John D'Eathe and Tokkie Smith

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The production of the book became a family collaborative affair. The author, John D’Eathe, played the occasional game of rugby at school in England just after the Second World War, more at college in London but embraced the game as a way of life in Hong Kong.

They played together regularly and Tokkie was a close friend, totally devoted to rugby in the Colony. John moved to Canada but continued as a visitor to Hong Kong and followed Tokkie's founding of The Sevens. 

So it was indeed a shock many years later to discover Tokkie had been almost forgotten by rugby. There was an air of avoidance and intrigue about it all and mutters that it was contentious.

After leaving Hong Kong, lawyer and real estate guy John, enjoyed a very successful career in North America but while not the retiring type could devote the time to researching what had happened to Tokkie. It became a fascinating story and involved international travel and meeting many new friends and reviving old friendships. As it went along it attracted its ‘family’ team whose appreciated enthusiasm and support made publication of Tokkie's tale possible.