The Hong Kong Rugby Union’s (HKRU) newest representative squads, the Hong Kong Warriors, battled bravely on their international debut against development teams from the Philippines Rugby Football Union last week in Manila.

The Senior Warriors split their two matches on tour, losing the first game of a tight series 17-5 before bouncing back with a 13-0 shutout in the second. With the National U19s team playing in Singapore for the Asia Rugby Championship at the same time - and winning their third successive Asian title - the Junior Warriors, also U19s level, lost both of their games, 52-0 in the first and 49-0 in the second.

For the HKRU development is more important than results for the Warriors. “The primary objective is to show local players the opportunities available through rugby and to help develop their skills to advance them further along Hong Kong’s rugby ladder,” said HKRU General Manager of Rugby Performance Dai Rees ahead of the tour.

That objective was achieved according to Warriors programme manager Fung Kai Hang, also a Development Rugby Manager at the HKRU.

“It was the first time representing Hong Kong for most of the players in both squads, and for many it was their first experience of an overseas tour. We were able to introduce them to a performance rugby environment and also play in some highly competitive games on tour, which is crucial to accelerate their development,” said Fung.

The juniors played with emotion and commitment but were outmatched physically, especially in the backline, noted Fung, and the next step of the programme will include a healthy dose of strength and conditioning work for this group of players.

“They didn’t have much experience and I think they were a bit nervous but they learned a lot in a very short time. The squad really came along quickly on tour, as a team and as individuals, both on and off the pitch, particularly their communication and leadership skills,” added Fung.

Seven players were selected from the Junior Squad on tour to join the HKRU’s Impact Programme, which aims to further develop them, especially from a strength and conditioning and individual skills basis. Players in the Impact programme are required to attend weekly gym sessions and individual skills sessions on top of their National Age Grade and club training programmes.

The next steps for the senior Warriors include a performance review with the players and their club coaches, reinforced by continued work to enhance the player’s skillsets and address any deficiencies, as the Union and clubs partner to groom players to advance in the domestic competition and hopefully at senior representative level. Providing additional competitive opportunities is a priority and the HKRU intends to invite similar teams for an incoming tour next spring.

The development rationale behind the programme was validated on tour says Fung:

“A few junior players did not have much experience prior to the tour and they found it hard to adjust, both on and off the pitch. It shows that there is still a gap that we need to bridge in terms of preparing players to move from club to international level.

For Fung, the seniors’ results demonstrated that the Warriors concept could help bridge that gap quickly:

“The players know they could have performed better. We made some adjustments after the opening loss and our performance was much improved in the second game. The players started to see their potential and they left the tour hungry for more experiences like this, which is what we had hoped for.”

Fung credited both squads for their performance and attitude, which was unfailingly positive throughout the tour, but knows that the players now must bring that attitude of self-improvement back to their domestic club.

“The players now have a taste of representative rugby and we identified some with potential to advance in the domestic leagues and maybe event to senior squad honours. We will continue to work with them to develop them, but if they want to continue in this direction they will need to put in more work on their mental and physical preparation and improve their control under match conditions.”

According to Senior Warriors coach Fan Shun Kei, also coach of the Hong Kong U20s men’s sevens team, the current Asian champions, the Warriors’ inaugural tour was a promising success. “We identified a group of primarily local players with potential and then had the opportunity to analyze them in a highly competitive match environment. That helped us identify players who we can now spend more time to help them develop their skills and reach the next level.

A knock-on effect could also arise from the Warriors says Fan: “The culture on tour was really good. There was a lot of dynamic exchange and understanding across the programme and I think this message will reverberate in the community. The Warriors will be a real boost to the numbers of locals playing rugby with the opportunities these players now have,” added Fan.

Hong Kong Warriors (Senior) Squad:

AU Yuen Fong (SCAA First Pacific Causeway Bay), HO Yiu Nam (RB-SRKA Tin Shui Wai), CHEUNG Wang Piu (Sabre Kowloon), SHUM Shu Wa (TSW), Terry TSANG Kai Cheuk (Valley), Dave WONG Tai Yik (Kowloon), CHEUNG Ku Ngai (TSW), FU Po Keung (TSW), YIP Man Kuen (TSW), Elton CHENG Hon Tung (HKCC), KONG Sai Man (Tigers), WONG Ka Wai (Comvita City), Tony WONG Ho Yeung (Valley), YIK Ho Yin (Bloomberg Hong Kong Scottish), Tony CHEN Po Yuan (Tigers), Ray LI Tsz Hin (Kowloon), CHEN Ho Lam (Tigers), SO Hok Ken (City), CHIU Kai Tung (Kowloon), Eric KWOK Pak Nga (Tigers), TSANG Pak Ngai (Tigers), HUNG Chak Kwan (City), Michael FUNG King Ting (CWB), YIP Tsz Ho (Valley), Mo Chun Kit (Tigers).

Hong Kong Warriors (Junior) Squad:
TAG Man Chun (Natixis HKFC), CHENG King Ho (TSW Panda), CHAU Siu Fung (TSW Panda), WONG Shun Ming (Operation Breakthrough), MOK Tsz Hin (Twister), LAW Chun Yuen (East Kowloon), Brian LEUNG Yi Hong (Tigers), John MAK Chung Kan (TSW Panda), AU YEUNG Man Ho (City), CHAN Hiu Fung (Operation Breakthrough), CHAN Kwun Ho (Tigers), CHEUNG Ka Shun (TSW Panda), YUEN Kwok Hing (HKFC), SO Chi Fung (TSW Panda), FONG Kit Fung (TSW Panda), CHONG Shun Hong (Operation Breakthrough), CHEUNG Ka Lok (East Kowloon), CHUNG Ka Hin, CHAN Kai Tong, YIP Yun Hung (Operation Breakthrough), CHAN WING Chung (TSW Panda).