Factors affecting inclusion include wealth gap, employment opportunities, ethnicity, gender, disability and health.

For those who are excluded from society, sport can promote a shared sense of belonging and participation and can represent a valuable opportunity for inclusion and support. The United Nations Sport Development for Peace International Working Group recommends that sport is included in government strategies as a way to build relationships, connect individuals to communities, and act as a communications platform for excluded populations. 

Please click on the below programmes for further information.

Inclusive Rugby

The Foundation has a dedicated Inclusive Rugby Coach sponsored by Ageas who runs programmes for students with physical and/or mental disabilities at 9 schools. The Chinese University Department of Social Work assist with course content, staff training and evaluation.

Jockey Club Rugby United Project

This initiative focuses on building understanding and friendship between youngsters from Chinese and ethnic minority backgrounds, and also between Hong Kong and Mainland students, using a specially designed curriculum provided by international NGO PeacePlayers International.  

For the years 2020-2022, the initiative will be funded by Hong Kong Jockey Club and will include 12 Secondary Schools for Year 1.

Wheelchair Rugby

The HKRU is a member of the HK Paralympic Committee, who are supporting ongoing efforts to start a wheelchair rugby programme.

Don't Drop the Ball

This programme  was launched in 2008 in conjunction with the Police Crime Prevention Bureau, and there are currently local secondary schools participating in Kwai Tsing, Shatin, Tsuen Wan and Tai Po Districts.  Along with introducing the students to rugby, they are encouraged to lead a healthy lifestyle and avoid drugs, triads and crime. This is an officially recognized Youth Initiative for the Police, New Territories South Region.

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 are also supported by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation www.breakthrough.hk

Prison Rugby (Cape Collinson Correctional Institute & Pik Uk Prison)

In August 2015 the Foundation commenced our first 8 session weekly training programme in CCCI, supported by the Correctional Services Department – this has now become an ongoing initiative, and in 2018 was expanded to Pik Uk Correctional Institution. 

Cathay Pacific Po Leung Kuk Tackling Life Programme

Supported by Cathay Pacific, the “Tackling Life” programme has introduced rugby to PLK youngsters in the residential care centre, learning centres and 22 primary schools – in total over 5,000 students. The programme stresses positive values and key life skills.

Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups

Supported by the Hong Kong Bank Foundation, the “Healthy Lifestyle Rugby Programme for Youth” is targeted at young boys and girls from Kowloon City, Kwun Tong and Wong Tai Sin Districts from disadvantaged backgrounds who normally would have little opportunity to participate in sports activities.

Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children

Supported by Societe Generale, the “Breaking Barriers Through Sport” programme is aimed at youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds, offering them the opportunity to participate in a cost-free sports activity.

ChickenSoup Foundation

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.

Deaf Rugby

Supported by Wilson Group, Friends of Asia and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, this programme sees more than 40 deaf youngsters attend weekly training sessions, and since 1st October 2017 HKRUCF have employed a deaf coach.

In 2020, Funded by HKRUCF, Centre for Sign Linguistics and Deaf Studies, CUHK published a playlist for deaf rugby to introduce rugby to deaf people while enabling hearing people to learn sign language about rugby. Click here for the full playlist.

The Exiles & The Untouchables

In 2016, the HKRUCF partnered with Hong Kong based charity for domestic workers, Enrich, to form an Exiles Touch Rugby team. The aim of the project is to provide a safe environment for domestic workers to learn touch rugby on Sundays.

The sister of the Exiles, partnered with HELP for Domestic Workers, the Untouchables aims to provide a platform for talented athletes to get better coaching, learn from advanced players and play against better opposition. 

ADHD Programme

The aim of the ADHD programme is to help youngsters with ADHD to learn how to manage their behaviour through physical activity, and to educate their parents on the understanding of ADHD and how to interact with their child more effectively.

The Foundation launched the ADHD programme in February 2019 aiming to teach students with ADHD to learn rugby values, providing a platform to enhance family harmony through participating in sport.

Rugby & English

The Foundation runs 3 programmes in schools using rugby as a medium to build confidence in communication in English by creating an immersion environment with sessions run by native English speaking coaches, and specially created syllabuses.  We partner with the British Council, who assist with the design of the resource materials, staff training, and evaluation.

Rugby English Action Learning (REAL)

The Foundation has been offering REAL with the support of the Education Bureau since 2007 to local primary schools. Over 50 schools each year participate, with a long waiting list!

Active Schools

Based on the success of REAL, in 2014 the Foundation partnered with the HK Elite Athletes’ Association to offer a combination of rugby and English annually to 30+ schools under their Active Schools programme. 

Tackling English

In partnership with the British Council this programme focuses on local secondary students, with over 20 schools participating annually.  Tackling English is funded by the Corporate Sevens, led by Savills, Macquarie and KPMG.

School of Rugby

In 2013 Confucius Hall Secondary School became Hong Kong’s first “School of Rugby”, a Scottish Rugby Union programme that utilises both the sports field and the classroom to encourage youngsters to adopt positive life values. There are now a further 4 “Schools of Rugby” – Fat Ho Buddhist Memorial College, Hong Kong Juvenile Care Centre, Pui Tak Canossian College, and Sir Ellis Kadoorie Secondary School.

Hong Kong’s Rugby Spirit

This initiative, sponsored by UBS and Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, focuses on the 7 priority values that the Education Bureau have identified for Hong Kong students: “Perseverance” (Determination), “Respect for Others”, “Responsibility”, “National Identity”, “Commitment”, “Integrity” (Honesty) and “Care for Others” (Teamwork).  The course material was developed in conjunction with the Father Cucchiara Memorial School Principal, and has been endorsed by both the Education Bureau and Chinese University’s Department of Education.  There are currently over 80 local primary schools enrolled.

Apprentices

The Foundation has 2 groups on apprentice programmes – 4 Operation Breakthrough graduates are supported by Ageas, with another 4 from ethnic minority backgrounds are supported by the Kadoorie Foundation.  All participants are offered 12 month contracts with HKRU, and  during that time they receive mentoring and support as well as the opportunity to attend training courses, to help equip them for a future career in the sports industry.

Kely Support Group

The Foundation works closely with this local NGO who help young people facing drug and alcohol abuse to find their potential by equipping them with essential life skills.  One of their annual signature campaigns is “Save Our Sevens”.