Twenty-four teams from Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia and New Zealand will take part in the 2011 GFI HKFC Tens.

This year’s tournament field was expanded from 16 to 24 teams to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the Hong Kong Football Club.

Making their debut at the 2011 GFI HKFC Tens, the Asian Pacific Barbarians are responsible for almost a full team of famous rugby players. From club president (former All Black skipper) Sean Fitzpatrick and coach David Campese (the legendary Aussie winger), the team also include names such as Australia’s George Gregan and former New Zealand All Black Justin Marshall.

Sean Fitzpatrick and David Campese ahead of the HK Bledisloe Cup clash (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Of course other All Blacks such as Christian Cullen and Rico Gear need no introduction, while Apolosi Satala and Viliame Satala are no strangers to Hong Kong after helping Fiji win the 2005 Sevens World Cup. Other Asia Pacific Barbarians include Timur Mashurov, the current captain of Kazakhstan at both 15s and Sevens, Japan’s Takuro Miuchi and Samoa’s Semo Sititi who have both captained their countries.

After their absence at last year’s Tens, the Scatterlings from South Africa return to Hong Kong.

Pools for the 2011 GFI HKFC 10s

Pool A: Samurai, Pakuranga Pythons, HKFC President’s X

Pool B: Valley (8), Irish Vikings, Wanchai Wanderers

Pool C: Niue (5), Australian Country, Overseas Old Boys

Pool D: Borneo (4), HK Barbarians, PLA

Pool E: NZ Legends (3), CAU, Scatterlings

Pool F: Asian Barbarians (6), Lloyd McDermott, Pakuranga Orange

Pool G: Pyrenees (7), HKFC, Wild Titans

Pool H: Penguins (2), Chairman’s X, Devils Advocate

Outsiders SOC GEN Pyrenees stormed into the Cup round on a day of upsets at the GFI HKFC Tens on Wednesday (March 25).The French team won all three of their Pool B matches on day one of the tournament at Hong Kong Football Club, including a stunning 7-5 upset of second seeds Aliens.  Pyrenees – with former French international scrumhalf Philippe Carbonneau pulling the strings – also recorded a 17-7 victory over the HKRFU Chairman’s X and beat China Agricultural University 49-0.

“Everyone is very happy,” said Pyrenees co-manager Bruno Leroy. “The key game was obviously against Aliens. We were leading 7-0 when we got a yellow card and at that time we really showed we were all together.  “Although Aliens scored a try while we were down to nine men, we defended very well and got the victory.”

Pyrenees won the fourth-tier Shield on their Tens debut last year and were not expected to put up such a strong challenge the big teams this time around.

“We didn’t expect to finish first in the pool and now we will try to go as far as possible in the Cup, but of course we will need some luck as well,” added Leroy.

Aliens won their other two games to finish second in the pool and secure a place in the Cup competition on Thursday (March 26).

Hosts Hong Kong Football Club produced another shock result with a 7-5 victory over South African newcomers Scatterlings of Africa, who had 2007 Rugby World Cup winner Bobby Skinstad in their line-up.

That victory helped Club to second place in Pool D – and a place in the Cup – behind winners Borneo Eagles.

Scatterlings, the fourth seeds, finished third in the group and will play in the Bowl competition.

Top seeds Penguins won Pool A with three victories over Devils Advocate Wanchai Wanderers (61-5), Wild Titans (22-7) and Hill & Associates TROX AITCS HK Barbarians (22-5).

“Our aim today was three wins and we achieved that, so we’re happy,” said Penguins manager Craig Brown. “Things didn’t always go our way and the second two games were quite hard, which we’re pleased about because we don’t want to turn up on day two undercooked.”

The Titans, the first German team to compete in the Tens, finished second in the pool to progress to the Cup.
No.3 seeds the Alternative New Zealand Legends – sponsored by a group of 15 rugby fans from the hedge fund industry – topped Pool C with victories over the Champion Systems Overseas Old Boys (36-0), Playmore Phantoms (17-12) and the Irish Vikings (47-0).

Playmore Phantoms won their other two matches to advance to the Cup.

Sixteen club and invitational teams from around the world are competing in the Tens. The tournament concludes on Thursday with knockout matches for the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield. Play begins at 10:15am and tickets costing HK$200 can be bought at the gate.

The Tens is once again title sponsored by global cash and derivatives broker GFI

The Scatterlings of Africa Ten-a-side rugby team made their debut at the GFI HKFC Tens in driving rain this morning.  The team was clad in a unique leopard-skin print rugby jersey with a red African-continent motif on the chest.

Scatterlings of Africa warming up in drivng rain (Bob Skinstad in No.2)

Scatterlings of Africa is led by former Springbok captain Bob Skinstad who last played competitive rugby in the SAR during the 1997 Sevens Rugby World Cup, when the Springboks lost to Fiji in a thrilling Cup Final.

In a hard-fought game against the HK Football Club (HKFC) the wet conditions prevented the game from being the spectacle of running rugby that everyone expected, and the South African unfortunately went to 7-5 to the local side.

Bobby Skinstad will be the guest speaker at the SA Association in Hong Kong Sevens Dinner tonight where the Association of expatriates will officially welcome the SA Sevens team to Hong Kong.

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