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PUBLISHED ON 18 NOV 2024
An induction ceremony and celebratory lunch took place on Saturday to mark the special achievements of Hong Kong China Rugby’s latest Hall of Fame inductees, welcome the organisation’s new Honorary Members and recognise two recently departed Board Members – overseen by Hong Kong China Rugby Chairman Chris Brooke and CEO James Farndon.
The event took place at the Dorsett Kai Tak Hotel, with the party then heading to the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground as special guests at the Autumn International Series match between Hong Kong China Men’s XVs and Brazil. Anyone unable to attend the event was recognised in their absence.
HALL OF FAMERS
Hong Kong China Rugby Hall of Famers are individuals who boast a distinguished record of competitive achievement at the highest domestic and international level, with consideration given to integrity, sportsmanship and character. Individuals who have made a significant contribution to growing the reputation and reach of rugby – in areas such as administration, coaching and officiating – are also considered for the Hall of Fame.
Aggie Poon
As a former 110-metre hurdler, Aggie had the perfect amount of pace out on the wing or at fullback over her rugby career. She has earned 18 caps for the Hong Kong China women’s 15s between 2009 and 2017, including an outing at the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2017. In 7s, she amassed a remarkable 35 caps, including three Asian Games tournaments in 2010, 2014 and 2018. After an early retirement due to a knee injury, Aggie continues to have an impact on our sport and in our community by dedicating her time as a referee.
Alex Ng Wai Shing
A big, bustling and busy prop, Alex started out as a soccer player and has since delivered on 51 caps for the Hong Kong China men’s 15s between 2008 and 2017 – not bad for a guy who was first asked swap soccer out to play a game of rugby to make up numbers! His first cap came in January 2008, and his last appearance was against Kenya in August 2017.
Candy Cheng
A true inspiration and role model of our game, Candy has 40 caps for Hong Kong China 7s to her name spanning 11 years of service to the team, which includes ten consecutive appearances at the Hong Kong Sevens between 2008 and 2017. Candy also contributed 18 outings for the 15s team at centre. After stepping away from representative rugby, Candy is still giving back to the rugby community, and is the current chairwoman of her beloved Gai Wu and is on track to become a World Rugby Level 3 coach and educator.
Christy Cheng
A champion of women’s 7s and often to be found on Hong Kong China Rugby’s billboards and marketing material, the inimitable Christy Cheng received 38 caps for 7s between 2008 and 2019 spanning an 11-year career. Her first cap was in the World Cup Qualifier in October 2008, and her last appearance was at the Borneo 7s in March 2019. Christy has had 8 outings at the Hong Kong Sevens from 2010 to 2018, and three appearances at the Asian Games in 2010, 2014 and 2018. She captained the team from 2015 to 2017. In addition to her 7s career, Christy gained 23 caps for the 15s team between 2009 and 2017, including an appearance at the Rugby World Cup in 2017.
Dean Herewini
Affectionately known as ‘Deano’, Dean is a well-known figure around the Hong Kong China rugby community, known for his efforts to promote and support the game of rugby locally, and is a particular champion of the women’s game. It’s fitting that his daughter Kea is an internationally capped front-row, of whom he is immensely proud. Dean himself received four caps for Hong Kong in 1998 as a member of the Pacific Rim tournament which was held in Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, and San Francisco. Dean also coached the women’s national team between 2015 and 2016.
Nick Hewson
Nick Hewson is a great servant of our game, receiving an incredible 58 caps for the men’s 15s between 2009 and 2018. His first cap was in December 2009 against Germany on a European Tour; and he captained the side between 2013 and 2017. Nick’s last appearance for Hong Kong China 15s was in France for the Olympic Repechage against Canada in November 2018. In addition to his 15s career, he also earned himself 23 caps for the men’s 7s side, the first of which was an Asian Sevens Series debut in Borneo in 2011, and included a World Sevens Series appearance in London and a Rugby World Cup outing in Russia. Nick also put in three shifts at the Hong Kong Sevens.
Sham Wai Sum
A highly decorated scrum-half for Gai Wu and Hong Kong China, Sham Wai Sum collected 35 caps for the 7s programme across a decade of service to the sport between 2009 and 2019. She played in front of a home crowd at the Hong Kong Sevens six times, and played twice in the Asian Games in 2010 and 2014. In the longer format of the game, she earned 13 caps for the 15s between 2009 and 2018. Her first fifteens cap was in November 2009 for the World Cup Qualifier against Kazakhstan, and her last test appearance was against Wales in November 2018.
Tom McQueen
Tom McQueen was a true king on the 7s wing, collecting 40 caps to his name over a 13-year career between 2008 and 2021. This includes two Rugby World Cup outings, seven Hong Kong Sevens, and a silver medal at the Asian Games in 2014. Tom also earned 18 caps for the men’s 15s, known for his ability to locate the try line.
HONORARY MEMBERS
Hong Kong China Rugby Honorary Members are individuals of excellent character who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment and assistance to the development and promotion of rugby in Hong Kong.
Alan Smith
Alan came to Hong Kong in January 1970, spending most of his career in financial services. It was his love of rugby and friendship with President Peter Duncan that led him to step in at very short notice and make Credit Suisse First Boston the title sponsor of the Hong Kong Sevens in 1998. CSFB remained the title sponsor of the Sevens for 14 years, and in addition, Alan was a Vice-President of Hong Kong China Rugby from 1998 to 2004. He also personally provides scholarships for HKCR apprentices. Alan was proud to be appointed as a Justice of the Peace in Hong Kong in 1994.
Kim Lam
Kim has been involved in rugby since early 1998, when her two young children joined mini rugby. She served as Vice-Chair and Chair on the Hong Kong Mini Rugby Football Union and created the famous Kim Lam Cup for the domestic U12 girls competition. In 2010 Kim helped organise 2,610 young players for a Guinness World Record-breaking tournament while serving as a committee member and Colts representative for SCAA Causeway Bay. In addition to all of this, Kim was a director for the Hong Kong China Rugby Board from 2015 to 2020 and was also a representative for SF&OC.
Martin Kibble
Along with plying his trade for the Hong Kong Dragons as an imposing centre with occasional scrum-half duties, Martin has worked at Hong Kong China Rugby as a community manager, and served six years on the board of directors, including four years as secretary. He has been involved with the Hong Kong China Men’s 7s team as team manager since 2009, and is often found supporting at all Hong Kong China home games and events.
Ruth Mitchell
Ruth's decorated playing career saw her play representative rugby at both 15s and 7s, with her captaining the 7s team. She won numerous awards, including the HKRFU Player of the Year in 1994, the HKRFU Special Award in 2000, the Asia Rugby Personality Award and iRB Personality of the Year Award in 2011, and the HKRFC Joel Dunn Award in 2012. After her playing career she served on the Asia Rugby Women's Committee, spent 11 years on the HKRFU Board of Directors, and served as Chairwoman of the HKWR International 7s tournament. She was also involved in the preparation of the iRB Strategic Plan at Twickenham that contributed to 7s Rugby becoming an Olympic sport.
Richard Cooke
Note that Richard was nominated and approved as an Honorary Member, and as a current member of the Board of Directors this will be deferred until he steps away from this role.
BOARD MEMBERS
Two recently departed Board Members were awarded tankards in recognition of the contributions to Hong Kong China Rugby.
Olly Stratton
Olly has lived and worked in Hong Kong since 1988 and has been actively involved in rugby in Hong Kong for over 30 years. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, he joined Valley RFC to play community league and veterans rugby. He became involved with the minis at Valley Fort as a U5s coach in 2010 and served as Chairman of Valley Fort from 2014 to 2017, overseeing all mini and youth rugby, social and commercial activities. Subsequently he was elected Chairman of the Hong Kong Mini Rugby Football Union, a role he has held from 2017 to 2022, providing leadership of Hong Kong’s mini rugby program encompassing 21 clubs, over 4,000 young players, parent and professional coaches, administrators and referees. In these roles he worked closely with stakeholders at HKCR and across the rugby community.
Robert Esser
Robert's first exposure to rugby in Hong Kong began with minis in the 2003/4 season, coaching at DeA Tigers with two children in the U6s. He joined the referees society in 2004, and also continued to coach minis at DeA for the next ten years, while representing the club on the Girls' Committee. During this period he also obtained World Rugby Coaching & Refereeing Certificates, at both Levels 1 and 2. A keen referee at many levels of the game from 2004 to the present day, Robert has refereed more than 500 career matches across Seniors and Youth.
