Local school sports powerhouse La Salle College saw their rugby programme take a major step forward as they picked up the regional HKSSF 7s title for the first time last Saturday.

Rugby was re-launched a few years ago in La Salle thanks to school Principal Brother Steve Hogan who, as a New Zealander, was a passionate supporter of getting the oval ball back into the school, and although he has since transferred elsewhere in the region his legacy continues and he will no doubt be very proud that finally a piece of rugby silverware has found its way into the packed La Salle trophy cabinet. In a similar vein, La Salle’s perennial sporting rivals Diocesan Boys’ School, under the guidance of school Chaplain Rev Bill Robertson, came a strong third in the tournament, and with the recent re-opening of their newly upgraded sports ground there is no doubt they will be challenging for honours when the top teams from HKI and Kowloon join those from the New Territories in the combined HKSSF 7s finals in May.

With the Christmas holidays looming, the rest of this term's schools' rugby competitions are also reaching their climax, with A, B and C Grade silverware up for grabs for boys and girls, 7s and 15s!

The first trophy to be lifted was in fact the Standard Chartered C Grade Boys 7s, which was won by KGV at a wet and windy King's Park last week, while last Saturday Shatin College secured the Hong Kong School Sports Federation (HKSSF) Girls's A/B Grade Div 2 7s, also at King's Park Sports Ground.

This week it's the turn of the HKSSF Boys' A Grade Div 1 15s, with West Island School facing South Island School at 4.30pm on Thursday at Happy Valley. Then on Saturday morning at King's Park we have the New Territories HKSSF Boys' A Grade 7s Finals...And finally, on Tuesday 6th December back at King's Park we have the HKSSF Boys' C Grade 15s final and both the Standard Chartered Boys' and Girls' A Grade 7s...all the action starts from 4.30pm.

Internationally the Hong Kong U18 Women’s 7s team head to Dubai this weekend, while the following week our U19 Men’s 15s team are on the plane to Malaysia for the Asia Championships and the chance to book a slot at next year’s World Rugby U20 Trophy, and after that all eyes will be focused on the Prudential New Year’s Day Youth Tournament, which celebrates its 50^th anniversary this year!