{"product_id":"tokkie-smith-and-the-colour-of-rugby-creating-the-hong-kong-sevens-paperback","title":"Tokkie Smith and the Colour of Rugby: Creating the Hong Kong Sevens - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eJohn D'Eathe\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"The colonial rugby elite sat in stunned silence. He had been accused but not heard. Never before had they been required to make such an emotional and personal decision. Slowly, one by one, they raised their hands and his life was over.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAuthor John D'Eathe is a product of the golden years of amateur rugby. He has seen the game transform from elitist and non-inclusive into the brilliant, open Sunshine Rugby of today.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe met Tokkie Smith in 1959 in exotic Hong Kong and joined him for a decade in the waning days of the Empire and of Colonial rugby. He played regularly for the Club, a few times for Hong Kong and has a Blarney Stone Sevens tournament mug.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe lost out to concussion and took on RU Hon Sec. during the opening up of the game, leading later to the establishment of the Asia Rugby Union. He mixed with the amateur Old Toffs still running RFU from England.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHe moved to Vancouver but continued rugby friendships that have helped him research this book. He looks back objectively and sees the impact his friend Tokkie Smith had upon world rugby. Many influenced change but Tokkie was special with his life totally committed to the game, progressively including different peoples and nations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerversely his liberal attitude caused his downfall and personal tragedy. In the crowning achievement of his life, his insistence upon the Sevens game being played and upon multi-racial inclusion produced the Hong Kong Sevens, which he organised and managed in its early years. It was this critical and exciting turning point in the international rugby paradigm for which he personally deserves the credit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe author asserts that Tokkie Smith is an unsung hero of today's all-welcoming game but that he was deprived of his legacy and cast into obscurity by a confused, self absorbed and elitist local rugby establishment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe book seeks to re-establish his rightful place in rugby history. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCreating the Hong Kong Sevens \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe Hong Kong Sevens produced a burst of brilliant rugby which brightens the world. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt didn't just happen but was created through progressive inclusion. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the process Founder South African Tokkie Smith was caught up in the turbulent forefront of the game's move from white domination and into the clutches of big money. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt brought him personal tragedy but gave the world Sunshine Rugby.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 218\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.46 x 8.27 x 5.83 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e July 31, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43153210933311,"sku":"9780991993086","price":18.34,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0105\/8226\/1823\/files\/CtzHgfwfjA9780991993086.webp?v=1776945148","url":"https:\/\/dhl-adrianne.myshopify.com\/products\/tokkie-smith-and-the-colour-of-rugby-creating-the-hong-kong-sevens-paperback","provider":"BBB","version":"1.0","type":"link"}