The SAAHK Sevens Dinner was again a huge event on the South Africans-in-Hong Kong’s social calendar.

The guest speaker this time around was the former Springbok captain, Morne Du Plessis.

Unlike last year (we missed Huge Bladen’s address) Howzit-HongKong.com attended the grand affair at the Football Club.

Needless to say, a great time was had by all and treu to form (pun intended) we closed the evening’s ‘verrigtinge’ and were the last to leave the venue.

The BlitzBokke were again great sports and we made the following video clip of some (all?) of them interacting with the guests. (below)

Hopefully next year Bruce Fowler will assign us a ‘better’ table.  (Other company excluded) Dawid Van der Sandt may be a well-connected cameraman… but he’s not the friendliest person around. Nuff said.

I have just returned from yet another delightful Sevens Dinner, organised by the Southern African Association in Hong Kong.

The guest speaker this year was former Springbok captain Morne Du Plessis who had the guests hanging onto his every word.

Morne recounted some of his experiences as the manager of the Springbok side who won the 1995 Rugby World Cup as well as his thoughts on the role of former President Nelson Mandela.  I could be wrong but I seem to notice a glint in his eyes when he shared his excitement after meeting “his idol” Clint Eastwood.  Eastwood, of course, produced the movie Invictus which is based on the 1995 RWC.

Morne’s visit to Hong Kong is two-pronged as he also brought along 10 kids from a Laureus Foundation-sponsored project.  He also shared some of the projects that the Foundation is currently spearheading in South Africa.  More about this initiative in another post.

I’m not going to recount bits of his speech here.  Rather, I’m busy editing the clip I took and will post it on YouTube and on this page shortly.

In the meantime, here are some pics I Tweeted from the Dinner:

These 2 ladies parked themselves at the door and grabbed the Boys as they were leaving the Dinner.  Branco Du Preez may be fleet-footed on the pitch, but this time around he couldn’t escape! (Pic: Via iPhone on Twitter/FaceBook)

Morne Du Plessis’ speech at the SAAHK Sevens Dinner:

The South African Women’s Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong is open to women and men who share the organisation’s vision and mission of building bridges between China and South Africa’s youth and women. 

This dynamic organisation welcomes anyone who can assist with their existing projects, or who would like to initiate a new project that matches it’s vision and mission.

Lizette Smook, the founder and CEO, wrote to tell us about some of the exciting activities they have lined up:

1.  24 March  (Thursday at 8am.)

SAWCC guest Corinne Heijn address the Women of Influence (WOI) in the Amcham Boardroom – please book directly on by clicking Here

Corinne will be having dinner with some prominent women at the China Club on Tuesday night 22 March. Please contact Lizette Smook if you are interested in attending.

2.  23 March:

Rugby Sevens Dinner – please contact Bruce Fowler at the SAAHK for possible late availability of tickets. Morne du Plessis is the guest speaker.

3.  24-27 March (Friday – Sunday) 

Hong Kong Sevens Rugby (Hong Kong Stadium)

4.  April

Digital art exhibition from South African photographers at the HKAPA – Details will be on the SAWCCHK website soon

5.  April 2011:

South African National Day Celebrations

6.  May 12th

Special invitation from the ROSL – Lunchtime talk at Hong Kong Club by the new Hong Kong Commissioner of Police.

7.  May 23rd

Africa Week BBQ dinner at the Peak residence of our dear Branch Patron, the South African Consul-General. Details & booking form to follow, soon.

8.  August / September 2011

South African Family Braai

 For the latest updates on the activities above, or for information on the SAWCC HK, Click Here 

Bruce Fowler from the Southern African Association in Hong Kong (SAAHK) sent word that there are still a few seats available for this year’s Sevens Dinner.

Springbok legend and former captain Morne Du Plessis (pictured below) will be the guest-speaker at the Hong Kong Football Club event next week, while the Springbok Sevens team will again grace us with their presence.

While I didn’t attend last year when “the voice of rugby” Hugh Bladen was the guest-speaker, every other Sevens Dinner I have been to have been a special event.

Needless to say, many South Africans will be flying in from back home, so if you’re looking for something to do in Hong Kong next Wednesday evening… come join us at the Hong Kong Football Club.

Contact Bruce Fowler for more details.

bfowler@pacific.net.hk

Below are some images from previous Sevens Dinners:

While we mere mortals at Howzit-HongKong will probably never be able to join this celebrated institution in Hong Kong, we do have a close connection with the hallowed halls, function rooms and pitches of this Club.

We have, after all covered numerous sports events and a handful of Southern African Association of Hong Kong (SAAHK) Sevens Dinners hosted at the esteemed (no cell-phones allowed, ever) venue.

One of Asia’s most famous sporting clubs, the Hong Kong Football Club, today announced that a specially commissioned account of the Club’s remarkable history is the first in a series of events that will form the backbone of celebrations of its 125th year of existence in 2011.

Denis Way’s magnificent book, entitled “Along the sports road”: The Hong Kong Football Club, Its Environs And Personalities 1886 – 2011“, is a historic journey through the Club’s development and the personalities that had such an influence on not only the Club, but on Hong Kong itself.

Mr Fook Aun Chew, Chairman of the Hong Kong Football Club, said: “When you have an established history of 125 years, it goes without saying that there are many milestones to be celebrated.

“However, there is no doubt that 2011 is a very special year for the Hong Kong Football Club and we are extremely proud of the work that Denis has done on along the sports road and have no doubt that this is the perfect way to kick of our Anniversary celebrations,” he said.

The publication of “Along the sports road”: The Hong Kong Football Club, Its Environs And Personalities 1886 – 2011 is just one of a series of activities planned for the first half of 2011 to celebrate the 125-year milestone.

HKFC members who have competed at the international level celebrate the launch of “Along the sports road: The Hong Kong Football Club, Its Environs And Personalities 1886 – 2011” today with author Denis Way (centre back row), club president Dermot Agnew (front left) and club chairman Fook Aun-Chew (second right standing). The book was launched as part of the launch of the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations in 2011

On 12th February, exactly 125 years to the day from the formation of the Hong Kong Football Club, a Members Cocktail Party will celebrate the special occasion. That event will be followed by a Sports Dinner featuring Geoff Miller and other international sports personalities on 5th March, a Family Garden Party cum fete in April and an Anniversary Ball in June.

However, today it was the Club’s detailed history that took centre stage.

Denis has committed three years of extensive research to “Along the sports road”: The Hong Kong Football Club, Its Environs And Personalities 1886 – 2011, working closely with the Club to create an authentic record of the Club’s part in the history and, in part, the development of Hong Kong.

Denis said: “This project commenced almost three years ago and I am extremely grateful for having been commissioned to take up the challenge of producing such a comprehensive story of the Club spanning 125 years.

“I am extremely proud of the result with along the sports road and hope everyone agrees that it is a fitting tribute to such an important Hong Kong institution,” he added.

In addition to “Along the sports road”: The Hong Kong Football Club, Its Environs And Personalities 1886 – 2011, Way’s other books include Fire Horse, a saga of historical fiction set in Shanghai and Hong Kong between 1937 and 1973, and its sequel Dragon Rock.

In 2002, Counting House – The History of PricewaterhouseCoopers on the China Coast, his book commemorating the firm’s 100th anniversary in Hong Kong, was published.

Copies of “Along the sports road”: The Hong Kong Football Club, Its Environs And Personalities 1886 – 2011 are available from:

The Football Club at 3, Sports Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong at HK$390 (approx. USD$50) per copy.

Anna Lee, acting director of the Hong Kong Down Syndrome Association (left), and Sean Browne (second right) accept a cheque for HK$125,000 from Dermot Agnew, president of the Hong Kong Football Club (second left), and Fook Aun-Chew, chairman of the Hong Kong Football Club (right), as part of the launch of the club’s 125th anniversary celebrations in 2011 today

(This article originally appeared on BlitzBokke.com)

The annual Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens is a big huge date on the calendars of South Africans who call Hong Kong their home or even home-away-from-home.

The Southern African Association of Hong Kong (SAAHK) plays a pivotal part in Sevens-week because they organise the annual SAAHK Sevens Dinner.

The popular event serves as the official welcome for the Springbok Sevens team to the SAR as well as providing Saffas in the City with an opportunity for a good-ol’ Op-skop!

Woop! Woop! Here come the green and gold train again!

Following high on the heels of previous Sevens Dinner speakers Kobus Wiese, Bob Skinstad, and Hugh Bladen, the Association today announced that the Springbok legend Morne Du Plessis has been confirmed as the guest-speaker at this year’s Dinner.

“We are pleased to announce that Morne du Plessis has accepted our invitation to speak at the Sevens Dinner 2011.” said the SAAHK’s Bruce Fowler.

“Morne is a rugby legend in SA and is often described as one of the Springbok’s most successful captains. Playing at number 8, his national career spanned ten years, five of which he was captain.

He was also the manager of the 1995 Springboks which won the famous 1995 Rugby World Cup final. He is the co-founder with Tim Noakes of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa in Cape Town and the co-founder of Bioenergetics of Exercise Research Unit of the University of Cape Town.

His father was also a Springbok captain, and to date, they are the only father-son combination to both captain the Springboks.

We feel truly honoured to have Morne in Hong Kong as our guest over the 2011 Sevens week and trust that this will enhance even more the success of our Sevens rugby dinner.”

The 2011 SAAHK Sevens Dinner takes place on Wednesday 23 March 2011 (6:30pm) at the Hong Kong Fotball Club in Happy Valley.

Stay tuned to Howzit-HongKong.com or our sister-site BlitzBokke.com for more news on the Sevens Dinner.

Here are some images from the 2007 Sevens Dinners:

As well as the 2008 Dinner:

I have just learnt that former Springbok player and captain Bob Skinstad will address the SA Association in Hong Kong Sevens Dinner on Wednesday 25 March.  The annual event is held to welcome the Springbok Sevens Side to the SAR.  This post is probably the third one of it’s kind I’ve done on Bob on this blog so far!  You’ll remember:

* Skinstad to speak at Tens Dinner

* Skinstad to spearhead African Challenge

and now he’ll be speaking at the SAAHK Dinner as well.  It will have to be quite a juggling-act though as you will have noticed that the Hong Kong Tens starts on the same day as the SAAHK Dinner (Wednesday March 25) and continues the following day.

You know how rugby players these days are taught to free their hands in a tackle so that they can still pass the ball?  Well, guess who did it FIRST and with ONE hand nogal!?

Just to refresh your memory about last year’s Sevens Dinner (where Kobus Wiese was the speaker) click here to view our album of 110 pictures.

Legendary Springbok captain and World Cup winner Robert Brian (Bob) Skinstad has been confirmed as the guest speaker at the annual Tens Dinner to be held at the Hong Kong Football Club on Saturday March 7.  The Bok Great (wikipedia) has developed a reputation as a livewire after-dinner speaker and is sure to keep guests entertained with stories from his stellar career.  

Together with friend and fellow Springbok Robbie Fleck, Skinstad recently spearheaded the very first Cape Town Tens Tournament.  In addition to playing for the Scatterling of Africa-side in this year’s Hong Kong Tens, I’m sure Bob will be making plenty mental notes during the local Tens to take back to Cape Town.

Event: Hong Kong Tens Dinner

Venue: Hong Kong Football Club, Sports Hall

Time: 7pm till late

Price: HK$880 per person or HK$8000 per table of 10

Contact: Nicola Sawyer on 35 79 80 88 or nicola@laxtonmarketing.com

This sought-after event is usually over-subscribed, so get cracking!

Be a sport and help me circulate the poster below, will you?  Click on it, it will open in a new window, then print/copy and send it to anyone you think will be interested.

Cheers!

The South African Association in Hong Kong (SAAHK) will once again be hosting the Springbok Sevens Team just before the start of the 2009 edition of the Hong Kong Sevens. More information to follow soon.