The Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) has announced a long-term partnership with The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) to support rugby education in primary and secondary schools, at a ceremony held at the EdUHK’s Tai Po campus.

HKRU Chairman Mr Pieter Schats made the formal presentation to Dr Pang Yiu-kai, Chairman of both The EdUHK Council and The EdUHK Foundation, and EdUHK President Prof. Stephen Y.L. Cheung, in the presence of Mr Ben Ryan, who coached the Fiji Rugby Sevens side to the sport’s first-ever Olympic Gold at the Rio Games.

Initially for eight years, funding from HKRU will allow the University’s Department of Health and Physical Education (HPE) to make rugby an integral part of its teacher training, at both primary and secondary levels, and to introduce a rugby coaching certificate for all its undergraduates. A teaching resource pack for primary school physical education teachers will be created and sponsorship funds will also be devoted to facilities including the University’s Mobile Research Laboratory.

The sponsorship builds on a relationship between the two organisations that has grown steadily since 2009. HKRU has provided 20 “Outstanding Athlete” scholarship awards for HPE students and enabled hundreds of students to participate in rugby training with local rugby club Flying Kukris, while EdUHK provides facilities support. HKRU will continue to work closely with EdUHK to monitor, review and help improve rugby education programming under this newly expanded partnership.

Mr Schats expressed his confidence in the rugby education development work of the University’s HPE, saying, “We believe that all youngsters in our society should be given an opportunity to participate in sport, not just for the obvious health benefits but equally because of the core values such as respect, excellence and friendship that are continually reinforced through sport.”

Addressing the new relationship with EdUHK, Mr Schats said, “The key elements of our co-operation are enhancing and pursuing excellence in teacher education in the sport of rugby, promoting student participation in sport through incentive awards, supporting facility improvement projects, and developing academic and research collaboration between our organisations.”

Dr Pang expressed his appreciation for the HKRU support, saying he was impressed by HKRU’s work promoting rugby in the community, and helping to provide a career path for athletes that would encourage talented young sportspeople to pursue their involvement to the highest level. He said, “EdUHK is delighted to be part of the Union’s journey to increase the number of schools where rugby is taught from the present level of around 140 to its interim target of 250.”

Professor Cheung thanked HKRU for its close collaboration with the University over the past decade, particularly in establishing awards supporting relevant degree programmes, as well as providing training and practicums in rugby for EdUHK students. He said, “This collaboration demonstrates our shared determination and long-term commitment to quality physical education, and to providing rugby training in the education sector.”

Speaking on a visit to Hong Kong, former Fiji coach Ben Ryan recounted experiences from his sporting career of working both with and without facilities, and stressed the difference that the provision of good facilities makes to successful sports development. He commended today’s development which he hoped would underpin an even stronger rugby culture in Hong Kong going forward.

Also attending today’s ceremony on behalf of HKRU were board directors Ms Kim Lam and Mr Fred Au.

HKRU is committed to the development of rugby across the community and operates a number of programmes designed to ensure that rugby’s emergence as a mainstream sport in Hong Kong continues to reach young people from all kinds of backgrounds. Programmes run by or supported by HKRU include: REAL (Rugby English Action Learning), the HKRU Community Foundation, Don't Drop the Ball, and Operation Breakthrough.