The 2011 GFI HKFC Tens kicks off at the Hong Kong Football Club in Happy Valley tomorrow and runs until Thursday.

Former player and veteran Tournament Director Graig Wootten gives us his teams-to-watch list.

“There are no easy games anymore” is the warning from Wootten to any team expecting an easy ride through this year’s 24-team field.

Top seeds and last year’s beaten Cup finalists Samurai, the David Campese-led BGC Asia Pacific Barbarians, Frank Hadden’s HSBC Penguins and the always dangerous New Zealand Legends are all out to justify their seedings, but first must make sure they avoid early slip ups with dark horses dotted throughout the field.

Wootten, who played in the GFI HKFC Tens before moving behind the scenes over 15 years ago, has singled out Pool G opponents KIR Club Pyrenees and Wild Titans as potential banana skins. He also warned against underestimating tournament newcomers Niue Wanderers and the Lloyd McDermott Foundation.

“You haven’t got the named Test players coming like Jeremy Guscott because of professionalism, but certainly you have got that next tier down of a large New Zealand and Pacific Island content who are every bit as good as them,” said former centre Wootten. 

Another side singled out by Wootten is the Irish Vikings, who this year boast former England Sevens and 15s international Henry Paul and ex-Gloucester star James Forrester along with a coterie of current and former Singapore internationals.

“Every year it amazes me how competitive even the lowest ranked sides are. Gone are the days of taking it easy, the teams have full training schedules and are so competitive against even the big names. There are no easy games anymore. It gets harder every year.”

The Philippe Carbonneau-led French raiders KIR Club Pyrenees have several recently retired professionals in their ranks and could provide a tricky quarter-final opponent for the second seeded HSBC Penguins on day two, although they must first deal with the Wild Titans, who have bolstered their squad which already contains a handful of German national team players with some South Pacific flair.

“The dark horses for me are the Pyrenees boys, a few years ago they knocked off the Aliens in the pool games,” added Wootten.

“They are playing with the Wild Titans which is the German rugby academy, who are on their third visit. Last year defensively they were superb and lost in the Cup semis to the Penguins by just three points, while this year they have been bolstered by a few Kiwis who should give them the attacking flair that you need in Tens.”

Niue Wanderers have been handed the fifth seed with Wootten expecting a strong mix of strength and pace from the Pacific Islanders. Former Wallabies the Ella brothers, Mark, Gary and Glen, lead the Lloyd McDermott Foundation – a team established to support the development of indigenous youth using sport.

The Lloyd McDermott Foundation are joined in Pool F by the BGC Asia Pacific Barbarians, who are coached by Australia legend Campese, and along with fellow Wallaby great Gregan, boast an all-star line-of current and past international captains and World Cup winners. Their sixth seeding has raised some eyebrows, but their cosmopolitan mix drawn from across the Asia Pacific region must prove they can all work in harmony on their inaugural outing.

Campo returns to Hong Kong with the BGC Asia Pacific Barbarians (Pic: Daily Telegraph)

“On day one the big match up for people to see after they finish work is the David Campese Asia Pacific Baa Baas team against the Ella brothers, who will be coaching the Lloyd McDermott Foundation who will be very handy. Campo versus the Ellas is not a bad match up on day one,” said Wootten.

“The Penguins again look like a strong South Pacific side and their game against the HKRFU Chairman’s X, which is the best of the rest of the guys who don’t make the Hong Kong Sevens team but who want to keep their HSBC Asian 5 Nations hopes alive, should also be good. That’s the last game of the first day.

“Scatterlings coached by Bobby Skinstad could be an unknown quantity, while the Irish Vikings with Henry Paul are a very strong experienced side and the Borneo Eagles won the Darwin Sevens, which is an impressive achievement given the quality of the Kiwi and Fijian sides which play there.”

If the seedings work out, last year’s beaten Cup finalists Samurai will finally get their hands on the trophy which has so far eluded the globe-trotting invitational side, but there is a lot of rugby to be played over a highly anticipated two days at Hong Kong Football Club with no guarantees everything will go to plan.

On Day 1, games start at 11am and continues until 8:35pm

Day 2 sees the action return from 10am until 9pm.

Former England international Lawrence Dallaglio is the official Ambassador of the 2011 HK Tens

Add us on Twitter @BlitzBokke for all the latest from the GFI HKFC Tens

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

The annual GFI HKFC Tens is generally considered as the tournament that kicks off “Rugby Week” in Hong Kong.

However, as we reported elsewhere, a new tournament was added to an already packed week.  The Hong Kong Beach 5s takes place at Repulse Bay the weekend before the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens (19-20 March 2011).

Despite losing their “title,” organisers of the GFI HKFC Tens have added some of the world’s biggest names as a draw-card to the 2011 tournament. 

* The HSBC Penguins will again be coached by former Scotland coach Frank Hadden.

* Australia Wallaby legend David Campese will coach the Asia Pacific Barbarians in their debut tournament.

* Turning out for the Barbarians will be Australia’s George Gregan and former New Zealand All Blacks Justin Marshall, Christian Cullen and Rico Gear.

* Also At Campese’s disposal will be Apolosi Satala and Viliame Satala, who 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, and Japan’s Takuro Miuchi and Samoa’s Semo Sititi who have both captained their countries.

* Former All Black skipper and current Asian Pacific Barbarians Club President Sean Fitzpatrick

* Wallaby legends Glenn, Gary and Mark Ella are the Managers of the Lloyd McDermott Ten, an Australian youth team which supports aboriginal youth through sport.

Asian Pacific Barbarians Chairman Sean Fitzpatrick and coach David Campese (Pic: Mike Jansen)

 Former Springbok captain, the legendary Morne Du Plessis will be the guest-speaker at the annual Sevens Dinner hosted by the Southern African Association in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Football Club, hosts of the GFI Hong Kong Football Club Tens, announced that the tournament would expand to 24 international club sides.

It was also revealed today that former England international Lawrence Dallaglio would make a special appearance at the Tens in 2011.

The expansion from 16 teams last year is in part a celebration of the tournament hosts’ 125th anniversary celebrations in 2011. This year, 24 international teams from around the world have accepted invitations to take part in the GFI HKFC Tens, the popular kick-off to rugby week in Hong Kong ahead of the Hong Kong Sevens.

“Increasing the field to 24 teams was a natural way for us to help celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Hong Kong Football Club in 2011. With a free day and a post event party on Wednesday hosted by Tsunami, the GFI HKFC Tens is set to grow on both a competitive and social level, further reaffirming our position at the cutting edge of international ten-a-side rugby,” said Chris Harker, Chairman of the GFI HKFC Tens Organising Committee.

With the increased numbers of teams, the competitiveness of the GFI HKFC Tens is set to further increase, adding to its reputation as the world’s premier ten-a-side rugby competition. Team announcements and the official tournament draw will be held later this month.

The GFI HKFC Tens will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, March 23 and 24, 2011 at the Hong Kong Football Club.

Former England international Lawrence Dallaglio (Pic: Mail Online)

Former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio has been announced as the face of the Tens in 2011 and will be attending this year’s event. Lawrence was capped an astounding 85 times for England and at all three positions in the back row. He was a key member of the England team that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia and the only member of the England team to play every minute of the Rugby World Cup campaign that year.

After initially retiring due to the physical demands of the game in 2004, Lawrence returned to top-flight rugby for the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand and was included in England’s 2007 Rugby World Cup Squad. He officially retired again in 2008 winning the 2008 Premiership Final in the same year with London Wasps, the only club he has ever played for. Lawrence has received several honours for his contribution to England sport including an MBE and OBE.

Dallaglio is no stranger to the abbreviated rugby codes having been an instrumental member of the England Sevens team that shocked the world by winning the inaugural Rugby World Cup Sevens in 1993 and playing in the Hong Kong Sevens in 1995 as part of a President’s Seven side in the days of invitational club rugby at the Hong Kong Sevens. On that occasion, Dallaglio and his teammates were edged out by Western Samoa in the Quarter Finals.

“I’ve never had the privilege of playing at the GFI HKFC Tens but am very much aware of the tournament. Tens is something different and clearly there is room for all versions of the game in the rugby calendar. Like sevens, tens is a fast paced, energetic, powerful and skilful game.”

“Hong Kong is a great city, it’s vibrant, it’s buzzing with a lot to do. Around the time of the Hong Kong Tens and Hong Kong Sevens, the whole city is even more exciting. I have not spent a lot of time in Hong Kong so it will be a great opportunity to get out and explore, not just the city itself but the surrounding areas.”

When quizzed about his toughest sevens opponent, Dallaglio paid tribute to a rugby legend who was his immediate predecessor as face of the Tens in 2010, Waisale Serevi. “Without a shadow of a doubt, Serevi was the greatest sevens player I played against. But I should also mention Eric Rush and Glen Osborne of New Zealand who were other great sevens players I came across.”

Face of the GFI HKFC Tens 2010 Waisale Serevi with my son Ethan at last year’s Tens (Pic: Mike Jansen)

During his time in Hong Kong, Dallaglio will help highlight the GFI HKFC Tens and take part in the tournament’s official charity campaign in aid of the Deaf Society of Hong Kong.

Adding to the celebrations this year, the GFI HKFC Tens and official kit supplier Tsunami will be hosting a Tsunami after-party on the Wednesday evening of the Tens.

As part of the HKFC Anniversary Celebrations, organizers have again committed to offer free entry to members of the public on Wednesday, March 23. Entrance for the finals day (March 24) will be HKD$100.

(Picture credits: Mail Online and Warren Little/Getty Images Europe)

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)

With all due respect to the fact that Hong Kong successfully staged the 2008 Olympic Games Equestrian events as well as the East-Asian Games, but the 1 week countdown to Hong Kong’s BIGGEST sporting week starts in a couple of days!

Here is what the week looks like so far:

Wednesday March 24, 2010  Kowloon Rugby Fest 2010

Venue: Kings Park Sports Ground, Wylie Road, Kowloon

Wednesday & Thursday March 24-25, 2010 GHF HKFC Tens

Venue: HK Football Club, Happy Valley

Friday March 26, 2010 Cable & Wireless Worldwide HK Women’s Rugby Sevens

Venue: HK Football Club/HK Stadium (Cup Final)

Friday – Sunday, March 26-28, 2010 Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens

Venue: HK Stadium, So Kon Po

Other rugby-related events:

SAAHK Sevens Dinner

The Southern African Association in Hong Kong’s annual Sevens Dinner takes place at the HKFC on Wednesday  March 24.  This year’s guest speaker is the popular TV commentator Hugh Bladen, also known as the voice of SA rugby.  The Springbok Sevens Team will of course also be in attendance.

Hugh will probably also have several other speaking engagements around the city and we’ll bring you news about that as it becomes available.

Tens Dinner

The Ten’s Dinner will this year be open to the public.  It takes place at the HKFC on Thursday evening (March 25)  Fee: HK$300

More information about these and other events will be updates as they become available.

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

(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.

Cape Town has just had a very successful Tens Tournament (February 7-8, 2009).  Heading this exciting venture are none other than Bob Skinstad & Robbie Fleck.

The characters formerly known as The Outside Centre and The Character formerly known as the Loose Foward! (Cheers Seth!)

Well, Hong Kong’s very own Hong Kong Tens Tournament takes place in March this year.  You’d be happy to learn that it takes place in the same week as the Hong Kong Sevens, Wednesday- Thursday 25-26 March 2009.  So if I was you, I’d put in a week’s leave in anticipation of some fantastic rugby!  Don’t say I didn’t warn you…

Here’s some initial information, more will follow soon:

March 25: 11am to 9pm

March 26: 10:15am to 8:45pm

Venue:  Hong Kong Football Club, Happy Valley

 A total of 16 club and invitational teams from all over the world competing for the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield in the world’s premier ten-a-side rugby tournament.

 Ticket Prices: $200 for both days

 Purchase Method: Cheque made payable to Hong Kong Football Club (and sent to Laxton Marketing, Unit 1606, The Broadway, 54-62 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai – tickets to be collected from same address)

OR

purchase tickets on the gate.

Enquiries Number: 3579 8088

See you at The Hong Kong Tens!

Mike Jansen

(Editor)