On Saturday 3^rd November the HKRU CF will host their annual Charity Ball, with proceeds raised going to support the work of the Po Leung Kuk, Hong Kong’s biggest educational charity.  

The Foundation’s partnership with the Kuk began 5 years ago, based around the “Tackling Life” primary school programme, which introduces boys and girls to touch rugby and encourages them to adopt a healthy lifestyle and positive values such as respect, teamwork, honesty and friendship; there are now 22 primary schools and over 3500 kids participating in Tackling Life. 

 Other rugby milestones include sending the first all-star Po Leung Kuk primary school team to compete in an International Touch Tournament in Beijing in 2017 and 2018, and earlier this year a new initiative was launched with 2 of the Po Leung Kuk  special needs schools, who together with 4 other similar schools took part in the first Foundation Inclusive Rugby Fun Day in March – generously supported by Ageas. There have also been annual summer trips for youngsters from the Po Leung Kuk residential care home to attend rugby camps in the UK, and in 2017 and 2018 10 girls joined the Tony Ho Camp supported by Kowloon Rugby Club. Many of the boys and girls from the care home introduced to rugby by the Foundation then go on to join the HKFC youth rugby section, and thanks to their support at the last Prudential New Year’s Day Youth Tournament there were Kuk girls involved in every single girls match – Under 12, Under 14, Under 16 and Under 19.  Indeed, one of the girls has now gone on to represent Hong Kong at national age grade level, playing in the Asian Olympic Youth Rugby Qualifier tournament in Dubai last year and this year’s Asian U18 Championships in India. 

The Po Leung Kuk and the HKRU Community Foundation form a great team, with a shared vision of helping young people realize their potential – and together they put on a rocking good Ball! https://www.hkrucharityball.org/