like Christine Gordon will have to give up their Canadian citizenship to play for Hong Kong. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

"What would you give up for your career?" is the question that theSouth China Morning Postasked at the weekend. "Sportspeople are known for making sacrifices," it said, "but those yearning to represent Hong Kong in rugby sevens and do not hold a Hong Kong passport face a difficult decision: renounce their native citizenship or retire to the bench."

Rugby's international eligibility rules are complex, especially for players not born in the country that they wish to represent. They involve questions of ancestry and residency, but what they do not take into account is nationality. You do not need to hold the passport of the country that you wish to play for.

Not so the Olympics, or Olympic qualification tournaments. Participation is based on on your passport. Nothing else will do. It is also a rule that is increasingly spreading to regional games, including the upcoming 2014 Asian Games which include the requirement for the first time.

This has already caused problems for some international players. the USA were forced to drop Nathalie Marchino from their sevens programme last year because, although resident in the USA for some years and a long-standing member of USA teams, she carries a Swiss passport

However for unions such as Hong Kong,  where much of their rugby talent is based on people moving from overseas, the problem affects not just one or two players. Olympic eligibility rules would exclude almost half of the 24 men and women who played for Hong Kong at the last Hong Kong Sevens, and threatens to derail the region's Olympic ambitions for the sport.

The decision is far from easy. Dual nationality is not an option for Hong Kong. Players would have to renounce their current nationality - and for US-born players in the party in particular this will affect the rest of their lives. For an American renouncing citizenship is irrevocable. Potentially it would mean losing the ability to live and work near families in the future.

And for the Hong Kong women it could be all for nothing. Although ranked fourth in Asia, it would require a huge step-up in performance to even finish in the top two in next year's continental qualifier, sufficient to make the reprecharge playoffs, never mind unseat Japan to win the automatic spot in Rio.

"I think about it every day," says Colleen Tjosvold, 24, who lives and trains full time as part of the women's sevens team at the Hong Kong Sports Institute.

Although a Hong Kong resident for 21 years with a Chinese mother, Tjosvold was born in Canada when her mum was considered "settled abroad".

If she wishes to play in the the Olympics - even the qualification tournament - she has to renounce her Canadian citizenship, become a Chinese national and then apply for a passport.

If she wished later to reclaim her Canadian citizenship she would face a lengthy naturalisation process and must secure a visa to live and work in her place of birth.

"It's a permanent decision," she says. "If I'm honest, I've given up so much already … my home, my job ... it comes down to the question: how much are you willing to sacrifice? If it was a matter of the Olympics, I'd give it up in a heartbeat … but for now, I'm just not sure."

While appreciating the problem, the head of technical development and performance at the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, Dai Rees, believes the choice is nevertheless straightforward.

"Players want to maximise their opportunities to play for Hong Kong … it's not a question really," he says. Although those accepting contracts with the HKSI are not required to apply for a local passport, it is a condition they are "at least able to prove their eligibility", says Rees.

Canadian Christine Gordon is one player who has begun the process, but is still doubtful whether she will cut ties with her motherland for the sake of her sport. "I'm still not completely sure … but I figured I'd apply for citizenship and if I get accepted then make the decision."

Gordon, 35, gave up teaching and took a significant pay cut to pursue a full-time rugby career last August

"It's one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. I'm at an age where it won't come again."

For American Natasha Olsen-Thorne the decision is even more life-changing, but the scorer of Hong Kong's try against eventual winners Canada at the recent HK7s is undeterred and has begun the process.

"I really want to play rugby and I want to play rugby for Hong Kong," says the 21-year-old, who has applied for her HKSAR passport. "It's logical for me to take that step. For me, this is a dream job … I would be bored out of my mind sitting in an office."

Flanker Amelie Seure, 30, from France, known affectionately as "Frenchie", and centre Lindsay Varty, 25, have also submitted their applications. Although Seure confesses she is sad to give up her French citizenship, she will always remain "French at heart" and is prepared to make the decision for her sport.

"For me, Hong Kong is rugby. I've had all my opportunities in the sport here and I wouldn't be where I am without Hong Kong."

Seure moved from France nine years ago as a talented handball player before transitioning to rugby, where she quickly progressed and was selected for Hong Kong after only three years.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I don't know what the future holds and whether that's in Hong Kong, but I'm confident in Hong Kong," she says. "It's worth it, even to just have the opportunity to play for the Olympic qualifiers" she says.

Plus, Seure acknowledges the opportunity for her to reclaim her citizenship is much easier than for some of her teammates.

An enthusiastic Varty, meanwhile, is looking forward to joining her brother, Rowan, by having a local passport. "My brother got his a few years ago, so hopefully I'll be able to get mine, too, but we will have to wait and see."

With the entire citizenship and passport process taking around three months, Rees is hopeful players' passports will be approved ahead of the Asian Games, which is fewer than five months away.

If that does not work out, Rees pointed to contingency plans, including making an appeal to the secretary of the Olympic Council of Asia to allow players who have previously been eligible in past games - such as Jamie Hood and Olsen-Thorne - to play.

Women's coach Anna Richards believes the loss of players such as Gordon, Olsen-Thorne, Seure, Tjosvold and Varty, will not affect her team's chances at the Asian Games.

"Of course, I'd hate to lose any of my players, but sometimes that happens … you just have to roll with the punches," she said.