Everything must be ship-shape in the oval world as the most pressing problem for new Hong Kong Rugby Football Union general manager Ian McMahon is how to remain cool in the sweltering heat. Two months into the job, and the Englishman has still not come to terms with the midday sun.
'Biggest problem I have faced so far? How to get from here to Central in AC comfort, or what suit to wear in this heat,' jokes McMahon, sitting cool as you like in the refurbished and air-conditioned offices of the HKRFU inside Olympic House.
Brought in to fill the shoes of a predecessor who vacated his office unexpectedly, one would expect the hot seat to be sizzling with tension. But there are no signs of pressure etched on McMahon's face.
'Hong Kong rugby is in a healthy state, nothing worries me,' says McMahon. 'But we have lots of goals for the future, although it is too early to be specific about them for I'm still meeting people and analysing things. But one thing I'm certain of, there won't be any radical changes to what's happening.'
With record assets of HK$209 million, the HKRFU is, next to the Jockey Club, the richest sporting organisation in town and the envy of many leading rugby governing bodies around the world. On the playing front, the Hong Kong team are second to Japan in Asia and ranked 27th in the world. Playing numbers from mini to tertiary, men, women and children, are all increasing. More facilities are coming on board. The Hong Kong Sevens is massively successful. It's a rosy picture.
The only danger, it seems, is one of complacency.
McMahon, 46, is well aware of that as he goes about his first major task since taking office on May 9 - authoring a new strategic plan for 2012-16 that is set to come out by the end of the year.
