24 students from Po Leung Kuk primary schools have returned from a historic tour to Beijing, where they entered 2 mixed teams of boys and girls in the 2017 National Youth Rugby Championship. The players were selected from the 21 PLK primary schools who participate in the HKRU's "Tackling Life' programme, which is sponsored by Savills, Macquarie Group and KPMG through funds raised at the Corporate Sevens Tournament.

It is the first time that a sports team has been formed from across the PLK affiliated schools, and it was an exciting experience for all of the young boys and girls who in addition to appearing in the tournament also had a training session and friendly games with the Shenyang Sujiatun Medan Street Elementary School, and enjoyed a visit to the Beijing Olympic Park.

The tournament was held at the China Agricultural University sports ground, with 16 schools taking part in the Under 12 Mixed division. Both of the PLK teams played 4 games, with one side going losing one match and picking up the Plate for 3rd place, while the other went one better, winning 4 from 4, taking 1st place and being crowned Cup champions!

The Tackling Life initiative is part of the HKRU's partnership with Po Leung Kuk, Hong Kong's biggest educational charity. There are also programmes that give youngsters from the PLK residential care home and also a PLK special needs schools the opportunity to play rugby, and a number of the kids from these schemes have been offered the chance to join a club, thanks to the generosity of HKFC; 5 of the older girls from the care home will be heading to U.K. in the summer as part of the group Kowloon Rugby Club are taking to the Tony Ho Rugby Camp at Mount St Mary's School.

The funds for this partnership are raised at the HKRU Community Foundation's annual PLK Charity Ball, which also supports 3 English training centres and university scholarships for PLK students. This year's ball will be held on 11th November at the HKCEC and will feature a live performance from the World Classic Rockers - more details at https://www.hkrucharityball.org/

Po Leung Kuk Team Win Beijing National Youth Championship Results
PLK A　v　Shijingshan Elementary School(石景山小學) 10:0
PLK A　v　Beijing Haidian Tuqiang No.2 Elementary School 7:0
PLK A　v　Shenyang Xuesong Road Elementary School 7:0
PLK A　v　Shanghai Hualin(上海華林魔神隊) 3:2

PLK B　v　Shanghai Hualin(上海華林魔神隊) 0:8
PLK B　v　Shijingshan Foreign Languages Experimental Primary School 11:0
PLK B　v　Xiyuan Primary School 3:1
PLK B　v　Beijing Haidian Tuqiang No.2 Elementary School 6: 2