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

Earlier this month, we reported that Bob Skinstad’s Zebra-striped & Leopard-spotted Scatterlings of Africa team was entered for the 2010 GFI HKFC Hong Kong Tens. 

I received the schedule for the 2010 GFI Hong Kong Tens today and was gutted to see that Bob Skinstad’s Scatterlings of Africa side is NOT listed.  This means that Bob’s tourists must have withdrawn for the 2010 tournament. 

I hope you all are as disappointed as I am…

Sies Bob.

Bob Skinstad’s team at the 2009 GFI HKFC HK Tens (Pics: Mike Jansen)

Organisers of the GFI Hong Kong Football Club Tens 2010 announced the line-up for this year’s tournment. 

Sixteen teams comprising of former and future stars will come from every corner of the globe to celebrate 25 years of the Tens alongside the best that local rugby can offer.  Started in 1986 to celebrate the centenary of one of Asia’s iconic rugby venues, the Hong Kong Football Club, the tournament has earned a reputation as the world’s premier ten-aside competition and the unofficial kick off of rugby week in Hong Kong.

Sevens fans will be excited to know that rugby legend Waisale Serevi will be returning to Hong Kong as a Tens player, lining up with the Hong Kong Barbarians.  Serevi should be a useful addition to the Barbarians, a team drawn from players that play locally in the domestic league but who fall outside of the various eligibility requirements required to represent Hong Kong. 

Speaking about his “new” team from Papua New Guinea where he is coaching the Men’s Sevens side, Serevi said “I am excited to try my hand at Tens, especially back in Hong Kong. I understand that the Baa baas won the Plate in 2008 and I want to go one better in 2010.”

Defending Cup champions Aliens, runners-up Alternative New Zealand Legends and Plate champions Penguin International RFC are all returning for another tilt at the Tens title in Hong Kong. 

Samurais International, Scatterlings of Africa, Borneo Eagles, Australian Country Invitational, Germany’s Wild Titans and the KIR Club Pyrenees are just a few of the international complement appearing at the Hong Kong Football Club at the end of the month. 

Befitting their status as returning champions, the Aliens are the tournament top seeds and head Pool Awhere they will be joined by last year’s debut side and eventual Bowl winners, Scatterlings of Africa, which will again be led by former Springbok flanker Bob Skinstad.  Australian Country Invitational and mainland side China Agricultural University, China’s first established rugby club and a nursery for Team China, round out the pool.

Scatterling of Africa at last year’s GFI HK Tens (Pics: Mike Jansen) 

Pool B sees 2009 Cup runners-up Alternative New Zealand Legends in the top slot alongside the Wild Titans from Germany, the Hill & Associates Hong Kong Barbarians and British Forces side Flying Kukris. 

Pool C is headed by the world-famous Penguin International RFC under ex-Scotland coach Frank Hadden and Steve Hill.  The Penguins will be out for revenge after reaching the final in 2007 and 2008 and being the ranked as the tournament’s top seed in 2009 only to bow out in the Cup quarter final against Aliens.  Last year’s Plate win will not be enough to satisfy this brood of hungry Penguins.

Another UK-based team features in Pool C, Samurai International, who have announced that this year they will be dedicating their performance in memory of their former manager Colin Hillman, who was also the former Technical Coach for the Wales Sevens team before passing away last summer.  2009 Shield Champions Cardiff University and hosts Hong Kong Football Club complete the Pool.

Pool D is topped by tournament fourth seeds Borneo Eagles.  Also in Pool D is the KIF French Pyrenees team featuring towering forward Patrick Tabacco who was capped 25 times for France including at Rugby World Cup 2003.  The Irish Vikings and Old Boys complete Pool D.

GFI HKFC Tens Pools

 (the number in brackets denotes seeding) 

Braaivleis, sunny skies, Castle Lager and a bit of rugby of course!

The organisers of the second Cape Town Tens rugby tournament has announced that yet another South African icon has joined the growing number of corporate supporters for the second tournament.  In fact, they’re not just joining the club, they’ve decided to become the title sponsors of one of the major stops on the South African sports and social calendar.  The Tens will henceforth be known as the:

Castle Lager Cape Town Tens. 

Vaughan Croeser, the South African Breweries’ Trade Marketing Manager expressed his company’s support in the following way:

“We are really excited to be the naming sponsor of the Castle Cape Town Tens. The Cape Town Tens is definitely becoming a big event on the Cape Town social and sporting calendar.”

He continues, saying: “Castle has a proud heritage of national sport sponsorship and we really look forward to the future affiliation with Tens rugby and the opportunities to grow this property.”

No one will deny the obvious ’bed-partners’ that maketh the Cape Town Tens and Castle Lager and Croeser expressed it in the following way: “What makes the Tens unique is that it captures both the competitive nature of the game and the social aspect of the game. Rugby, beer, braai and South African pride; it all comes together with a Castle.”

I’m sure hosts Bob Skidstad and Robbie Fleck are rather chuffed at having clinched this sponsorship and can happily check that off the list of what-to-sort-out-for-2010!

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.

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.

(This article originally appeared on BlitzBokke.com)

The world famous Penguins have been named top seeds for the 2009 GFI HKFC Tens as they aim to win the trophy for the first time in their illustrious history.

The famous yellow, white and black colours of the Penguins will feature at the GFI HKFC Tens for the third year in a row when the tournament is staged at Hong Kong Football Club on March 25-26, 2009. (Pic: GFI HKFC Tens)

The elite UK-based touring team – properly called Penguin International RFC – have been finalists at the popular tournament for the past two years and are determined to leave with the silverware this time. “This will be our third visit to the Tens and after twice finishing as runners-up we’ll be aiming to go one better this time,” said manager Craig Brown. “The competition will, as always, be tough, but we’re looking forward to playing some strong, attacking rugby in the Penguins tradition and hopefully this will be our year.”

Joining the Penguins in Pool Awill be Hill & Associates Trox AITCS Hong Kong Barbarians, comprising many of the overseas professionals who play in the Hong Kong First Division, German newcomers the Wild Titans and the Wanchai Wanderers from Wales. The Penguins will be aiming to end New Zealand’s eight-year winning streak at the Tens and will face strong opposition with Kiwi teams seeded two and three. Perennial contenders Aliens are seeded No.2 and will be looking to add to their four victories, the last of which came in 2005.

The Alternative Legends – sponsored by a group of 15 rugby fans from the hedge fund industry – are seeded No.3 and, like the Penguins, are aiming for a first victory.

Scatterlings of Africa are newcomers to the Tens and have been named fourth seeds. The strong South African team will be spearheaded by Rugby World Cup winner Bobby Skinstad and will include other players with Super 14 experience.

Scatterlings of Africa will be favourites to top Pool D but will face a strong challenge from the Borneo Eagles, who impressed on their two previous visits to the tournament. Also in the pool are Cardiff University and the hosts, Hong Kong Football Club.

The chances of a new name appearing on the Tens trophy are strong this year as only Aliens among the top four seeds have previously won the tournament. New Zealand Metro, winners for the past three years, are absent this time after being unable to secure a sponsor.

“Naturally, we’d like to be there among old friends at the best ten-a-side tournament in the world,” said Metro manager Barry Gallagher. “Our best wishes go to the organisers and the 16 teams competing and we hope to be back at the Tens in 2010.”

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

Meanwhile, tickets are going fast for the Tens Dinner, which will see Skinstad make an earlier visit to Hong Kong to be guest speaker. The event, at Football Club on Saturday, March 7, will feature Australian TV sports anchor Toby Lawson as MC and will include a live interactive quiz and an auction of unique memorabilia.

Tickets costing HK$880 per person or HK$8,000 per table of 10 can be obtained by downloading the booking form at www.hongkongtens.com or by emailing nicola@laxtonmarketing.com.

GFI HKFC Tens draw (number in bracket denotes seeding)

Pool A: Penguins (1), Hill & Associates Trox AITCS Hong Kong Barbarians, Wild Titans, Wanchai Wanderers.

Pool B: Aliens (2), HKRFU Chairman’s X, French Pyrenees, China Agricultural University.

Pool C:Alternative Legends (3), Irish Vikings, Playmore Phantoms, Overseas Old Boys.

Pool D:Scatterlings of Africa (4), Borneo Eagles, Cardiff University, Hong Kong Football Club.

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!

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