Experienced Accountant and Lawyer Patrick Donovan has been elected as the new Chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU).

Donovan was elected to the role at the HKRU’s 63rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Happy Valley Racecourse on Thursday, July 25.

As part of the AGM, former Hong Kong player Kim Kan Ka Kei was also appointed to the HKRU Board as Director of Women’s Rugby. Currently a Director in Business Development for KPMG, Kim Kan represented Hong Kong in the Senior Women’s 15s squad from 2006 to 2012 and played more than 100 league games for Hong Kong Football Club.

Existing HKRU Directors Kevin Taylor, Chris Brooke, John Carroll, Peter Hudson, Fred Au, Kim Lam and Tony Karton will all continue in their roles on the Board, with Brooke re-elected as Director of Facilities following the end of his three-year term.

Currently a Managing Director of international financial services organisation UBS, Donovan has more than 20 years’ experience in the finance industry. As well as being a Chartered Accountant, he has been admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.

Donovan arrived in Hong Kong in 1996 and played senior club rugby for Aberdeen RFC until 2000. After working and playing rugby overseas in Singapore and Thailand, he returned to Hong Kong in 2006 and played for Hong Kong Cricket Club (HKCC) and subsequently HKU/Sandy Bay Rugby Club.

Donovan has served on the HKRU Board since 2013, first as the Director of Clubs, followed by his current role as Director of Finance . He was also the Chairman of HKCC Rugby from 2009 to 2013 and has served on the full General Committee of HKCC. He currently coaches mini rugby at HKU Sandy Bay.

Donovan replaces Pieter Schats who retires from the Board after serving as HKRU Chairman since 2014 and prior to this on the organization’s Board of Directors.

Lawyer and former Hong Kong player Kim Boreham has also stepped down from the position of Director of Women’s Rugby.

As part of the AGM, the HKRU thanked Schats and Boreham for their service and substantial contributions to Hong Kong rugby.

“We congratulate Patrick Donovan and Kim Kan Ka Kei on their appointments and also Chris Brooke on his re-election. We look forward to their contributions to advancing the interests of rugby in Hong Kong.

“The HKRU would also like to extend its sincere gratitude to Pieter Schats and Kim Boreham for their longstanding service and dedication to Hong Kong rugby.”

The new Board will officially commence in early August, where the board will appoint the replacement for Finance Director.

HKRU Board:

Patrick Donovan: Chairman*

Fred Au: Director General 1

Kim Lam: Director General 2

Peter Hudson: Director of Laws & Referees

Kevin Taylor: Director of Coaching

Kim Kan Ka Kei: Director of Women’s Rugby*

Chris Brooke: Director of Facilities**

Tony Karton: Director of Youth

John Carroll: Director of Community

*newly elected on July 25

** re-elected on July 25