Welshman Dai Rees has been the Hong Kong Sevens coach since 2008.
The Asia Wall Street Journal ‘s Marissa Wong has written a fine story about Sevens Rugby’s “late starter.”
My favourite:
When I was playing, I always made sure to polish my boots with newspaper every Saturday morning before a game. I’d do that and eat poached eggs on toast. I only had one pair of boots and was brought up to take care of them every week. You couldn’t play a game in dirty boots.
Following on our recent post Hallelujah for rugby coverage in HK? we have been digging, trawling the internet and even asked around at bars in Kowloon.
Howzit-HongKong.com is happy to report that Setanda has announced that the 2011 season of the RBS Six Nations will be available live online for viewers in Asia.
Much like we used to be able to buy programmes from the now-defunct RugbyZone, Asian rugby fans can watch all matches for US$59.99, which includes access to Setanta-i for a full year.
Or you can buy individual matches for a one-off fee of US$14.99.
In August of this year we alerted all you Saffa rugby fans out there in Honkie Land about the first-ever Hong Kong Rugby Calendar in support of a local player called Ben Kende who suffered serious spinal injuries while representing HK in U.20′s World Cup qualifiers.
Rugby Asia Channel (RAC) stepped up to the proverbial plate and produced a stunning calendar in order to raise financial support for this good cause.
The Calendar is now available for purchase so if you are looking for a suitable Christmas present, Hellooooo?!
Don’t bother running around the many malls around the SAR mense. Simply make your way to the ESCAPADE Sports Shop on Leighton Rd, Causeway Bay for your copy. Easier still, log on to www.4Dimagesonline.com and order your calendar. Easy like that.
Hong Kong’s own Kenzo Pannell (right), Rowan Varty and Mark Wright (below) are currently plying their trade in the Japanese corporate rugby league as part of the Toyota Jido Shokki Shuttles.
RugbyAsia Channel has maintained close links with the Hong Kong Boys while they are honing their skills abroad and put together this ‘exclusive’ video from within (video below):
Back home we have the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Fund who looks after the needs of rugby players who suffered serious injuries playing the game.
The Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund pays homage to two young rugby players who died playing the game they loved.
In 1980, Western Province fullback Chris Burger broke his neck and died in a Currie Cup match in Bloemfontein. This led to the founding of the Chris Burger Fund by then WP captain Morné du Plessis and his teammates. Petro Jackson, a young player from Kylemore in Stellenbosch, died during a match in 1989, prompting (the pre-unity body) SARU to establish a similar fund in his honour. In 1992, the two Funds were united to form the Chris Burger Petro Jackson Players’ Fund, as it is still known today in its 30th anniversary year. For more information on the Fund, click here
Locally, as far as we know, there is no such support for players who suffer serious injuries playing the game we all love.
Recently a local player called Ben Kende suffered serious spinal injuries while representing HK in U.20′s World Cup qualifiers.
This is when RugbyAsia Channel (RAC) stepped up. The online channel, who provides the latest television rugby action, news, games, interviews from grassroots to club and international teams from around Hong Kong and the wider Asia region, came up with a novel idea to produce Hong Kong’s very first Rugby Calendar. They roped in some of the Territory’s finest players, brought in a professional photographer and put together what promises to be a hit amongst rugby supporters and local lasses alike. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the calendar will be donated to Kende.
Red Group Asia is an online platform that promotes and hosts some of the best events here in the SAR.
One such event is the upcoming Mix & Mingle Summer Bash with the South African Women’s Chamber of Commerce (Hong Kong).
The Mix & Mingle takes place on Thursday August 12 at The Opus Grill in Central.
(Find The Opus Grill at: 7/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham St, Central, 2526 2366. Daily noon-2.30pm, 6.30pm-10.30pm or click here for the Google Map)
This event is targeted at professionals, small business, entrepreneurs and individuals who are looking to extend their business network by forming partnership, alliances and meeting new contacts in Hong Kong.
Bring yourself a friend and lots of business cards as there will be plenty of network opportunities.
A Lucky Draw can see you walk away with one of the following great prizes:
* A 500 HKD Dinner Voucher from Opus Grill.
* A 3 month supply of Spring water from Natural Springs Australia.
* 4 X ART JAM® is my BAG painting sessions, each worth HK$400 from ValuUp
Registration
You can Register here or simply e-mail sheldon@redgroupasia.com
Here at Howzit-HongKong.com and especially over at BlitzBokke.com, we concentrate a lot on the fans and their experiences and shenanigans at the world’s premier Sevens event, the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens.
I wouldn’t exactly say that we neglect the on-field action, but the simple reason for is that we don’t have the access (yet) to pitch-side to catch all the action from that side. We also don’t have the skills (yet) nor the equipment (yet, again) to do real justice to that profession. Believe me, there were some real talent snapping away at the Hong Kong Stadium this last weekend. I saw their tools and yes… they’re HUGE.
However, what we do have (other than said skills) are friends with connections. What can I say: we’re from Cape Town ek sê! Our friends-with-connections are from Elite Step Asia and they gave us these magnificent on-field pictures to share with all of you.
When I reported in an earlier article that the boats taking part in the inaugural Extreme Sailing Series Asia will be packed up and shipped off to the next leg in Singapore “soon after” the Hong Kong leg, I didn’t realise just how “soon” it would be!
I watched in awe as skipper and double Olympic Gold Medalist Shirley Robertson and her crew prepare and load their craft Rumbo Almeira onto it’s trailer immediately after finishing the final race of the Hong Kong leg of the Series on Tuesday afternoon. The boat was lowered onto it’s trailer within minutes after the final race concluded in Victoria Harbour.
The teams had just enough time for a quick post-race debriefing before attending the official prize-giving at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club.
The Extreme Sailing Series Asia now moves on to Singapore for the second leg (December 11-15) before the inaugural series concludes in Muscat , Oman , from February 1-5.
Oman Sail’s Masirah continued their winning form by taking a comfortable overall victory in the first leg of the inaugural Extreme Sailing Series Asia in Hong Kong that concluded yesterday afternoon.
The Extreme 40s were here in Hong Kong to demonstrate the potential of bringing a full scale public event to the region in 2010/2011 – a chance to showcase the specatacle of Extreme 40 racing to the national and international media and VIP guests. Organisers OC Events last night were confident that the Series will return to Hong Kong next year with about twelve boats.
The champions of this year’s European Series, skippered by Pete Cumming of Great Britain , consolidated their overnight lead by winning the first three races today to set them on the way to victory over the 20 races held in Hong Kong’s spectacular Victoria Harbour during the last five days.
BT took second place, followed by the China Team and Shirley Robertson’s Rumbo Almeira. The Wave, Muscat and Red Bull Extreme Sailing Team rounded out the six-boat field.
Said Cumming: “We had very different winds here to the European circuit and with two new members of the team we are really pleased to have done so well. We had to learn to adapt to a new bow and helmsmen and it’s been a great challenge that the whole team has risen to. We came here not looking for or expecting a win, just gave it our best. Bring on Singapore .”
Winning skipper Pete Cummings and his crew celebrate their win in Hong Kong aboard Masirah.
The Extreme Sailing Series Asia now moves on to Singapore for the second leg (December 11-15) before the inaugural series concludes in Muscat , Oman , from February 1-5.
