Welcome to the HKRFU Newsletter
After the 15s team Uruguayan adventure, next weekend it’s the turn of our men’s and women’s 7s squads to show their silky skills as Hong Kong hosts its first RS Hong Kong Asian Sevens tournament at HKFC. For the boys this is the opportunity to try to wrestle back their no.1 ranking in Asia, while for the girls this is an ideal opportunity to test themselves before the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series on 12/13 September at Shek Kip Mei…find out what’s in store this weekend here and make sure you don’t miss the most fun this side of March – DJ, live band on Saturday evening, Lion Dancing, light refreshments served all day, and red hot rugby!

Och aye the noo,

Jimmy – it’s time to dust off your rugby boots, kilt and novelty ginger wig because Hong Kong Scottish Day is back! Saturday 6th September at the all new King’s Park, come and join the fun with our top domestic rugby stars in action, youth rugby, games and stalls, haggis pizza and Irn Bru, and this year an added attraction…get ready for the “War of Independence”, as the St Andrews Society take on the St Georges Society with the winner taking all the remaining North Sea oil. If you were born in England, have a grandparent born in England, or you’ve got a stiff upper lip and would like to play for St Georges please contact Richard Cooke on rcooke888@gmail.com If on the other hand you’ve ever eaten a piece of shortbread and would like to play for St Andrews please contact John Bruce on john.bruce@hill-assoc.com

This year’s Swire Properties Touch Tournament will be held at King’s Park on Saturday 13th September – this is an event that gives corporate teams both big and small the chance to have a run and no doubt tick off a load of team building and communication boxes at the same time… to find out more about entering a team or sponsorship opportunities, contact Andrew Brown andrew@laxtonevents.com

This year’s New Territories District Sports Association Sevens Tournament will be held on Sunday 7th September at the Sai Kung Stadium – and for the first time there will be a men’s and women’s competition!
You are eligible to play for the District you live, work or study in – please contact your team co-ordinator as below. The Hong Kong Island and Kowloon District tournament will be held in December – watch out for more details soon…

District / DDO / E-mail
Sai Kung / Ho Chai / hochai@hkrugby.com
Shatin / Sailo Lai / sailo.lai@hkrugby.com
Tai Po / Anthony Ho / anthony.ho@hkrugby.com
Tsuen Wan / Peter Ng / peter.ng@hkrugby.com
Yuen Long / Billy Chan / billy.chan@hkrugby.com
Kwai Tsing / Him Cheng / him.cheng@hkrugby.com
North District / Brandon Huang / bin.huang@hkrugby.com
Tuen Mun / Iris Lau / iris.lau@hkrugby.com

That weekend is shaping up to be a pretty packed 48 hours…the orphans of Angeles welcome back the Pot Bellied Piggies for their annual Fat Boys 10s on 6/7 September, contact johnhamilton@mail.com... meanwhile on the sunny sands of Hak Sa Beach on the 6th it’s the Macau Beach Tournament, contact liokaian.carmen@gmail.com

Referee Update
Congratulations to Gabriel Lee and Alex Blois-Brooke on their upcoming IRB appointments…what have they been appointed to? Find out here

Medical Update
The pre-season 1st Aid courses are booked in for 20/21 September – more info coming soon!

Charities
The Community Chest/Wheelock “Swim For a Million” charity event will be held on Sunday 21st September at Repulse Bay Beach – you can join the Leader’s Lap, form a team for the Corporate Relay and/or join a family member for the Two-Generation Relay! More details at www.commchest.org/swimforamillion

Operation Breakthrough’s annual charity boxing dinner is on Friday 17th October at the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal – “Cruising for a Bruising” will be a memorable evening, with special guest Marvelous Marvin Hagler! For details and bookings contact Barry on bjay@netvigator.com

This year’s Ben Kende Foundation Ball will be held at HKFC on Saturday 18th October – find out more Via the BKF website :http://www.bkf.com.hk/simply-the-best-black-white-charity-ball-18th-october-hkfc

Rugby Calendar
16th/17th August – Summer Indoor Touch Tournament (Shek Kip Mei Sports Centre)
23rd/24th August – Asian Sevens Series (HKFC)
6th September – Hong Kong Scottish Day (King’s Park)
6th September – Macau Beach Tournament (Hak Sa Beach)
6th September – Fat Boys’ 10s (Angeles)
7th September – New Territories District Sevens (Sai Kung Stadium)
13th September – Swire Properties Touch Tournament (King’s Park)
12th/13th September – IRB Women’s World Sevens Series Qualifier (Shek Kip Mei)
20th September – DB Pirates All Girls Beach Tournament
27th September – Premiership & Women’s Super Saturday (King’s Park)
4th October – all other divisions commence

Rugby on TV
The Rugby Championship is back!
Saturday 16th August on Setanta
6pm Wallabies v All Blacks
11pm Springboks v Pumas

This Sunday is also the final of the IRB Women’s 15s World Cup, with England facing Canada – watch live stream http://www.rwcwomens.com/wrwcontv.html