02-03-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
From Hong Kong to refereeing Antoine Dupont: why rugby official credits city for success
International rugby referee Karl Dickson said his time in Hong Kong was key to him reaching the pinnacle of his sport.
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One of a handful of elite players who have successfully swapped competing for refereeing, Dickson, who was in charge of France's Six Nations rout of Italy last Sunday, will return to the city for this month's Tradition HKFC10s, after officiating in last year's edition.
Dickson's relationship with the tournament, however, dates back to 2003. After becoming 'demotivated' following his failure to gain county rugby selection, he turned to football while at university and, after graduating, spent time in Hong Kong.
'I wanted another go at rugby, so I played a few games for DeA Tigers, and played in the 10s,' Dickson said. 'I loved it and it had a big part in me wanting to play again.'
Five years after a senior debut for Bedford in 2004, Dickson joined Harlequins, where he won Premiership, European Challenge Cup and Anglo-Welsh Cup titles. In 2017, three years after starting refereeing training, Dickson quit playing.
Former Harlequins scrum half Karl Dickson, now working as a referee, during a visit to Hong Kong. Photo: SCMP
'I had no specific ambitions, I just wanted to learn as much as possible, as quickly as possible, and keep moving to the next level,' Dickson said.
