Ex-England star Anthony Watson backs Hong Kong to ‘show they belong’ at Rugby World Cup

Were it not for being expressly told that his uncooperative body would no longer allow him to play rugby, Anthony Watson would still be electrifying audiences in the autumn of a stellar career. Capped 56 times by England and a World Cup finalist in 2019, Watson was 30 when he succumbed last year to the back injury that had plagued him for the previous 12 months. It would be understandable if he harboured more than a trace of regret but for Watson the “clean break” from life as an exceptional wing was a blessing. “The clarity made it easier, because I’d have risked [my health] to the nth degree to keep playing if it was left to me,” he said. At odds with the countless tales of retired sportspeople who have struggled without the routine and competition that formerly governed their lives, Watson is “enjoying having control of what I can do and when”. In the city last week as a Laureus ambassador and to attend the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Watson said: “My life was extremely regimented from around the age of 13, and I would never have had the opportunities to do things like this, nor be in control of what I was doing when I was here.” From the outside looking in at his old profession, Watson has a broad view, and in a 30-minute conversation with the South China Morning Post he shared plenty of forthright opinions about what he observes. A British & Irish Lion on 2017 and 2021 tours to New Zealand and South Africa respectively, Watson launched a staunch defence of his old Leicester Tigers boss Steve Borthwick, who is feeling the heat as England head coach barely 18 months before next year’s Rugby World Cup in Australia. He backed the involvement Down Under of emerging nations such as Hong Kong, and explained why wily Italy have demonstrated the city team can “show they belong” on the global stage. A huge fan of “very exciting” sevens, Watson accused World Rugby bosses of a lack of innovation that has allowed the shorter form to become “stagnant”. The 32-year-old, who recently admitted to cheating a head injury assessment after being illegally clobbered by New Zealand’s Sonny Bill Williams while playing for the Lions, also pooh-poohed the notion that rugby was becoming too physical. Indeed, the Rugby World Cup’s expansion from 20 to 24 teams led not only to fears over lopsided scorelines in the pool stage, but also concerns over the injury risk for minnow teams competing with physically superior opponents. Hong Kong are grouped with New Zealand and Australia, as well as Chile. “Hong Kong are a good addition to the tournament,” Watson said. “It’s not realistic to expect a team to be competitive in their first World Cup, but the bigger picture is more important. “Children growing up in Hong Kong will see their city in a World Cup, and think it is a viable option for them. You have to see it to believe it. “You want the most competitive competition possible, but you also have to grow the game and make it attractive for all nations. Hong Kong secured their qualification last summer and in July they will accelerate their preparations with Nations Cup games against Samoa, Chile and Uruguay in South America. They will host Tonga in the same competition in November. “They have enough time to prepare so they can put their best foot forward at the World Cup and show they belong there,” Watson said. Back in 2017, Watson’s England team were befuddled when Italy players avoided rucks in a match at Twickenham. England trailed 10-5 at half-time, before solving the problem to win 36-15. “Any team can find ways of challenging their opponents,” Watson said. “Italy made it very difficult at a time when we were expected to put 50 points on them. The key for Hong Kong against New Zealand and Australia will be the set-piece, so you want those front rowers and forwards getting lots of experience and upskilling as much as possible [in the next 1½ years].” Signed by Borthwick for Leicester from Bath in 2022, Watson made his final England appearance under the 46-year-old the following year, when he sustained a calf injury against Ireland that ruled him out of the 2023 World Cup. A former England lock, Borthwick oversaw a dismal Six Nations campaign this year, with his side beaten four times and criticised for a conservative playing style. “I admit I’m biased but I believe wholeheartedly in Steve and his coaching team,” Watson said. “I never played for a coach who cared more about his team and representing England. “The frustration in the Six Nations was probably that it was only in the last match [a 48-46 defeat by France] that England showed real attacking intent. There had been an overreliance on kicking, but if they manage a balance they’ll be in a great spot. “Steve will leave no stone unturned in the next 18 months and, with the squad and coaches they have, there’s no way England won’t be close to winning the World Cup.” Among his Laureus assignments in the city, Watson visited The Education University of Hong Kong for active and classroom workshops with primary school pupils and undergraduate students. On the field, he had to watch himself as a result of various ailments sustained in almost 14 years of professional rugby. “You’d struggle to find a player who doesn’t have something going on,” said Watson, who 1½ years ago was experiencing pain “I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy”. “I have to be sensible, I won’t be putting weights on my back or taking unnecessary risks,” he said. Still, Watson believes heavy contact is “what makes rugby entertaining”. “Taking away the physicality would remove one of rugby’s key components,” he said. “Everyone is innovating … it’s the same in other sports, so why should rugby be any different? “If being physically bigger and stronger is the way to be better than your opponents, so be it.” With a brother, Marcus, who played sevens for England and Great Britain, Watson is a close observer of the shorter version. “A big part of its future hinges on being in the Olympics because it’s a massive carrot for players,” Watson said. “The sport doesn’t look like it innovates enough, which means it gets left by the wayside. “The people in charge need to make it cool and that starts with what’s on display. If children see athletes and think what they’re doing is cool, they want to do it, too. Sevens is so hard to play, and it’s so exciting, but it’s not visible enough. The players aren’t celebrated, so it becomes stagnant.” Watson resisted opportunities to move overseas during his career because of the rule that prevents players based outside England being selected for the national team. Were he not with Toulouse in France, flanker Jack Willis would almost certainly be in Borthwick’s squad. “I understand the rules; for the PREM [English top flight] to get back to being a dominant league it needs the England players, so there’s no quick fix,” Watson said. “There does need to be greater appreciation of players’ earning potential overseas, so the PREM needs to become more sustainable and commercially relevant. It also needs more innovation because I haven’t seen that product change in the past 10 years.” Juggling various business interests and media work, Watson is “never bored”. “I’m quite proactive … my wife would probably say I’m busier now than when I was playing,” he said. “All the pressure and onus is on me to go out and figure out what I want to do, which I enjoy.”

Ex-England star Anthony Watson backs Hong Kong to ‘show they belong’ at Rugby World Cup

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Dazzling former wing at peace with forced retirement, anticipates his old boss Steve Borthwick turning around England fortunes

Dazzling former wing at peace with forced retirement, anticipates his old boss Steve Borthwick turning around England fortunes