HONG KONG CHINA RUGBY LAUNCHES THE NAN FUNG IMPACT LEAGUE

Hong Kong China Rugby is excited to announce the launch of the Nan Fung Impact League, a pioneering initiative launched in partnership with Nan Fung Group. This initiative introduces a competition among all Premiership Clubs to evaluate their off-field work in the community. A judging panel will assess submissions by each club at the end of the season, recognising those that demonstrate outstanding social and environmental impact to their respective communities. This not only adds a new dimension to rugby in Hong Kong but also promotes community engagement and sustainability efforts. 

The Impact League is rooted in three core themes – mental health, waste management, and broader sustainability, bringing together the following teams in this first-ever off-field Premiership competition: Causeway Sandy Bay, Gai Wu, HKU Sandy Bay, Hong Kong Football Club, Hong Kong Scottish, Kowloon Rugby Club, USRC Tigers, and Valley RFC.  As part of this initiative, each club will nominate three players to attend a workshop led by “In Time Of” (community engagement arm of Nan Fung Group), where they will be trained as mental health ambassadors, equipped to lead and facilitate workshops and support their fellow teammates. The nominees will also take part in a waste reduction and upcycling innovation workshop, while one designated “Sustainability Champion” from each team will work with SEWIT Consultancy — a member of Nan Fung Group — to learn how to design community initiatives with an impact-driven mindset and gain a foundational understanding of impact measurement. The team will then go out into their respective communities and translate their learnings into tangible impact. 

Jamie Farndale, General Manager of Club Development and Sustainability for Hong Kong China Rugby, said, “There is nothing that drives sports teams more than competition, it’s part of our DNA. By lifting competition off the field of play there is a huge opportunity to make the most of our club’s unique deep-rooted connections within the Hong Kong community”. 

He added, “Thank you to Nan Fung Group, who is going to provide the required expert impact measurement through their SEWIT Consultancy while also putting a prize fund in place. They are providing the capacity and motivation for clubs to go above and beyond within their communities. Eight clubs, eight touch points, eight communities – I can't wait to see the impact we can have!"

Overview of the Nan Fung Impact League 

The Nan Fung Impact League channels all sponsorship funds directly to Premiership Clubs, empowering them to enhance both on-field performance and off-field community leadership. This initiative showcases rugby as a catalyst for positive change while maintaining the spirit of competition. Each club holds a unique position within society to create impactful change, and this sponsorship provides the capacity and motivation to take action. 

Objectives of the Initiative 

• Reward Premiership Clubs: Clubs will receive prize money based on impact-driven performance
• Build Club Capacity: Targeted training programmes will enhance the clubs’ knowledge and capacity in the realms of sustainability, mental health, and community engagement
• Quantify and Report Impact: Expert consulting from SEWIT Consultancy will help clubs measure and report their social and environmental impact, facilitating continuous improvement and transparency
• Deepen Community Connections: Clubs will engage local schools and stakeholders in various environmental projects to strengthen community ties

Prize Money Distribution 

The total prize money of HK $200,000 will be awarded to the eight Premiership clubs as follows: 

• 1st Place: $60,000 
• 2nd Place: $40,000 
• 3rd Place: $30,000 
• 4th Place: $20,000 
• 5th Place: $16,000 
• 6th Place: $14,000 
• 7th Place: $12,000 
• 8th Place: $8,000 

At the end of the season, an expert judging panel will assess submissions, ranking clubs based on a combination of criteria: social and environmental impact alongside rugby performance. This comprehensive scoring ensures that clubs are recognised for their meaningful community leadership as well as their on-field success. 

Club Nominees:

Causeway Sandy Bay 

• Mental Health Pillar: Kirsty Lai, Nicole Cheung
• Waste Management Pillar: James Kong, Daniel Tsang, Carol Cheng
• Sustainability Champion: Glory Wang

Gai Wu 

• Mental Health Pillar: Lee Ka Shun, Ethan Yam, Shun Choi
• Waste Management Pillar: Jasmine Fung, Tiffany Leung 
• Sustainability Champion: Audrey Lam

HKU Sandy Bay

• Mental Health: Tabo Maree, Dean Rossouw, Vincent Tsoi
• Waste Management: Michael Botha, Zac Cinnamond, Ricky Nwagbara
• Impact Programme: Jaime Chuidian

Hong Kong Football Club

• Mental Health Pillar: Charles Higson-Smith, Gavin Boak, Annie Buntine
• Waste Management Pillar: Ally Davidson 
• Sustainability Champion: Roshini Turner

Hong Kong Scottish

• Mental Health Pillar: Ruben Cronje, Rebecca Brown, Jack Breen
• Waste Management Pillar: Andrew Lupton
• Sustainability champion: Charlotte Hancock

Kowloon Rugby Club

• Mental Health Pillar: Lewis Wilson, Richard Harris, Anson Bailey, Ludovic Rampal
• Waste Management Pillar: Nicole Parhamenko 
• Sustainability champion: Clive Hammond

USRC Tigers

• Mental Health Pillar: Natalie Ireland, Hinemaringi Scott, Ho Rachel Yeun Shan
• Waste Management Pillar: Shea Ka Wai Charlotte, Shea Ka Man Charline, Ho Rachel Yuen Shan
• Sustainability Champion: Ng Hoi Ching

Valley RFC

• Mental Health Pillar: Gus Leger, Sam Hocking, Katrina Roszynski
• Waste Management Pillar: Sonia Vashi, Sion Bennett, Nick Brown 
• Sustainability Champion: Samantha Scott

About Nan Fung Group

Nan Fung Group is one of the largest privately held conglomerates in Hong Kong with global interests in real estate development and investment, which holds a well-diversified and substantial financial investment portfolio. The Group was founded in 1954 and has a track record spanning more than 60 years with over 170 projects including residential, commercial and industrial buildings. The Group also strategically focuses on first-tier cities in Chinese Mainland and recognises attractive opportunities for development and investment overseas, including New York, Boston and London.

About In Time Of

“In Time Of” is a community initiative launched by Nan Fung Group that engages society on multidisciplinary levels, ranging from cultural and creative industry to social design and sustainable development. The initiative is inspired by the global “Resilient Cities” concept that refers to cities with the resilience to absorb, recover from, and prepare for future shocks on economic, environmental, social, infrastructural, and institutional levels, and The aspires to empower the community to accumulate social capital in neighbourhoods, advocate for sustainability and reshape a continuous relationship that bridges humanity and nature.

About SEWIT Consultancy

SEWIT Consultancy, a member of Nan Fung Group, transforms business, tenant, and community outcomes through expert measurement, strategy, and value creation. First built to drive net-positive change within Nan Fung, SEWIT Consultancy now empowers organisations of all sizes—tenants, partners, and external charitable organisations and NGOs—with data-driven solutions, tailored tools, and hands-on advisory. Meeting Hong Kong’s demand for transparent, actionable ESG leadership and shared value, SEWIT Consultancy helps clients capture and maximize social impact while simplifying measurement and avoiding unnecessary cost and complexity. By redefining how social value is delivered and reported, SEWIT Consultancy sets new standards for transparency, accountability, and meaningful impact—leading sustainability innovation across Hong Kong and beyond.