Rugby World Cup winner Bobby Skinstad will lead a strong South African challenge at this year’s GFI HKFC Tens.  The Springboks icon is part of a new team, Scatterlings of Africa, who will attempt to end New Zealand’s eight-year winning streak at the popular Hong Kong tournament.

Springboks icon Bobby Skinstad will play for the newly formed Scatterlings of Africa in the GFI HKFC Tens at Hong Kong Football Club on March 25-26, 2009. (GFI HKFC Tens) 

 ”All the boys have played at a high level,” revealed team organiser and player Rorke Slater.  “We have guys who have represented their provinces and played Super 14, plus of course Bob, who captained the Springboks and has won a World Cup.  ”We cannot wait to get to Hong Kong. Most of the guys haven’t been there before so we’re looking forward to seeing such a great city and hopefully playing some top rugby.”

 Back rower Skinstad played 42 tests for South Africa, including 12 as captain, and was a member of the victorious Springboks squad at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.  Scatterlings of Africa – named after a song by South Africa’s most famous musician, Johnny Clegg – are mainly Durban-based but will also feature three players from Cape Town and a trio of players based in Hong Kong.  “We are an independent side made up of friends, so we are not linked to one particular club,” explained Slater.

 Since Fiji’s Magicians triumphed at the Tens in 2000, teams from New Zealand have won the past eight editions of the tournament.  The 2009 GFI HKFC Tens will be held at Hong Kong Football Club in Happy Valley from March 25-26.  Sixteen club and invitational teams from around the world will compete for four trophies – the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield.  The Tens was first held in 1986 to celebrate HKFC’s centenary and is now firmly established as a highlight of the Asian rugby calendar.

 Tens organising committee chairman Paul Smith predicted another high quality tournament.  “We’re delighted to welcome three new teams this year and it will be particularly interesting to see the South African challenge to New Zealand’s supremacy,” he said.  

 ”The tournament has attracted some truly exceptional players in recent years, including Jonah Lomu, Joe Roff, Toutai Kefu and Neil Jenkins, so it’s great news for rugby fans that Bobby Skinstad will be appearing this year.  ”The Tens has developed a reputation as the best ten-a-side rugby tournament in the world and we are all looking forward to what promises to be another two days of fantastic rugby.”

 The tournament is once again title sponsored by global cash and derivatives broker GFI.  Organisers have also confirmed that Skinstad will be making an earlier visit to Hong Kong as guest speaker at the Tens Dinner, to be held at Football Club on Saturday, March 7.  The Springboks great has developed a reputation as a livewire after-dinner speaker and is sure to keep guests entertained with stories from his stellar career.

 Australian TV sports anchor Toby Lawson will be the MC while the evening will also include a live interactive quiz and an auction of unique memorabilia.

 Johnny Clegg: Scatterlings of Africa