THE RUGBY STORY AND THE SLASH LIFESTYLE OF A DOCTOR OF EDUCATION

07th Jun 2023

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HKRU Director Diana Li Yee Yuen has recently achieved yet another milestone on her remarkable life journey, obtaining a Doctorate!  Here she shares some thoughts on her career accomplishments so far, the secrets of her success, and her ambitions for the future.


Q: First of all, congratulations on attaining your doctorate degree in Education recently. Can you share with us your study journey?


Diana: My initial interest in Education was stimulated by the example of my father. When it came to finding a topic for my dissertation, I chose a subject that I care passionately about – rugby. Because that’s where my interest lies, the three year study journey of defining the direction, doing the research and writing the final paper has been fascinating and has given me the motivation to achieve my goal of a doctoral degree. I looked at how participation in a team sport like rugby affects adolescents, and my research led me to the conclusion that rugby can motivate youngsters and positively impact their life and academic performance. To take a simple analogy, if a team member habitually arrives late for a game and that contributes to them losing then their love for the team and the sport will spur them to a shift in attitude and behaviour – the sport is a catalyst for positive change.

 

Q: In your life, how important is rugby?

 

Diana: I first started playing more than a decade ago out of curiosity and interest; there was training every Monday and Thursday after work, and then games on Saturdays. Of course I enjoyed winning, but I also found that losing was an opportunity to test myself and build resilience.  Sport is a reflection of life in that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose, but you need to learn from both and keep progressing.


My commitment to rugby has not only strengthened me physically and mentally, but has also resulted in some wonderful friendships. During the pandemic, I was stranded in Samoa for over four months and unable to return to Hong Kong. Rugby friends whom I had never met before from all over the world sent me greetings and extended their hands to help, and my teammates in Hong Kong started a crowdfunding campaign to help me through the difficult time. Wearing this plumeria flower from Samoa (surprise reveal, it’s not a real flower!) serves as a constant reminder of the help provided by my friends in the rugby community, it also reminds me to be grateful and give back to society.

 

Another example - one of my French friends suffered from mental illness after arriving in Hong Kong due to a myriad of reasons. After seeing several doctors there had been little improvement, but then she got into rugby and met a group of like-minded people. One year later, she had fully recovered and the friends she made in the rugby community became her confidants and supporters! Like me, she has become healthier and built friendships because of this sport, and become a better person.

 

And now that I find myself holding positions as a Director of the Hong Kong Rugby Union, Chair of the Hong Kong Touch Association, and a member of the Olympic Committee, rugby is taking up an even greater role in my life – especially time! But due to my love of the game, I’m truly happy to take on these responsibilities and to play my part in sharing the passion and encouraging more and more people to give it a try.

 

Q: Compared to other team sports, what is it about rugby that makes it so special?

 

Diana: Whether it's 15-a-side rugby, 7-a-side rugby, 10-a-side rugby, or the emerging 12-a-side rugby, communication and teamwork are crucial on the field. The nature of the game requires co-operation and co-ordination to build success - you need your team mates to back you up when you get tackled, and need them on your shoulder to catch your pass.

 

Building that trust and understanding with your team is a real art…It's something that we need to learn over time, and sometimes it even requires us to change ourselves. For example, you can't lash out and blame your teammates for not catching the ball, as this will create conflict and contradiction.

 

Q: Rugby is commonly known as an impactful, confrontational sport. Is it safe for women to play?

 

Diana:  Rugby is a contact sport, and that is part of its appeal, but if we understand and follow the rules then it is absolutely a safe sport. This is why we emphasise the importance of a development pathway for rugby. For instance, we do not learn to tackle before the age of ten, but rather focus on mastering the most basic skills, and gradually learn to tackle after the age of ten.

 

Injuries can occur in any type of sport. For instance, I play badminton doubles, and if I am in the wrong place, it is highly likely that it can cause ACL injury. We need to learn to protect ourselves, like not landing on our wrists but using the hardest part of our body, the shoulder, to land.

 

Overcoming cultural differences is also required when promoting women’s rugby. My parents were not very accepting when I first started playing but after seeing my progress their attitude gradually changed and they became supportive.

 

Touch rugby is of course an option with less physical contact, and I think it’s a great sport for women to participate in, providing an environment where they can support each other and develop their skills.  Also, in Hong Kong many women attend all-girl schools, which may hinder how they communicate with men, express their opinions, and speak up - Touch rugby has mixed-gender teams which provides an opportunity for female players to interact with male team mates, coaches and therapists, which can help them to overcome communication barriers.



Q: From training in the construction industry, to event planning and consulting, you’re involved in various industries, and you’ve even formed your own charity and find time to lecture at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. How did you end up with such a multi-faceted lifestyle’?

 

Diana: First and foremost I always have a thirst for new knowledge, and secondly my range of interests reflects my broader attitude towards life. I want to be in control of my own life, and to achieve that I need to effectively manage my own time. I commit to developing each career strand, and have learnt to prioritise and manage my time more effectively.  Taking rugby as an example, it took me over a decade of practice and competition to achieve where I’m at now – but now rugby is my number one priority!

 

Q: What are your goals in terms of promoting rugby?

 

Diana: There are many goals, such as promoting rugby across various communities in Hong Kong and raising the profile of Touch; I hope to host an international touch rugby competition in Hong Kong, just like the world-renowned Hong Kong Sevens. Hongkongers face a lot of pressure in their daily lives, and taking the time to play a game with friends and teammates can help us recharge and be more productive at work.

 

I’m a diligent player and a forward-thinking leader, and I hope to help elevate the rugby community in Hong Kong to new heights.

 

Dr. Li’s fascinating life extends far beyond the content covered in the interview above. She recently sailed from Japan to Hong Kong, and her other hobbies include surfing, golf, diving, Muay Thai, and most recently she learned how to skateboard during the pandemic and is now a certified coach.

 

If passion, talent and diligence are the key components, then Dr Li truly has a full and fulfilling life. Even so, she believes that in life, it’s important to celebrate the small moments in order to be content. 



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