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.

The 2011 RBS Six Nations schedule:

06 Feb 2010 14:30 GMT Ireland v Italy

06 Feb 2010 17:00 GMT England v Wales

07 Feb 2010 15:00 GMT Scotland v France

13 Feb 2010 14:00 GMT Wales v Scotland

13 Feb 2010 16:30 GMT France v Ireland

14 Feb 2010 14:30 GMT Italy v England

26 Feb 2010 20:00 GMT Wales v France

27Feb 2010 13:30 GMT Italy v Scotland

27 Feb 2010 16:00 GMT England v Ireland

13 Mar 2010 14:30 GMT Ireland v Wales

13 Mar 2010 17:00 GMT Scotland v England

14 Mar 2010 14:30 GMT France v Italy

20 Mar 2010 14:30 GMT Wales v Italy

20 Mar 2010 17:00 GMT Ireland v Scotland

20 Mar 2010 19:45 GMT France v England

More news to follow soon.

South Africa will open the 2009 edition of the Carp Group & Unirich Jewellery Hong Kong Cricket Sixes on Saturday when they take on the hosts Hong Kong at 8:20am (local time).  However, as Hong Kong is 6 hours ahead of the Republic, South African fans will have to have their coffee at the ready if they were to stay abreast of what is happening at the Kowloon Cricket Club.

Day 1 sees South Africa play three games in the Southern Hemisphere Group: against Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand.  The good news is that Supersport will broadcast all the action from the Sixes live on the Supersport 6 channel.  With the 2009 Currie Cup Rugby Final between the Cheetahs and Bulls late on Saturday, the time difference means that South African sportsfans can catch all the Sixes games before settling down to watch the rugby!  Here is the Supersport schedule (All time stated in SA time):

02:10 – 03:00 Cricket Hong Kong Cricket Sixes: Hong Kong v South Africa

03:00 – 03:45 Cricket Hong Kong Cricket Sixes: India v Sri Lanka

03:45 – 04:30 Cricket Hong Kong Cricket Sixes: Hong Kong v New Zealand

04:30 – 05:15 Cricket Hong Kong Cricket Sixes: Pakistan v England

05:15 – 06:00 Cricket Hong Kong Cricket Sixes: South Africa v Australia

06:00 – 06:45 Cricket Hong Kong Cricket Sixes: Sri Lanka v Pakistan

06:45 – 07:30 Cricket Hong Kong Cricket Sixes: Hong Kong v Australia

07:30 – 08:15 Cricket Hong Kong Cricket Sixes: India v England

08:15 – 09:00 Cricket Hong Kong Cricket Sixes: South Africa v New Zealand

09:00 – 09:45 Cricket Hong Kong Cricket Sixes: India v Pakistan

09:45 – 10:30 Cricket Hong Kong Cricket Sixes: New Zealand v Australia

10:30 – 11:30 Cricket Hong Kong Cricket Sixes: Sri Lanka v England

The host broadcaster for the 2009 Karp Group & Unirich Jewellery Hong Kong Cricket Sixes will be Taj TV-owned Tensports, who will provide a live broadcast into the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Australia and South Africa on October 31 (8.20am-5.30pm HKT) and November 1 (8.30am-5.00pm HKT).

Locally, the tournament will be available live in Hong Kong on ESPN STAR Sports Cricket Live Plus Channel (Channel 675) on the NOW TV platform at the same times, while TVB Pearl will screen one hour of highlights at midnight on November 1. Repeats will also screen on the ESPN STAR Sports Cricket Live Channel (Channel 674)

Busy, Busy, Busy! The Kowloon Cricket Club on Thursday before the tournament. (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Today is Heritage Day in South Africa.  Wikipedia defines it as follows:

Heritage Day, September 24, is a Public Holiday on which South Africans across the spectrum are encouraged to celebrate their cultural heritage and the diversity of their beliefs and traditions, in the wider context of a nation that belongs to all its people.

Here in my apartment in Hong Kong, as things go in Asia, my kids are swamped daily with studies and other school-related issues.  However, as it is Heritage Day, I had them finish their homework early and right now, they are enjoying the David Kramer DVD called SongBook. 

You may remember that David was part of the most dynamic and internationally recognised duo of David Kramer & Taliep Petersen.  Together they produced the much-acclaimed musicals District Six and Ghoema, to name only two. 

On a recent trip home, this DVD became one of my most cherished purchases.  As a committed follower of Cape Town music (especially the unique genres known as Cape Jazz and Ghoema) it is one of a set of treasured items also because it helps me to explain to my kids, who basically grew up in Asia, where their forefathers came from what our culture is all about.

If you know anything about the Kramer/Petersen musicals, you will remember that it talks, through the music, about the people who arrived at the Dutch halfway station (as Cape Town was known back in the days) from as far afield as Malaysia/Java, Madagascar, Batavia, India and yes… even China.  They know about these places because of the songs in the musical.  In this unique way, SongBook is aiding the Missus and I to explain to our 2 little ones our equally unique cultural issues in a clearer and more fun way.  What makes this task all the more easy is the fact that our kids naturally took to this kind of music like ducks to water.  It is, after all… in their genes!  Right now my 9-year old son is spraying furniture polish on the lounge tiles so that he “can jive better!” (his words, not mine)

On this Heritage Day, I can just say thank you to David Kramer and (even after your sad passing) Shukran to Taliep Petersen.  Not only for making my job as an expatriate father so much easier, but also for what you have done to keep the Cape Town and by extension, the South African culture alive. 

Happy Heritage Day.