MEN:   Definitely an effervescent and enthusiastic character, Chen Jie Ming commands attention with his various antics and eye-catching… Er… Apron… Always a joy to have around, Jie Ming makes a prime choice for captain, not only because of his infectious cheer but also because he has the experience and prowess to lead the team! 

Andre: Understandably, your goal is to champion IHG Touch Rug. How do you plan to ‘up’ this or take it to the next level? 

Jie Ming: It’s not going to be easy, it never was. Touch Rugby will always be one of the sports for anyone to take. Everything boils down to the preparations, our mental strength and how we perform on the day itself. I plan to train with the best of our abilities to achieve greatness without sacrificing fun-ness.

A: And how do you plan to achieve this? What’s special in your approach?

JM: We’re going to put the focus on defence because it was the one thing that let us down last year. If we do not let in any tries, we’re not going to lose. Plus with our talent, the tries should all just come naturally.

A: As a sportsman, what is your recommendation to balance between sports and relaxation? What do you do for a past time?

JM: (Says something X-rated) Okay, cannot put that inside. Taking some time off everything usually helps. Oh and whining to your friends about a common enemy. Haha. Bonding through hatred! One of my favourite past times is pak tor-ing, unfortunately due to time constraints I haven’t really had the time to partake in that activity. ?

A: As a Block Head, a DP cast member and now an IHG captain, how do you balance all these commitments??

JM: Easy, I just tell the other two that I’m busy with the other one. Haha. Okay, but seriously, it all boils down to priorities and responsibilities. Also, good working relationships are important and thankfully a lot of my friends and teammates understand my commitments, and that really helps a lot. 

A: What about a sportswoman that endears her to you?

JM: Kaihui is really a super power sportswoman and is truly an inspiration to all the freshie girls out there. Her personality is really larger than life and people play better around her. Helps that she has that perpetually cheerful grin plastered onto her face haha. Oh, she gives out free green apples too.

A: Lastly, well, I’m sure you’ve heard that our theme for IHG is Yellow Alert. How would that relate to touch rug? What is your best link between the words ‘touch rugby’ and ‘alert’?

JM: You should alert the authorities if somebody touches your rugby in the wrong place.