Meet Joshua Bukowicki: The USRC Tiger Bringing Home-Grown Passion to Pillar Sports

Key Takeaways

• Pillar Sports welcomes Joshua Bukowicki as the new Sales Representative, bringing genuine local knowledge and Prem A rugby experience to the team.
• Born and raised in Hong Kong with British, Polish, and Filipino heritage, Joshua’s roots run deep in the local rugby community.
• His rugby journey started at Flying Kukris, sparked by a single Cathay Pacific rugby ball he found in his dad’s car boot.
• Having popped both shoulders during his playing career, Joshua knows first-hand the difference proper strapping makes on game day.
• Joshua rejoined Pillar Sports because of the people — a team that communicates well, supports each other, and shares the same goals.
• Follow Joshua’s journey by connecting with him on LinkedIn.

At Pillar Sports, we believe that the best people to advise on sports performance are the ones who live and breathe it every day. That is why we are proud to welcome Joshua Bukowicki to the team as our new Sales Representative.

Those of you who follow the Hong Kong Rugby Premiership A will know Joshua as a familiar face in the USRC Tigers jersey — the same club where his Pillar Sports teammate Lindo Ncusane lines up at loose-forward. But Joshua’s connection to Hong Kong rugby runs deeper than his current club. It started long before league rugby, in a car park, with a heavy rugby ball and a father who knew what he was passing on.

We sat down with Joshua to hear the story behind that first moment, how playing through two shoulder injuries has shaped his thinking on gear, and what brought him back to the Pillar Sports team.

The Man Behind the Jersey

Pillar Sports: Joshua, welcome back to the team. For those who only know you from seeing you play at the weekend, tell us who you are — where you’re from, how you got into rugby, and what the game means to you.

Joshua: “I’m Joshua Bukowicki, born and raised in Hong Kong, but my parents are British, Polish, and Filipino — so I’m quite all over the place.

My dad played rugby when I was younger, and during one family BBQ when I was young, I was helping him out bringing all the stuff out of the trunk, and there was one thing that really caught my attention — a really heavy Cathay Pacific rugby ball. Ever since then, I’ve not seemed to drop the ball!

After that day, my dad brought me to Sunday trainings at a club called Flying Kukris. I started playing for them, and he started coaching. I made friends that I still talk to today and learned the beautiful game of rugby.

At first I played because of the happiness my dad had watching his little boy play. Now I play for the badge and the love of the game.”

From the Pitch to Joining the Pillar Sports Team

Pillar Sports: You’re currently playing for the USRC Tigers at Prem A level. What does competing at that standard demand from you physically and mentally — and what gear do you never step onto the pitch without?

Joshua: “Playing for the Tigers at Prem A is physically demanding. We may not be the biggest club on the pitch, so we have to change our gameplan and focus on being the faster and fitter team. That means more than showing up to training and fine-tuning skills — you have to do the little extras to get ready.

Mentally, during a season there are going to be ups and downs when you’re winning and losing, but the important thing is to keep your head up and get ready for the next game.

As for gear — as someone who has popped both shoulders, I find strapping to be the main thing I need before getting on that pitch. Strapping my shoulder gives me more confidence, helps me play better, and put on bigger shots.

That is what it comes down to. Without it, I am second-guessing every contact situation.”

💡 Pro Tip: If you are coming back from a shoulder injury, wearing the same strapping setup in training as on game day is the fastest way to rebuild confidence. Your body adapts to the support — and when match day arrives, nothing feels unfamiliar.

A New Chapter in Sales

Pillar Sports: You have rejoined the Pillar Sports team as Sales Representative. What was the driving factor behind coming back — and what do you wish more athletes in Hong Kong and Singapore knew about the gear available to them?

Joshua: “It’s the people. The Pillar Sports team has great communication throughout the chain of command. Everyone is supportive and helpful when it comes to questions and operations, and the whole team shares the same goal — which allows us to collaborate so much more effectively. Who wouldn’t want to come back to a team like that?

As for what I wish more athletes in Hong Kong or Singapore knew — it’s this: the best kit is the one you’ll actually wear in training.

Athletes sometimes invest in top-tier protection but reserve it only for game day. The real advantage comes from selecting options that prioritise comfort, breathability, and compatibility with tape and straps, so you can use the exact same setup during practice. That consistency allows your body to fully adapt to the equipment, and when the match arrives, your performance feels natural and familiar.”

This approach is especially relevant for rugby, football, martial arts, and CrossFit — any sport where contact, load, or repetitive movement puts consistent stress on the same joints across training and competition.

Follow the Journey

Want to follow Joshua as he balances life as a Prem A player and a member of the Pillar Sports sales team?

Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn to follow his journey and get his perspective on performance gear that actually holds up.

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