Tonga Prayers for Hongkonger

Tonga playing against Hong Kong in the qualifiers, but Tonga lost

This past weekend was the famous or infamous Rugby Sevens held at Hong Kong Stadium in Causeway Bay.

It's not an event that particularly interests me, hearing the stories of people wearing silly costumes, getting pissed drunk, and the disgusting state of the washrooms.

But there is one story this year that is making the rounds and is a wonderful pledge of support through sport.

Jonathan Mo (left) when he was a high-level rugby player

Hongkonger Jonathan Mo, 23, had ambitions to become a professional rugby player. He was very close to making his dream come true when he finished a three-month trial with the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan. But a week later, at the age of 19, he collapsed.

Mo had developed a heart condition and needed a pacemaker. This meant playing high-level rugby was no longer possible. He tried to play at a lower level and coach the Valley Mavericks, but even running a social team was a strain on his health.

A few months ago he was told he would need to undergo risky surgery with only a 40 percent chance of survival.

Then the rugby team from Tonga read about his story and wanted to pray for Mo.

"They didn't even know me, but they were doing all these things for me," he said. "They didn't have to, but they did and that shows their character."

The Tonga team players knelt around Mo and prayed for him

The players and Mo huddled together and they sang. Then they knelt around Mo, placing their hands on him and prayed, asking God to keep him safe during the surgery.

"I nearly cried. I was close to tears," he said.

The next morning they invited him to join them on their bus to the stadium and even parade around the pitch with the team.

"It was a really fresh experience [being with the Tonga team]. For me especially, seeing these boys have got their dream and I got my rugby dream destroyed. But I got a chance to step on the pitch, my home pitch," Mo said. "I can't explain the feeling."

In the end Tonga lost to Hong Kong in the final pool game of the qualifiers, which is too bad for Tonga, but for Mo being with these Pacific Islanders meant the world.

"To do it to a stranger, they never knew me, they never met me, but they do it all just to make me feel like pushing on, not giving in. It's incredible."