History
Rugby has been played in Hong Kong as long as horses have been racing in Happy Valley. Early newspapers at the Hong Kong Central Public Records Office have accounts of rugby games played during the late 1870s and 80's. Before World War I, Jock McGregor was secretary of the Hong Kong Rugby Club and the game was played mainly by army and navy men, together with the police and merchant cadets from the large Trading Houses.
From 1920 until 1949, Hong Kong teams regularly took part in "Interport" competitions with Shanghai.
After World War II, manpower in Hong Kong increased and local competition flourished. In 1951, the Hong Kong team played in Japan, captained by the late Gerry Forsgate, former President of the Union. This was the start of many tournaments and games, both home and away throughout Asia, and in 1952 the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) was formed.
During this period, the strength of club rugby was with the Football Club side, Police and occasionally Service teams. In 1967, Hong Kong became a founding member of the Asian Rugby Union and has since played a key role in developing the game of rugby in Asia.
The Valley Rugby Football Club were formed in 1975 and the first Hong Kong Sevens Tournament took place in 1976. Both remain in very good shape, with Hong Kong hosting the 1997 and 2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens and the "Sevens" going on to become the premier tournament of the IRB World Sevens Series. The Hong Kong Sevens is very much the "flagship" of Hong Kong Rugby and the Union is working hard to maintain its status as part of the rugby legacy for all rugby players in Hong Kong.
The HKRFU continue to commit to developing rugby in Hong Kong and Asia with many local players having taken up the game at touch, tag or the full contact version. A number of other Clubs - Kowloon RFC, Hong Kong Cricket Club, DeA Tigers RFC, Gai Wu, Causeway Bay, Tai Po Dragons, Nomads, Typhoons, City and University - have joined in the local competition.
Recently, Touch & Tag rugby has gained a considerable following in Hong Kong with many of the enthusiasts feeling great interest in the full tackle version of the game.
Today there are a total of 48 men's teams playing in six Divisions and 10 women's teams in two Divisions. Six teams will contest the men's First Division title including defending champions Valley, runners-up CBRE Club, inProjects Kowloon, DeA Tigers, Synovate HKCC and Manulife Causeway Bay. A further six teams will take part in the Division Two championship including Valley Knights, Club II, DeA II, HKCC II, Nomads and PLA.
Under the auspices of the HKRFU competitive and social rugby is also offered to Tertiary, Youth, Colts, Schools and Mini Rugby players in Hong Kong, both boys and girls. In the season ahead over 7,000 players will be active in the game on a regular basis.
The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union remains committed to recruiting and developing new players and continuing the great tradition of rugby in Hong Kong.
Read more about this topic: Hong Kong National Rugby Union Team
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