The great PG Wodehouse famously observed that it has never been hard to tell the difference between a Scotsman with a grievance and a ray of sunshine, but the Caledonian diaspora in Hong Kong have a few good reasons to be wearing a cheeky wee grin at present, with Hong Kong Scottish sitting pretty on top of the Saxo Capital Markets Men’s Premiership after 2 rounds, and the impending visit this week of 3 Scottish rugby legends, all with strong local ties.

John Barclay, the current Scotland captain, will be speaking at Thursday’s Indochina Starfish Foundation Charity Dinner at HKFC, and then staying on to rally the Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish troops ahead of their top-of-the-table showdown on Saturday against Natixis Club. John is no stranger to Hong Kong, having been born here and played his very first rugby at the Valley Fort mini club.

John will also be in the audience at Friday’s Cathay Pacific/HSBC Sevens Long Lunch, where he will be entertained by 2 familiar faces...returning as MC is Andy Nicol, who shares the distinction with John of being a Scotland skipper who lifted the Calcutta Cup, but who is perhaps best known to local audiences for the fact he met his wife in Joe Bananas. Andy will be joined on stage by Big Jim Hamilton, the quarter Chinese 6ft 8in giant lock who JK Rowling believes is a relative of Hagrid, the janny from Hogwarts School for Wizards. Jim is one of the HKRU Community Foundation’s Ambassadors, and since his retirement has become a frequent visitor to these shores and a much-loved part of the Hong Kong rugby community.

Completing the Long Lunch line-up will be Wallabies legend Michael Lynagh, who is actually half Scottish, and comedian Keith Farnan, who is Irish, but who has visited Scotland and reportedly thoroughly enjoyed the experience. They’ll all be helping raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, the official charity of the Sevens, who in the last 12 months have supported Hong Kong Deaf Rugby, Operation Breakthrough, InspiringHK and the regional Pass it Back programme - they will be represented on Friday by Laureus Ambassador Annabelle Bond and Academy Member LI Xiaopeng, one of the greatest ever Olympic gymnasts.

So, a big week in store for the Sweatties...as they say back in Edinburgh, “You’ll have had yer tea?”

Read more about the work of Laureus here www.laureus.com