The Hong Kong Rugby Union Community Foundation and Societe Generale, an official sponsor of Rugby World Cup 2019, joined hands to help make the dreams of 16 local youth come true with a trip to the recently concluded Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan.

The participants were drawn from HKRU Community Foundation (HKRUCF) supported community organizations: Po Leung Kuk, Chicken Soup Foundation and the Confucius Hall Secondary School, and a group of students from the Societe Generale supported Hans Andersen Club of Hong.

The youth departed for Yokohama on 22 October, where they joined over 100 other young athletes from around the world, and 140 Japanese children, for a week long celebration of the game’s core values of friendship, camaraderie, leadership and trust.

The youth were farewelled with a kit presentation ceremony officiated by HKRU Chairman Mr Patrick Donovan and Mr Warwick Jones, Director of Events, Sponsorship & Citizenship - Asia Pacific Communications of Societe Generale on Friday (17 Oct.) at the Societe Generale fanzone at the Central Event Space.

“I want to extend the sincere thanks of the entire rugby community to Societe Generale for their support of the game in Hong Kong and across the region, and for making this incredible experience a reality for these young players,” said HKRU Chairman Patrick Donovan.

“I also want to express our gratitude to them for sharing the excitement of the Rugby World Cup with all Hong Kong with this incredible fanzone. Throughout the tournament, the fanzone provided a place for fans of all backgrounds to gather and share the camaraderie that makes rugby so unique, and highlights the role that sport can play in uniting and empowering people.”

Mr Hikaru Ogata shared the excitement of Societe Generale and revealed that the kids would be meeting several rugby legends in Japan, in England’s world cup winner Jonny Wilkinson, former French captain Thierry Dusautoir, Japan Rugby World Cup 2015 hero Ayumu Goromaru and Vahbiz Barucha.

Mr Ogata said, “The Rugby Spirit Festival is the result of our involvement as Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2019 on one side, and our commitment to education and professional integration, namely through the Societe Generale Corporate Foundation for Solidarity, on the other.”

“Our responsibility is to make one of the world’s biggest events accessible to people we are working with on a daily basis. Rugby has this ability to create connections between people beyond gender, language, or social background. The enthusiasm and dedication of our staff in Asia Pacific to raise funds to allow children from their locally supported charity to travel to Japan was also essential.”

“With the involvement of ChildFund, World Rugby’s charity partner for RWC 2019 and our partner for the Festival, we had all the ingredients to offer a unique opportunity for these children”, added Mr Ogata. The kids were put through a final training session at the Societe Generale Rugby World Cup Fanzone prior to departure with Stuart Gunn, Community Inclusive Rugby Manager at the HKRU, and Ms Cathy Wong, one of Hong Kong’s top emerging women’s players. Wong was hosted to the Rugby World Cup opening ceremony by World Rugby as part of its global ‘Try and Stop Us’ campaign highlighting women in the game who make a difference.

ENDS