Hastings outside half Mark Patmore rushed off on a flying visit to Montreal - and still made it back for Thursday night training.

The 26-year-old Aussie caught a Monday flight, having helped his side beat Seaford to maintain their Sussex One title challenge two days earlier.

He stayed long enough to validate his holiday working visa, then headed back to Heathrow in time to prepare for last Saturday's win at Pulborough.

Patmore, who has been a revelation in his first season at H&,B said: "It's not a long flight. Only seven-and-a-half hours each way.

"I had to get out there by January 24 to validate my visa so I can re-enter the country at the end of the rugby season. I spent about a day over there and got back on Wednesday night."

Patmore was keen to visit these shores while he was still young enough to qualify for the relevant work permit, which meant coming over before his 26th birthday.

He is enjoying his rugby so much he is keen to see out the season before making use of his Canadian visa.

The globetrotting existence may never have happened without a visit to his local pub in Yass, a town of around 5,000 inhabitants near Canberra.

The powerful No.10 got talking to former Hastings player Ken Locke over a beer and the friendship led to his trip to Sussex, where he is working as a welder and boiler maker.

Locke's brother is still Down Under, having married Patmore's sister.

Rugby is the commitment keeping Patmore in England. He said: "This is my first season as a fly half and it is going well.

"Because of my work I have never finished a season with a club so I thought this was my opportunity to do that. If we win the league it will be a bonus."