HKRU CELEBRATES LATEST EXPANSION OF COMMUNITY RUGBY GROUNDS AT TIN SHUI WAI

15th Oct 2016

The Hong Kong Rugby Union today marked its latest investment in expanding access for local communities to sports grounds with the official opening ceremony for the renovated facilities at the Tin Shui Wai Community Rugby ground.

The single-storey block addition to the ground includes expanded facilities to ensure that all users have access to convenient, serviced space for preparing for rugby activities and other uses of the ground.

Since taking over the site in 2010, the HKRU has invested more than HK$34 million in the Tin Shui Wai sports ground, including $12 million for the initial pitch installation and redevelopment works, HK$6 million for full pitch reinstallation works in 2016, along with $16 million on the latest additions, which were formally opened today.

Today’s activities included an exhibition of local mini and youth rugby featuring Tin Shui Wai area rugby clubs ahead of traditional Chinese inauguration activities including a Bai Shan ceremony and Lion Dance. Following the ceremony, all guests enjoyed an exciting contest between HKRU National League 6 teams Tin Shui Wai and Taipo Dragons, confirming the growing area community participation in Hong Kong rugby.

The ceremony was attended by Legislative Councillors Holden Chow Ho-ding and Leung Che-cheung, along with Mr Shum Ho Kit; District Councillor and Mr Lee Yuet Man; Chairman of the Yuen Long District Council, demonstrating the strong support from local authorities for rugby in the area.

HKRU Chairman Pieter Schats also participated in the opening ceremony on behalf of the Hong Kong Rugby community alongside HKRU Board Members John Carroll (Community), Chris Brooke (Facilities) and Kim Lam (Director General).

The local authorities have been hugely supportive of the game. Since 2010, the Yuen Long District Sports Association and Leisure and Cultural Services Department has funded a rugby-specific development programme within the district. A total of 8 primary and 8 secondary schools are involved in the programme.

The District Sports Association is also backing local club Tin Shui Wai Pandas by providing a coaching support subsidy for the club.

With the combined backing of the Hong Kong Rugby Union and local government, Tin Shui Wai Pandas -an offshoot of the HKRU-supported rugby programme under Police charity Operation Breakthrough, came to fruition in 2011.

Since then the club has grown from a single men’s team to a club with three men’s sides and one women’s team at senior level. They launched a youth section in 2014 that now fields three boys teams at U16s and U19s age grades and one U19 girls team.

Development rugby in the area has a long and proud history, with Tin Shui Wai Eagles Minis one of the oldest mini rugby clubs in Hong Kong, established in 1995 by a group of parents led by the HKRU. The club now has a flourishing member base of more than 100 players aged 4 to 12 years old.

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