PUBLISHED ON 04 MAR 2025
To ignite passion for rugby in the lead-up to the highly anticipated Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at Kai Tak Sports Park from 28 to 30 March 2025, Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) will showcase key community programmes.
HKCR CEO James Farndon highlighted the important role that community partners play in Hong Kong’s overall rugby ecosystem. “Our 10-year strategic plan aims to optimise the societal impact of rugby through enhanced engagement, participation and retention,” he said.
“A key part of this is introducing as many young players as possible to our sport. As well as the programmes that we will showcase in the month of the Sevens, fantastic school programmes and competitions are delivered year-round in partnership with The Hong Kong Jockey Club, Cathay and HSBC.”
HKCR Executive Director of Community and Participation Rocky Chow highlighted the significance of the next five weeks for HKCR’s community programmes, saying: “As we count down to the first Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at Kai Tak Stadium, we have a perfect chance to engage local communities ahead of the event, and to build the hype as we celebrate this historic moment.
“I’d like to recognise the support that both HKCR and our official charity, Rugby For Good, receive from our long-standing Sevens Official Community Partner, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, as well as from Cathay and HSBC as co-title sponsors of the Sevens and our representative teams.”
Jockey Club Sevens Community Programmes
For the fourth consecutive year, The Hong Kong Jockey Club will be the Official Community Partner of the Hong Kong Sevens, launching a series of exciting programmes before and during the tournament through The Jockey Club Sevens Community Programmes. The Programmes will kick off the month with the Jockey Club Multi Sport Shared Learning Experience at Renaissance College on Sunday, 2 March, where players of team sports including rugby, basketball, cricket and football will share their skills amongst each other.
This will be followed by sessions of individual sports such as ninja warrior and breakdancing on Sunday, 9 March. These sessions lead up to the main showcase, the Jockey Club Elite Athletes Sharing Session cum Sport for All Carnival, at Olympian City Mall on Saturday, 15 March and Sunday, 16 March, with Hong Kong China 7s representatives and other elite athletes from other sports set to attend. Members of the public are welcome to attend on both days, with more information available at rugbyforgoodhk.org.
The Club will continue to support initiatives designed to engage underprivileged communities with the Hong Kong Sevens. The Jockey Club Sevens Community Experience will once again provide 1,500 tickets to these communities to attend each day of the Sevens. Some 5,000 additional tickets will be provided to students from local schools to enjoy the action on Friday through the Jockey Club Sevens School Tour, while over 1,500 young players will be presented with the first Kai Tak Mini Showcase medals as a part of the Jockey Club Mini Rugby Showcase.
HSBC Try Rugby
The HSBC Try Rugby programme is an exciting partnership between HSBC, HKCR and Education University HK. Since 2017, 379 local primary schools have adopted a programme – allowing 76,375 students to engage in the sport.
HSBC Try Rugby is bringing their pre-Sevens community showcase, the indoor HSBC 4x4 Primary School Touch Tournament, to New Territories West this year. The tournament will take place from Thursday 6 March to Sunday 9 March, held at Tuen Mun Town Plaza. Over 20 primary school teams have entered this year’s tournament, with HSBC opening a special invitation tournament on the Thursday for new schools based in the New Territories West, giving fans a chance to enjoy the action. Hong Kong China stars will be in attendance on the final day of competition to select players to take part in an All-Star exhibition match. The MVPs of the tournament will also be selected as official HSBC Ball Carriers at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at the end of March.
Cathay’s PLK Tacking Life
Cathay’s support of HKCR’s work with the Po Leung Kuk at Primary Schools continues to deliver, and in doing so allow special rugby programmes to take place for boys and girls from 20 primary schools.
Rugby For Good, on behalf of HKCR, will be hosting the Po Leung Kuk Tackling Life Community Fun Day this year ahead of the Sevens. On Saturday 15 March, King’s Park Sports Ground will transform into a showcase event, with young players from 15 of the Po Leung Kuk Tackling Life Schools. Hong Kong China players will also be on hand to coach sessions and meet and greet the players.
