PUBLISHED ON 25 NOV 2025
Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) – in collaboration with the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI), the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China (SF&OC), Hong Kong Sports Alliance and youthfest@HK – will be hosting the 2025 HKCR Talent Testing Days at the HKSI on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December.
This event builds on the success of the inaugural HKCR Talent Testing Day, which took place in December 2024 and spearheaded the exciting initiative to recruit young male and female talent into elite-level rugby. The project has been led from the outset by Salom Yiu Kam Shing, who is the Hong Kong China Men’s 7s record cap holder and a double Asian Games Gold Medallist. Salom himself only started playing rugby as an 18-year-old, after previously competing in athletics at the youth level. Looking ahead to the Talent Testing Days, he commented:
“Our first Talent Testing Day last year saw over 200 boys and girls taking part. We were all very impressed with the quality shown in our seven skills and endurance tests, with 50 youngsters invited back to train and three male and female players then progressing into our HKSI performance squads.
“For 2025 the interest in our programmes has grown, and we have opened up a full weekend to make sure as many boys and girls as possible get the chance to take part.”
Following the Talent Testing Day in 2024, 17-year-old Yeung Chin Pan progressed into the HKSI potential group. Looking back on his journey, he said:
“I had played rugby during school PE lessons and joined the school team in Secondary 3, then I saw an Instagram post where Yiu Kam Shing, Cado Lee and Fong Kit Fung were promoting the Talent Testing programme together.
“After being selected from the Testing Day, I followed the programme’s training schedule three days a week, and the techniques and standards taught were much higher than those I experienced at school. I also now know a lot more about reading the game, especially at no. 9 and no. 10 where I mainly play.
“At the moment I find playing rugby really enjoyable, and I recently went to Kai Tak Stadium for the National Games, and it was truly inspiring. I don’t think too much about big goals at the moment; I just hope to keep improving my skills.”
17-year-old Dong Hiu Ching also progressed into the HKSI potential group, and she reflected:
“In school I used to play basketball and do athletics competitions – but I had never played or even watched rugby before. Yiu Kam Shing is an alumnus of my school, and a teacher recommended me for the Testing Day.
“I didn’t find the test items too difficult overall, but the Bronco run really tested physical endurance, and I also found kicking a rugby ball for the first time really hard, so I was delighted when I was selected for the programme. I think because I’ve played basketball, I really enjoy the feeling of completing defence and attack together with teammates in rugby.
“As well as training three times a week with the Talent ID Programme – where I’ve been coached by Chong Ka Yan who is an amazing inspiration to me – I joined the USRC Tigers to get more training, and I also now train with the HKSI U18 7s squads. My current goal is to keep improving my fitness and make it into a U18 tournament team.”
The Talent Testing initiative is led by a promotional tagline “Unleash Your Potential”. This invites schools, organisations and sports associations to nominate talented athletes from ages 14-18. On Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December boys and girls will complete seven tests: Rugby special jump, 40m sprint, standing broad jump, 1,200m endurance run, reaction test, standing medicine ball throw.
Following the Talent Testing Days, approximately 60 male and female players will be invited to progress and take part in three 16-session programme blocks, which will be delivered between January and November 2026.
Schools, organisations and sports associations are all invited to nominate participants – and can do so by completing the nomination form.
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