HKRU Newsletter Issue 1- Season 2016/17

HONG KONG RUGBY UNION

Domestic League www.hkrugby.com

Season 2016/17 #hkrugby

Contents Premiership Season 2016/17.............................................................................................. 02 - 03 Men’s Premiership............................................................................................................... 04 - 05 Women’s Premiership......................................................................................................... 06 - 07 Title Defence....................................................................................................................... 08 HKRU Domestic Rugby Leagues........................................................................................ 10 HKRU Upcoming Events..................................................................................................... 11 HKRU Community Foundation.......................................................................................... 12

“A strong Premiership is essential for what we want to achieve on the national level and for our aspirations to qualify for future Rugby World Cups.�

Leigh Jones HKRU XVs Coach and Head of Elite Performance

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PREMIERSHIP RUGBY 2016/17 SEASON Hong Kong Rugby Union Premiership rugby is reaching new heights this season with outstanding players from at home and abroad on display across the 15-round league competitions.

In the men’s game, fans will be closely watching the growing impact of the Elite Rugby Programme athletes on the local game as the Union takes Hong Kong into its second season of professional fifteen-a-side rugby.

The 30 ERP players will join Hong Kong’s other domestic stars in playing alongside and against a bevy of experienced ruggers recruited from top clubs and competitions around the world, like Kowloon’s new signing Olly Barkley.

Will today’s triple trio of men’s rugby continue last season’s narratives or create new compelling stories, just as Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers’ snapping of a twoseason losing streak in week one set the tone for last year’s thrilling ride?

That win set Tigers on their way to a fourth-place finish in the league, with multiple close losses that could be subject to some positive regression this season. Tigers face Barkley’s Kowloon side in the finale to Super Saturday at 18:30.

As they have on so many seasons prior, Societe Generale Valley enter as the side to beat after claiming the double in 2015 with a 14-1 league record, a season marred only by an away loss to their familiar rivals Natixis HKFC. These two perennial rugby contenders will fittingly face each other in today’s second match at 16.45.

Last season’s league and grand championship runnersup Herbert Smith Freehills HKCC kick-off the season against Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish who have re-loaded after contesting a brave season when they were light on numbers last year.

The Men’s Premiership is supported by seven National

Leagues, offering competitive opportunities at every level for all of Hong Kong’s aspiring – and ageing – ruggers!

National League 1 takes the place of Premiership A this season with seven clubs vying for the title, including two teams from Natixis HKFC. One of Hong Kong rugby’s most storied local clubs, CPM Gai Wu, are the only side in National League 1 not affiliated to a Premiership team after earning promotion last season.

Hong Kong Women’s rugby continues to thrive, the ever-deepening talent pool and performance levels of rugby on display has attracted the generous support of KPMG as title sponsor of this season’s Women’s Premiership.

On the pitch it will once again be Societe Generale Valley Ladies who are the side to watch. The most successful team of any stripe in local rugby in recent years, Valley Ladies have not been beaten in the past two seasons.

Their closest rivals Gai Wu will be back for another tilt as they look to reclaim their crown conceded to Valley in recent years. The two clubs have featured in all three of the last Grand Championship finals with Valley holding a 2-1 edge after beating Gai Wu 12-10 with a last-minute try in the final last year.

the first time since 2013 – the last of four straight appearances for the club. Kowloon Ladies return to the fray again this season alongside newcomers Comvita City Sparkle, who take the place of Tai Po from last season.

KPMG is demonstrating its commitment to the Women’s game with holistic support for the athletes and competition.

On the pitch, the company’s largesse will support video coverage of a Women’s Game of the Week, while KPMG has offered all Premiership clubs the use of its innovative Insights Centre in Central – harnessing KPMG’s powerful proprietary analytics for the benefit of local rugby.

KPMG is also creating a bespoke internship programme for women’s players as they support the continued development of these premier athletes both on and off the pitch.

The new KPMG ‘Club of the Month’ programme will offer rewards and incentives for the best performing team across all of the divisions in the Men’s and Women’s leagues this season.

Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers, runners-up to Valley in the league last season, will once again be in the running through the season as they look to break the ValleyGai Wu stranglehold of recent competitions. Natixis HKFC Ice made a positive impression last year after finishing in fourth place overall in their Premiership debut season and will be looking to go several steps further in 2016.

SCAA First Pacific CWB Phoenix are also out to climb the ranks after a disappointing season by their lofty standards. The Phoenix will look to rise once again to the heights of the Grand Championship final for

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MEN’S PREMIERSHIP The Men’s Premiership sees all six sides return with some enhanced firepower, setting the stage for a closely contested season.

The action starts with Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish and league and Grand Championship runners-up Herbert Smith Freehills HKCC kicking off the season at 15.00, followed by reigning double champions Societe Generale Valley against newlook Natixis HKFC in a match where the Broony Quaich will be on the line at 16.45.

Today’s action concludes with Kowloon unveiling their flash off-season acquisition in England international Olly Barkley as they meet Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers.

Societe Generale Valley

Natixis HKFC

Herbert Smith Freehills HKCC

Valley enter the season holding the Premiership League title and – for the fourth straight year – the Grand Championship crown. Valley also claimed the Broony Quaich in a trophy trifecta for the Happy Valley thoroughbreds. Blessed with real depth in their double championship season last year, Valley’s player imports were kept to a minimum this season although the club has seen several players move on in the close season including prop Leon Wei Hon-sum and ace finisher Salom Yiu Kam-shing. The most noticeable change could be on the sidelines with new coach Andrew Kelly, a former Scotland A representative and Edinburgh centurion taking the reins.

Coach Phil Bailey is adding size to the solid base built over his debut season in charge of HKFC last year. Among the new acquisitions are Wales Sevens stars Jevon Groves and Tom Isaacs. HKFC also recruited Hong Kong–born back-rower Gabriel Carroll, who previously represented England at U16s level and Scotland at U20s level in the Junior World Cup, but remains eligible for Hong Kong. “We take very seriously our responsibility to not only develop Hong Kong qualified players, but also to scour the world looking for qualified players who are capable of playing at Premiership and international level in Hong Kong.

With nine incoming players - more than the last two seasons combined - a renewed focus on defence and a commitment to open, free-flowing rugby, the HKCC side is intent on figuring prominently down the Premiership and Grand Championships home stretch. After conceding the league title to Valley last season, HKCC is out to reclaim its mantle as the most consistent performer in the Premiership while hoping to set up a fourth straight Grand Championship meeting against Valley, this time with a win to cap the efforts of the Southside club.

valleyrfc.com

hkfcrugby.com

hkccrugby.com

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Kowloon

Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers

Bloomberg HK Scottish

With splash signing Olly Barkley marking the commemorations of 40 years of Kowloon Rugby in 2016, the maroon and white are set to shake things up. Barkley joins the club as player/coach after arriving from London Welsh.

The 23-time capped England player has amassed over 2,500 points in the Premiership and will add a potent threat to what is shaping up to be an exciting back line.

Tigers enter the League with several new faces as coach Craig Stewart looks to add depth to an up-and-coming side.

The early results look promising with Salom Yiu Kam-shing transferring in from Valley, one of nearly a dozen new players recruited. “The aim was to add depth – especially with guys from a competitive background who are eager to win. We’ve ended up with quite a few new faces and it’s nice to have a team I can call my own,” said Stewart. “We are excited.

The season should be really competitive as everyone has recruited well and the standard of rugby should be high. We are just keen to get out there and play,” Stewart added.

Hit hard by injury in 2015, Scottish are emphasising numbers this season, bringing in several players from overseas and luring centre Conor Hartley from HKCC to Shek Kip Mei. A silver lining from last year was the performance of talented age-grade representatives like Alessandro Nardoni and Mark Coebergh, through the club’s valued ties with junior clubs Discovery Bay Pirates and Flying Kukris. In his fifth season with Scottish, coach Craig Hammond is pressing for more success : “We still don’t have the numbers we’d like, but we’ll be able to select more on performance this season rather than availability. That should help keep us competitive if we can manage the league breaks well.”

kowloon-rugby.com

usrctigers.com

hongkongscottish.com

SUPER SATURDAY MATCH SCHEDULE SATURDAY 24th SEPTEMBER

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KINGS PARK 1 15:00 KICK-OFF

BLOOMBERG HK SCOTTISH

Leigh Jones

Broony Quaich

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HKRU XVs Coach and Head of Elite Performance Jones is excited about the upcoming Premiership saying, “All of the clubs have been active on the recruitment front and their strengthened squads bode well for the competition, which I expect to be a close-run affair”. Jones will rely on the clubs and a competitive Premiership to forge players in the heat of battle and is looking for his charges in the Elite Rugby Programme to make an impression as well. “We are now one year into professionalism and we expect the players in the elite programme to have a significant impact on their clubs.”

He also hailed the cooperation between the clubs and Union in helping to prepare Hong Kong’s finest for international competitions. “A strong Premiership is essential for what we want to achieve at the national level and for our aspirations to qualify for future Rugby World Cups.”

Launched in 2013, the Broony Quaich (pronounced ‘quake’) is a celebration of the life of Ian Brown, a former Hong Kong team manager and Hong Kong Football Club stalwart. The Quaich was donated to the HKRU by Ian Brown’s mother and is contested in a Ranfurly-shield style competition where the winner retains the trophy which is then contested at all ensuing home matches for the Club and in the HKRU’s Super Saturday competitions. The Quaich is currently held

by Valley who collected it on the opening Super Saturday last season and defended it on every ensuing occasion as they captured the trifecta of trophies including the League and Grand Championship silverware.

HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS HKCC

KINGS PARK 1 16:45 KICK-OFF

NATIXIS HKFC

SOCIETE GENERALE VALLEY

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KINGS PARK 1 18:30 KICK-OFF

KOWLOON

BORRELLI WALSH USRC TIGERS

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WOMEN’S PREMIERSHIP Six of the seven KPMG Women’s Premiership sides are in action on Super Saturday with last season’s League and Grand Champions Societe Generale Valley Black Ladies putting their two-year undefeated streak on the line against SCAA First Pacific CWB Phoenix at 15:00 on KP-2.

Last year’s runners-up CPM Gai Wu Falcons will look to return to their usual roost at the top of the league tables as they kick off against Kowloon Ladies at 16:30 (KP-2).

The finale of the women’s action sees Premiership debutants Comvita City Sparkle host last year’s League runners-up Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers at 18:00. Natixis HKFC Ice, last year’s surprising Grand Championship semi-finalists on their first season of Premiership rugby, open the league with a week one bye.

CPM Gai Wu Falcons

SCAA First Pacific CWB Phoenix

Valley have been the class of the Women’s game for the past two years after consecutive undefeated seasons. This year they welcome a new coach as Australian James Elliot takes the reins. “Training has been fantastic with about 40 players attending on a regular basis,” said Elliot. With their unassailable position in previous seasons Valley have focused on local recruitment over international players. “We haven’t brought in anyone this season as we are confident we can maintain our performance levels. The girls have great skills and there is a strong connection between them,” said Elliot.

Coach Lai Yiu Pang expects a growing challenge this season with new clubs trying to elbow their way into the top-two stranglehold of Valley and Gai Wu. “This season will be challenging with Football Club and Tigers both pushing to the top last year,” said Lai. The early focus is on a group of second team members at the club who are expected to make the step up to the top flight in 2016, something that will be vital to relieve the workload of Gai Wu’s coterie of national team stars across both fifteens and sevens. “We expect more changes and pressure on our selection with around half of our squad normally being considered for national selection,” says Lai. Another priority has been grassroots recruitment netting the club around 35 new players.

Having retained only a handful of veterans from last season’s fifth-place finishers, Phoenix hope to rise from the ashes with a squad consisting primarily of players promoted from last year’s NL 1 side. The club has expectations of a top-three finish in the league and a place in the Grand Championship final despite what new coach Ocean Chow labels a transition season. “We have a quality squad and our players are aggressive, determined and possess good attacking sense.

However, we need to ensure our tackling, defence and ruck turnover are on song. We are confident we can compete with anyone in the league in our attack but our defence will be the key issue this year.” Among the new additions to the club in the off season are No.8 / lock Jenny Wong from Police.

valleyrfc.com

gaiwurugby.org

scaacwbrugby.com

Societe Generale Valley Black Ladies

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Kowloon Ladies

Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers

Comvita City Sparkle

Kowloon are looking to climb the ranks from sixth place last season. Coach Jonathan Ho is happy with the progress his charges have made in the off-season: “Summer training has gone smoothly and our summer rugby course helped us recruit more depth, particularly for our seconds in NL1. That expansion provides a better structure for the club as the new players mean that everyone’s place is up for grabs, pushing all of the girls to play better.” Ho is aware of the difficult task that awaits. “We will again be one of the smaller sides and the players will need to build their confidence as the season progresses.”

On the heels of a second-place finish in the league, Tigers are out to go one better in 2016. Coach Liu Kwok Leung focused on enhancing the forward strength in the off-season with some successful recruitment from abroad remedying one of the side’s few weaknesses. Another new addition comes on the coaching front with Hong Kong U20s sevens coach Fan Shun Kei joining the management team. “Fan is really strong at identifying problems and will be an important addition for us as we work on implementing a new team structure that will better fit our smaller physical size,” said Liu. The goal for the season is to “use our new resources and depth to challenge the big clubs once again this season,” said Liu.

Comvita City are the newest addition to the Women’s Premiership, replacing Tai Po Dragons in the seven-team competition in 2016. It is a positive move for HKRU Development Manager Sam Feausi who is excited about their Premiership debut: “City have been training hard all summer and have grown rapidly in recent years. They have advanced to the point where they can now field two fifteens teams and I’m excited to see how they will go in their first season.” Coach Fung Kai-hang is already seeing early returns from the club’s offseason programme. “We’ve seen improvement in their physicality and fitness and have been playing non-contact games with the men’s team to help the girls adjust to the tempo.

kowloon-rugby.com

usrctigers.com

cityrfc.org

SUPER SATURDAY MATCH SCHEDULE SATURDAY 24th SEPTEMBER

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KINGS PARK 2 15:00 KICK-OFF

SOCIETE GENERALE VALLEY BLACK LADIES

Sam Feausi

HKRU Women’s Development Manager HKRU Women’s Development Manager Sam Feausi predicts a tighter battle this season in the women’s game, saying “It’s going to be close – a lot of the teams have trained and run conditioning programmes all summer with an aim to increase the breadth of their squads.” Feausi also noted the growing impact of overseas players on the local competition: “We’re seeing stronger players coming into the League, which will further drive our performance levels as more Premiership sides recognise the value of having a successful women’s team to the club as a whole.” The top flight is also benefiting from steady downstream growth with this season seeing the former developmental Tens league migrating to a fully fledged third division fifteen-a-side league, something that in the long run will provide greater competition at the sharp end of the women’s game in the Premiership.

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Jo Hull

HKRU Women’s Performance Manager A high-performance domestic competition is essential for a strong national team according to Jo Hull, who is excited at the prospect offered by the upcoming Premiership. “Our top teams are getting more competitive and I think we’re in for an exciting race at the top, not just with Gai Wu and Valley obviously, but Tigers and Football Club added a lot to the competition last season. All of the teams have been working hard and I’m excited to watch what I expect will be a highly competitive championship.” Hull is also enthusiastic about debutants City RFC. “City entering a team is hugely exciting for me as a national coach. They have a lot of local girls and the club is continually growing. They’re working hard and I hope they go well.” With international matches in November ahead of December’s Women’s Rugby World Cup qualifiers, the enhanced standard comes at an ideal time for Hull.

SCAA FIRST PACIFIC CWB PHOENIX

KINGS PARK 2 16:30 KICK-OFF

CPM GAI WU FALCONS

KOWLOON LADIES

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KINGS PARK 2 18:00 KICK-OFF

COMVITA CITY SPARKLE

BORRELLI WALSH USRC TIGERS

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TITLE DEFENCE SOCIETE GENERALE VALLEY Valley added the missing piece to their success of recent seasons by claiming the league title for the first time since 2009 last season.

A fourth straight win over HKCC in the Grand Championship capped an outstanding campaign for Valley but 2016 offers some new wrinkles ahead of their title defence.

The club has turned to stalwart forward Andrew Kelly to take over as coach after Jack Isaac’s departure. In keeping with its homegrown philosophy, Valley have been quiet on the recruitment front for the upcoming season – opting to ride the significant depth from last season in its title defence.

As Hong Kong rugby history has shown, Valley will be a contender: the question is whether the other Premiership sides have done enough to unseat them.

ON THE UP!

Natixis HKFC 3

CPM Gai Wu Rebels

Comvita City

Football Club’s third side will be stepping up a grade to help round out the new-look National League 1 competition.

They will join the club’s successful second team, last year’s Premiership A champions with an undefeated 14-0 record, in the 7-team National League 1, which replaces Prem A this season. HKFC 3 is coming off a successful campaign in last year’s National League 1, having finished as runners-up behind Gai Wu in the League proper with a six-win, two-loss record before claiming the National League 1A crown in the home stretch of last season with a 4-2 record.

Defending National League 1 champs Gai Wu earned a somewhat circuitous promotion to an enhanced National League 1 this season; as the competition replaces Premiership A as the next highest rung on Hong Kong’s rugby ladder.

Gai Wu are the only non-Premiership club among the seven teams competing. “We enter the season having achieved our main goal already just in qualifying for this level. The season’s goals are simple. We’re not here to make up the numbers.

We’re in it to compete and I’m confident we will,” said coach Wesley Feausi. The squad will build on the return of two New Zealanders from last year and a new signing that Feausi calls the best in his coaching career as Brando Vaaulu joins Gai Wu, after representing Samoa and playing for Queensland Reds and in the Japan and French leagues. This trio will help guide Gai Wu’s core of emerging players including U20s prop Ken Encarnacion and Linus Sun.

After promotion to NL2 division, Comvita City Men’s team are playing against more advanced and experienced teams in the coming season and Coach Li Chi Yung is expecting it to be a challenging year but a year of growth and development for the team. The squad have been working hard on and off the field during the off-season and preparation has been solid. Pre-season matches against Borelli Walsh USRC Tigers and Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish further tested the squad to stimulate improvements and determination for progression. Coming back to a coaching role after two seasons, Li said, “We do love to win, but exposure to advanced teams and players brings a great opportunity for our boys to play a higher level of rugby. We’d rather focus on helping players to grow by adjusting themselves and adapting to the pace of high performance games.”

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HONG KONG PREMIERSHIP RUGBY IS NOW ON SUPERBRU! The HKRU have partnered with Superbru to bring you a new rugby experience in Hong Kong.

NEW TO SUPERBRU?

SuperBru is a social sports game played by 1,123,332 players. It’s free, fun and secure.

Visit the website to see the teams in action over the coming season.

WWW.SUPERBRU.COM

HKRU DOMESTIC RUGBY LEAGUES MEN’S RUGBY NUMBER OF CLUBS

NUMBER OF DIVISIONS

NUMBER OF TEAMS

18

8

61

BLOOMBERG HK SCOTTISH

BORRELLI WALSH USRC TIGERS

COMVITA CITY

CPM GAI WU

HONG KONG DISCIPLINED SERVICES

HERBERT SMITH FREEHILLS HKCC

KOWLOON

NATIXIS HKFC

POINTER & DENT EAST KOWLOON

POLICE

RB-SRKA TSW

SCAA FIRST PACIFIC CWB

SOCIETE GENERALE VALLEY

TRANSACT 24 TAI PO DRAGONS

REVOLUTION

TRIMEX TYPHOONS

WOMEN’S RUGBY NUMBER OF CLUBS

NUMBER OF DIVISIONS

NUMBER OF TEAMS

12

3

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For more information on the Hong Kong Rugby Union domestic leagues please visit our website.

www.hkrugby.com 10

DISCOVERY BAY PIRATES

UNIVERSITY RFC

HKRU UPCOMING EVENTS

WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL TEST MATCH AGAINST KAZAKHSTAN 2016

CUP OF NATIONS 2016

WOMENS RUGBY WORLD CUP QUALIFIER 2016

GRAND CHAMPIONSHIP 2017

CATHAY PACIFIC/HSBC HONG KONG SEVENS 2017

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HKRU COMMUNITY FOUNDATION The HKRU Community Foundation was established in March 2013 with the aim of providing a separate identifiable vehicle to manage the HKRU’s charitable activities. This was done to achieve the dual objectives of promoting the positive influence the HKRU has on the community and encouraging corporate and social responsibility funds to assist in these programmes to allow their continuation and expansion.

The Foundation aims to be a regional leader in the area of sport-for-development, using rugby as a medium to tackle social issues and effect change. We work together with the likes of Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, Chinese University Department of Social Work, the British Council, VIVA and Active Communities Network to develop our

The majority of the Foundation's work is delivered by Stuart Gunn, the Union’s Inclusive Rugby & Child Welfare Officer, assisted by the Community Department staff and 6 young men who have come through the Operation Breakthrough programme and are now on a 12 month apprenticeship with the Union, sponsored by Ageas.

SOCIAL INCLUSION

EDUCATION

Po Leung Kuk

Hong Kong’s Rugby Spirit

Chickensoup Foundation

Rugby English Action Learning (REAL)

DISABILITY & HEALTH

YOUTH CRIME PREVENTION

Deaf Rugby

Don’t Drop the Ball

The Foundation’s “Tackling Life” programme has introduced rugby to PLK youngsters in the residential care centre, learning centres and 17 primary schools – in total over 3,500 students. The programme stresses positive values and key life skills and is supported by Savills, Macquarie Bank and KPMG. Supported by Societe Generale, the “Chance to Play” programme supports this local charity’s ethos of empowering at-risk children by offering an opportunity to participate in rugby to kids from the more disadvantaged areas of our community.

The Foundation runs a rugby programme with students from two local deaf schools and in partnership with the Hong Kong Association for the Deaf and supported by Standard Chartered Bank. In 2014 a relationship was formed with deaf Cambodian youngsters from the Krousar Thmey charity, with competitions held in Hong Kong in 2014 and 2016 and in Cambodia in 2015.

Special Needs Schools

The Foundation works with a number of special needs schools in Hong Kong for children with mental or physical challenges. These programmes focus on rugby and outdoor activities, and our coaching staffare receiving training support from the Social Work Department of Chinese University.

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programmes, and then partner with a core group of NGOs to deliver them, focusing on the areas of health, education, disability, juvenile crime, and social inclusion. For each programme we then seek corporate support, not just in terms of sponsorship dollars but also volunteer staff engagement.

The Foundation’s newest initiative, supported by UBS, combines teaching local primary school students the basics of touch rugby with promotion of key values such as Determination, Respect, Responsibility, National Identity, Commitment, Honesty and Teamwork.

The Foundation has been offering REAL with the support of the Education Bureau since 2007 to local primary schools. Students build confidence in English communication by creating an immersion environment with sessions run by native English speaking coaches, and a specially created syllabus. Over 30 schools each year participate, with a long waiting list!

This programme, supported by Standard Chartered Bank, was launched in 2008 in conjunction with the Police Crime Prevention Bureau, and encourages children to participate in sport and live a healthy lifestyle. 35 schools in the New Territories participate each year and there is a waiting list to join.

Operation Breakthrough

The Foundation supports the rugby section of this police-led charity that uses sport as a medium to help at-risk youth make better life choices. Operation Breakthrough is also supported by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation www.breakthrough.hk

PARTNERS & SPONSORS The Hong Kong Rugby Union is proud to be sponsored by and work in partnership with the companies you see below.

We will work together to put your name in front of an ever-growing community of rugby enthusiasts through either the performance end of the game, the mini/junior sections, our numerous outreach community programmes, media partnerships or a little bit of everything; and in doing so help you achieve the returns on investment and objectives that you desire.

For more information or to find out how you can become a Sponsor or Partner of the Hong Kong Rugby Union please visit our website.

www.hkrugby.com