Penetana Carter-Smith has been playing rugby in Hong Kong for four years.
What was initially meant to be an eight-month stay in Hong Kong has turned into an opportunity of a lifetime for Penetana Carter-Smith.
The Hawke’s Bay product has played rugby across the globe, but never imagined he would settle in the Special Administrative Region of China (SRA), a place he has now called home for four years.
In August, it would have been 60 months since his arrival, making him eligible under World Rugby rules to represent Hong Kong China in international rugby.
That comes with some big caveats in the coming years, most notably, it puts Carter-Smith in contention for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, where Hong Kong China have been drawn in Pool A alongside Chile, tournament hosts Australia, and the All Blacks.
A versatile fullback who can also slot into centre and kick goals, Carter-Smith shapes as a crucial weapon for the Dragons as they prepare for a daunting World Cup debut.
“It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m up for it,” Carter-Smith told the Herald.
“It’ll be an amazing experience to go against your home and see the haka. It’s going to be special.
“You always dream of, as a young boy growing up in New Zealand, you know, you play rugby and the ultimate is to play for the All Blacks.
“When you realise that’s not going to come true, you go away and then you get the chance to play against them. It feels pretty crazy.”
Carter-Smith is one of 36 players contracted to Hong Kong China’s fulltime programme, where the squad trains together during the week as part of the representative set-up before players return to their clubs for Hong Kong Premiership matches.
He is one of several squad members with New Zealand connections, either through birth, the school they attended, or parents.
His rugby journey began in Hawke’s Bay, where he attended Hastings Boys’ High School and played three years of First XV rugby under coach Jack Wiggins.
He later moved to Auckland, turning out for Grammar Tech and featuring for the Auckland Under-20s and sevens squads.
A shift north followed, joining North Harbour’s extended NPC group and their sevens programme, where he played at national tournaments.
Carter-Smith earned selection for the New Zealand development sevens squad and the New Zealand select team, but with limited opportunities beyond that, he decided to pack his bags and head to Portugal for his OE.
When he left New Zealand, the world was relatively normal, but by the time he landed, Covid-19 had plunged the globe into chaos.
Before departing, he checked whether the virus had reached Portugal; at that stage it hadn’t, but things changed rapidly.
“While I was in the air for 30 hours from home to Portugal, I landed and then it was straight into a state of emergency and the whole world closed down,” Carter-Smith said.
“I got straight to Portugal. There was no rugby for three months. I couldn’t leave the country because all airports were closed. No one could leave or come in, so that was interesting times.”
Eventually rugby resumed and he made six appearances for Lisbon-based Tecnico, helping them with their campaign before returning to New Zealand.
He spent time in Morrinsville, working at a gym and playing club rugby.
That’s when Wiggins got in touch again, asking whether he would be interested in doing some personal training and playing rugby for Hong Kong Football Club.
“At the time I had nothing holding me back,” Carter-Smith said. “I was only meant to be there eight months and I’m still here four years later.”
He helped Hong Kong FC win two Hong Kong Premiership titles - the six-team amateur competition in the SAR - and his form caught the attention of then representative coach Andrew Douglas.
At that stage Hong Kong China were on the cusp of qualifying for the Rugby World Cup, and Douglas asked whether, if they got through, he would consider switching his eligibility.
Carter-Smith admits he placed the idea on the backburner, but after the Dragons beat South Korea to seal their place, Douglas was straight back on the phone, inviting him into the fulltime programme to begin training with the side and build chemistry ahead of the World Cup.
Douglas has since moved into a Director of Rugby role, with assistant coach and former Hamilton Boys’ High School First XV mentor Logan Asplin stepping up to the head coaching job.
“If someone was to tell me 10 years ago that I’d be living in Hong Kong of all places and maybe one day going to play for them, I would have just laughed at them,” Carter-Smith said.
“The Hong Kong team to make wasn’t really anything I was looking at. I was just going to play rugby and finish my career here.
“But I’ve since met my fiancée and I’m just going to enjoy the last few years of rugby I’ve got left.”
Carter-Smith used the Christian name Benjamin for most of his playing days but opted to adopt the Māori translation - Penetana - when he moved to Hong Kong.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.