Many of us have a lot to thank Serena for.

In 1998, the ex-manager of Chillis* who had just started playing rugby on a regular basis met a bearish lad who had been eyeing her during the Blacks AGM. She grins cheekily as she tells me his first pick-up line was whether he could "get her a beer". She ignored him of course. But had she spurned his further advances, there is room for some doubt that Gene Tong would have volunteered to take those first few trainings, which sparked his devotion and passion for the Women's Wing for the past seven years.

In 2004, she wed the man in a church filled with a sizeable chunk of the rugby-playing Saint population and Singapore's rugby fraternity. They have 2 happy canines and looking at her form, it may be some time before we see any rugglings from the two. Sitting in their apartment a little over week after the first ever women's 15s contact league game - a game in which she had devastated the opposition backline with some blitzing runs, Serena is nursing an injured MCL* which she sustained two days before the same game.

Like all great sportswomen, injuries have plagued Serena's rugby career. MCL tears in her right and left knees, an abnormal cartilage in one, a sprained AC joint*, a persistent mysterious pain in her glutes. An arthoscopy* and countless visits to Western and Eastern Chinese practitioners later - the woman is still standing, running, jumping and scoring tries. The sum of these injuries would have exterminated a rugby career for a lesser mortal.

But yet, it is injury that defines Serena, the player and the woman.

Her commitment and passion never wavering - she grit her teeth and played through the Bangkok 7s 2002 semi-final and final (in which we beat some mammoth Aussie Navy girls in quite appalling field conditions) with a sprained AC joint in her left shoulder from the qualifying rounds the day before. You would be forgiven for thinking the woman feels neither fear nor pain. Nothing some Ponstan, a good taping and a lot of deep heat cannot fix anyways, she says. Though not, it seems for some of us - just for this warrior of a woman. Don't try this at home kids.

Nothing makes her cry too - except for the thought of not being able to play. I recall with clarity glancing to the sidelines during Pesta Sukan 2002 to see tears running unashamedly down her face as we took the tournament. Such was her on-field presence that the Barbarians had rested their national players in the qualifying matches just to play Blacks thinking we were easy meat in the backline without her. The other time she cried in my memory was when I heard her sobbing through the mobile phone when we called San Francisco from SPE to tell her we had just won Blacks 7s 2000.

The accidental ex-hooker (thanks to Ennie Toh who pulled something in her back in the starting match at the Hat Yai International Rugby 7s) started out as a prop in 1998 before becoming Black's and Merlion's resident centre. Today, she has too many medals to count, too many captaincies to recall and coaches too many schools for me to put down without taking up too much space. A javelin and discus thrower in her younger days for St Margarets, the competitive streak in her just will not wane. This is evident at the pub too, ever ready for a boat-race or four, she out-drinks everyone else on the team and then normally settles quietly to nap wherever she so pleases (i.e. mountway apartment loo in Perth, walkway outside D1819, Ann Siang Hill).

This interview was never going to be easy. As with Tabby's, I selfishly intercepted the job from my writer - and now confess that there was always the vested interest of desiring to do them justice - because having stood on the line so many times together, having shared the myriad of emotions of battles past, our memories have inevitably been entwined in a twisted mess of our subconscious minds forever. What other side of Serena Yeoh could mere words penetrate and what was she willing to reveal ... apart from flickering memories of games played and the inebriation that followed, what could a couple of questions unearth for all to see what constitutes this woman?

Well, stalwartness and tenacity of course, because that's what she is … a cheeky grin, a "hur hur" laugh and a hell lot of fire to boot.

*
Chilis - diner which many remember with fondness
MCL - medial collateral ligament
AC joint - acromioclavicular joint
arthroscopy - carpentry at its best

 

You must be quite the encyclopedia of drink mixes after all those years in the F&B business, what's in an Irish Car Bomb?

Simi Irish Car Bomb….that one I don't know lah, BRAIN HAMORRHAGE you want….Beer, with a shooter glass of Bailey's mixed in and grenadine…Try it….You will know what I mean….This one is the after effect of the car bomb …hahahahahah

 

Right so for the record, let's have it… were you always this lean-mean-fearless machine … really.

When I first started rugby, there were a lot of times I wanted give up. I felt that the game was so technical and I didn't understand what the coach was talking about. When it came to drills and fitness times, I was so unfit then (I was 10kg heavier then, I felt so heavy and my legs just couldn't move) that I always ended up being one of the last few or even the last...It was really discouraging.

However, there was one thing that kept me to continue with the sport was that I told myself since I have started it, I wouldn't give it up halfway. When I looked at my teammates around me...I was thinking to myself, how do these people make it? If they can, I also can. So other then starting to work on my fitness levels, I started reading more on how to improve on my own fitness and most importantly, I kept doing self-talk in my mind.

Before I knew it, with the hard work and efforts that I put in my own personal trainings, it paid off after months and gradually, you realize that you are no longer lagging behind. I was able to keep up. Also, you got to be patient with yourself. Sometimes, things don't just go the way you want overnight. It takes time to grow. Just like when you are growing a plant, you need to water it daily and feed it with fertilisers...with patience and care, you will reap what you sow.

 

You've got some real fancy footwork and body-bending moves to beat your defenders out there on the field, is that a product of a youth spent at tea dances or some serious one-on-one training?

Hahhaha….No way…I have never been to any of those tea dances before…but friends of mine that went taught me these moves…you know during younger days in school in NPCC, got to put up dance performances so we will try out all these different dance steps….and of course, watching Paula Abdul..hahahah…cold..cold..cold-hearted snake…hahahah..if some of you know this song….

Anyway, on the serious side, I started on agility (SAQ) once a week after last April for a period of time for once a week with the help of Adik, together with Sam and Wan, it definitely improved the footwork.

 

In a recent interview, one of your Rugby heroes Tana Umaga said, "You get old, that's just the way it is and you can't beat Father Time. Everyone's waiting for me to go" .

Although here at Blacks we're all hoping you set the precedent for women playing rugby until a ripe old age, how much longer do you see yourself putting your body on that line?

Competitively, to be realistic, maybe another 4-5 years….Unrealistically….maybe another 10 years….I mean, internationally, the oldest player that we knew, she is a grandmother and still playing then in her late 40s is it? Or almost early 50s?

On a recreational level, I guess as long as I can…to continue to maintain fitness and stay healthy…

 

Gene Tong - Mentor, Husband, Friend, Coach - in which order?

Hahhahaha…this question very hard to answer lah….tricky…hahahahah…depends which situation. Guess when it's training times on the field…the order is, Coach, Mentor, Friend, Husband. But when it's out of training times, I would say, Husband, Friend, Mentor and then coach..(Actually…just, the first three I would say)

 

As a coach, are there differences from the times you were a rookie? Some of the younger players think the older folks are masochist masters and fitness sadists - we scream too much, are too critical. Are the younger ones getting soft or are the older players just plain Looney?

There are definitely a lot of differences comparing when I first started as a rookie and the rookies now. I remembered that when I first started, my seniors were never so patient or willing to teach and share information with us, the rookies. The only thing they were capable to do was to shout and literally scream at your face during all the trainings. Hardly were there any seniors that will come and share with us what our mistakes were. You get screamed at and shouted at for not running fast, for not passing a proper pass and for not receiving or catching the pass. Basically there was no tolerance for mistakes.

The younger ones these days are getting softer…no offense to you all young ones out there….a lot of times when criticisms are given, not trying to be personal but however helping you all to improve, the reaction that we get in return is Being Defensive. Sometimes, they become loads of excuses….

Older folks masochist masters and fitness sadists?…I don't think so….I just know that the seniors we all know what we want to achieve as a whole and as individuals, but the younger ones out there, do you know what you want to achieve? Or you all are doing it just because you have to do it? Do it for a reason and ask yourself what it is….

This is something I must definitely say, the young ones are really having an easy time in terms of trainings compared to us in the past…Fitness wise, hmmm….no way like how we did it in the past…An advice to the young ones…sometimes just do it…don't have to talk too much…Action speaks louder than words. Also, do it with a goal….don't do it blindly….

 

Back to your battered body, is it really all IN THE MIND? Pray tell, how does one become Wonder Woman?

Sustaining injuries while playing is inevitable. It is important to learn how to manage injuries and be positive about it. I have been injured quite a few times, through my own experience, of course, it was not easy, seeing your teammates training and you can't join them...it can be very depressive... First thing that comes into my head, shucks...cannot play...second thing that comes to my mind....die lah, cannot train means PUT ON WEIGHT...FAT...hahahha.

But nevertheless, you just have to get over fast and stay positive. Positive self talk...approach your treatments and rehab positive and believe and have faith that you will come back even stronger and better....you will be amazed at how fast you will recover. It's all in the state of mind...

 

Do you have any pre-match secret ritual we should know about, because you sure look like you could eat a couple of opposition players when the whistle goes.

Actually, nothing at all….all I know is that I want to play to my best in the game and just keep my focus in it. But there is definitely one thing before I start…I will cough like I am going to die….if some of you know what I mean…Important thing, during the game, don't be so bothered with what is going to happen later after game…it is during every minute of the game that matters more than anything….

 

Having been a pioneer blacks player starting from 0 to 7s to 15s with the club, would you say there was a turning point for Blacks or have we been steadily heading the right direction?

The turning point for the club…I feel it is the commitment from both Gene and Chongfu that have brought the girls this far when they started coming in to the women's side to help (this probably happened somewhere mid of 98)…with their commitment to the gals and that ultimately got the girls committed to the trainings and of course, being down for trainings had bonded the club closer and you know, it's the chain effect…as with all these factors…we trained hard together, going overseas for games and tournaments…..Our achievements were not overnight but definitely a lot of hard work and efforts put in…And I would say that we are steadily heading towards the direction that we have set out to do.

 

There's an on going debate about who has the most powerful fart, (1) Ennie (2) Eunice and (3) yourself. Who would u say could eliminate the enemy with a single blast?

This definitely got to be ENNIE TOH…Eunice and me both got no fight with her…Even if we combined our weapon, Ennie's still the Lethal Weapon…

 

Really? Because the long standing rumour is that your audible farts are actually fuelled jets that give you the power to make those line-breaking runs. Most of our girls are just dying to pry u open to see what maketh this woman.

So here's one of the questions that best summarizes what we got from the floor: