|
Chairman's Message
June 26, 2008
INTRODUCTION
I write this HKRFU report on behalf of the Board of Directors and all sections of the rugby community in a year that has brought us both progress and a considerable measure of achievement.
We have completed the first annual cycle of the new Union Strategic Plan, which will continue to drive the growth and success of Hong Kong rugby, with much already having been accomplished. We will ensure that these ongoing strategies and initiatives will at all times embody the vital rugby components of teamwork, enjoyment and competitiveness.
Whilst reflecting on the season past, I feel immensely proud of the HKRFU’s significant role in bringing the HSBC Asian 5 Nations Championship to Asia. I believe that this competition will bring exciting rugby into many households throughout Asia and many other parts of the world, whilst providing consistent top quality rugby for the Hong Kong XV.
Looking ahead, amongst many other activities, Hong Kong will host the IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens Asian Qualifying Tournament in October, followed in November by the first ever Bledisloe Cup match between the All Blacks and Wallabies to be played on neutral turf. What a way to start the 2008/9 season!
Another key achievement in the past year was to secure a place for Rugby Sevens as a medal sport for men and women in the East Asian Games in 2009. I believe that this will provide a real boost to local rugby and our players have the skills and commitment to be in the medals at the Tournament.
In reviewing this Annual Report and the many areas in which members of the Union are both contributing to, and enjoying rugby, I ask that you reflect upon what has been accomplished together by the Hong Kong rugby community.
DOMESTIC SEASON
The 2007/08 G4S League and Knockout Cup provided plenty of competitive rugby for the fifty four men’s and women’s teams throughout the season and, whilst every team will look back upon their own particular ups and downs, there are one or two that I would like to highlight.
CBRE Club claimed the G4S League title and Knockout Cup ‘Double’, displaying tremendous consistency throughout the campaign, which they capped off in superb style with their victory of Synovate HKCC in the Cup final.
In G4S Division 3B, DeA II enjoyed an almost perfect debut season, winning the league in style. They were however denied the double by SJM Macau, when Macau won the Knockout cup final 22-5 to take their first piece of major domestic silverware.
Among all the other results, the progress of Generali Causeway Bay Marines in Division 7 must be acknowledged, where they took the honours in both the League and the Union Sevens.
The Domestic program is supported by a number of local and international tournaments and I thank the organizers of the following competitions for providing a variety of good rugby for Hong Kong players and supporters:
- Inprojects Kowloon Tens
- G4S Union Sevens
- DeA Pub 7s
- Inprojects Kowloon RugbyFest
- Synovate HKCC Country of Origin
- Crown Valley 15s
- GFI HKFC International Tens
- Cable & Wireless Hong Kong Women’s 7s
YOUTH RUGBY
Mini
Yet another season of more players, more games and more fun for all the players plus their families and friends.
Hong Kong Mini rugby continues to grow in this most important area of the game, and the activities of the youngsters and their coaches and supporters sets a benchmark amongst the many activities of the Union.
Schools
Rugby’s expansion is very evident in Hong Kong local schools, where the competition is expanding with much support from the more mature EFS and International Schools and the Schools Committee. Here and in the Colts section, girls’ rugby is experiencing significant growth, steered by a dedicated Committee.
Colts
Colts rugby is established as an integral part of the rugby community, providing a meaningful environment and pathway for all our young players. I note with much pride the skills and abilities of many of our young Colts players, both girls and boys, showcased at the Standard Chartered NYD, the International Youth Tournaments and age grade matches, who are now breaking through to the full representative teams.
TERTIARY RUGBY
In a short period of time tertiary rugby has become a permanent part of the rugby landscape with rugby being played in twenty-one Universities and Tertiary Institutions.
It is particularly gratifying to see the enthusiasm of students extending from their own XV’s and VII’s competitions to the Union’s Leagues, where many of the players now take part in the leagues for Club teams.
The recent decision of the University Sports Association to grant Rugby "Official Sports Event" status, is a very significant milestone for Rugby in Hong Kong, and will provide an opportunity to significantly develop our sport in the Tertiary community.
COMMUNITY AND DEVELOPMENT RUGBY
This has been another good year for the development of grass roots rugby in Hong Kong with many new players being introduced to our game through a variety of partnerships and initiatives.
At mini-level, the Philips backed mini development programme continues to introduce rugby through a fun programme to local schools. It is hoped that some of these new young players will go on to play regularly with local clubs and the early signs are encouraging.
The Standard Chartered Bank sponsorship of Community Rugby continues to pay dividends. From the additional assistance of UK Hartpury students to work in the community plus input into local competitions - including the New Year’s Day, the Colts and Tertiary leagues - and a whole platform of community based rugby projects, the Standard Chartered colours are very visible on the rugby fields of Hong Kong. We aim to continue this great relationship.
Touch and Tag rugby continues to provide a different aspect of the game for many players throughout and beyond the rugby season. Another successful International Tournament, the third Hong Kong Inter-Cities Touch Championship, was successfully held and a Hong Kong team again played in the Asian Club Touch Championship.
REPRESENTATIVE RUGBY
I believe that all members of the rugby community will agree that this has been one of the best seasons of representative rugby in Hong Kong for many years. It has been especially pleasing that this has been achieved with competitive and skilful performances from our teams and plenty of good support from the Hong Kong rugby community.
Hong Kong performed exceptionally well in the Inaugural HSBC Asian Five Nations with wins against Kazakhstan and the Arabian Gulf and despite losses against Japan and Korea, the overall outcome was a very creditable third place.
This mood has been captured throughout the age grade squads and our women’s teams.
The advance of our youth squads is best reflected in the Under 20s, who performed exceptionally well in the Asian Qualifying Group of the IRB Junior World Trophy, where they narrowly lost to Korea in the Final. With 16 of the squad still eligible next season, we are confident that they can go one step further and qualify for next year’s IRB Junior World Trophy.
The Sevens squad continued their progress from previous seasons, with the undoubted highlight being the winning of the Sri Lanka Sevens Tournament. This fantastic result was backed up by some fine performances at the Hong Kong Sevens, where we pushed Australia, drew with France and beat Japan.
Our performance department and staff team, together with the dedication of our players have advanced our representative stature and potential to a new level. I believe that we can look forward to many new achievements at all levels for our teams in the coming seasons.
ASIAN RUGBY
The restructured governance of the Asian Rugby Football Union and the launch of the HSBC Asian 5 Nations that will also provide the pathway to Rugby World Cup qualification, has driven Asian rugby to higher levels of prominence and performance than ever before.
Hong Kong rugby was instrumental in driving this change process, and in delivering the inaugural Asian 5 Nations, which through unprecedented live TV broadcast around the world, has greatly increased the profile of rugby in Asia, and Asian rugby to the world.
Hong Kong rugby’s role in Asian rugby was recognized when the IRB determined that Hong Kong would be the location for the first Asian Rugby office.
The challenge now for Hong Kong, and the wider Asian rugby community, is to capitalise on this increased exposure by growing the game within our own individual territories and the region as a whole. With the continued backing of the IRB and HSBC, an opportunity exists to take rugby in Asia and in Hong Kong, to another level.
CATHAY PACIFIC / CREDIT SUISSE HONG KONG SEVENS
After the considerable success of the 2006 and 2007 Sevens, it was hard to imagine that the 2008 event could be even more successful, but with an unprecedented demand for tickets and an ever increasing standard of play, the Tournament proved to further enhance Hong Kong’s reputation as the World’s best "Sevens".
The event itself was a tremendous success and the very positive feedback from all who attended has been very encouraging. Of course the aim is to make the next even better, which is most daunting. I am sure however, that the Sevens organizing team will tackle the challenge with their usual drive and determination to make next year’s Sevens another Hong Kong landmark.
It was also very gratifying to see our own Hong Kong squad play so well in front of home supporters and seeing new champions, with New Zealand dominating the tournament, beating South Africa with a clinical performance in the final.
FACILITIES AND KING'S PARK
One of the Union’s prime strategies is to seek opportunities to apply funding in return for long-term access to facilities. Significant progress has been made on the facilities front with securing a further 7-year tenancy for the Kings Park Sports Ground. The completion of the Phase 1 renovations in September 2007 saw the upgrading of the kitchen facilities and bar area and new changing rooms. The HKRFU has recently decided to up-grade the two remaining grass pitches to artificial pitches, complete with floodlighting.
It is important that the rolling program of new pitch provision now in place continues to enable good facilities to be in place to meet the ever-increasing demands arising from the growth of Hong Kong rugby.
STAFF
I believe that the achievements of Hong Kong rugby are due to a vibrant and energetic mix of many groups and personalities of which the staff at Olympic House play a significant role in all our activities.
They are enthusiastic and industrious in what sometimes can be demanding circumstances but are committed members of the Hong Kong ‘Team’ and share in all our combined successes.
FINANCES
The 2007/8 operating year of the HKRFU has produced another set of satisfactory financial results for the HKRFU. This is due to a number of reasons but I would like to thank the Commercial Department for maximizing revenue streams and my fellow Directors for prudent budget control. I also wish to thank the Investment Committee, under the shrewd chairmanship of Stuart Leckie for ensuring that our investments really contribute to the Union’s coffers.
A "GAME FOR ALL" CONTINUES
I hope that everyone reading this report will agree that the progress and successes described here and elsewhere in the documents provide a sound platform to build upon for the next season and the Strategic Plan will continue to provide direction and focus, as we face ever-increasing challenges and opportunities.
I had much eager anticipation for the work ahead when I was elected as Chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union. Two years on and having fully experienced the passion and energy of all the rugby community, my own commitment is as fresh and enthusiastic as ever. Hong Kong rugby will have another good year in 2009.
THANKS
Hong Kong rugby has a vibrant base of support and I have been very grateful for the assistance and input that a complete cross section of the rugby community has given me. In particular I would like to thank:
- The President, Brian Stevenson and the Vice Presidents - for their consistent support.
- The Directors - for all their time, hard work, support and commitment to Hong Kong rugby.
- The Union Staff - Allan Payne and the ‘Olympic House Team’.
- All Club Chairmen and Officials for their ceaseless efforts on behalf of Hong Kong rugby.
- Representative Coaches and Managers for elevating Hong Kong squads to amongst the best in Asia.
- The sponsors and patrons of the HKRFU for their tremendous support.
- All officials including our Referees, TJs, Assessors and the various members of panels that serve to keep our game being played according to the Laws.
- Many other Committees, groups and working parties that all work for the betterment of Hong Kong rugby.
To all these fine people, together with players, volunteers, supporters and all other members of the community that give so much to rugby in Hong Kong, I thank you for your contribution to our great game. See you next season.
Regards,
Trevor Gregory
HKRFU Chairman
June 26, 2008 |
