Women’s Premiership A Grand Final Champions 2019-20: Kowloon

Congratulations to Kowloon the 2019-20 Women’s Premiership A: Grand Final Champions after a hard-fought 12-7 victory over CWB Phoenix in the final.

Image: bc magazine

Women’s Premiership Grand Final Champions 2019-20: Valley Black

Congratulations to Valley Black who are the 2019-20 Women’s Premiership: Grand Final Champions after a comprehensive 36-15 victory over USRC Tigers in the final.

Image: bc magazine

Women’s Rugby Results – 18 January, 2020

Premiership

HKFC Ice 7-10 Gai Wu Falcons
@ HK Football Club, Kick-off: 18:00

Kowloon 5-14 CWB Phoenix
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 18:30

Tai Po Dragons 22-12 HK Scottish
@ Shek Kip Mei, Kick-off: 18:00

Valley Black 39-0 USRC Tigers
@ Happy Valley, Kick-off: 18:00

National League 1

HKFC Fire 65-0 HK Scottish Kelpies
@ HK Football Club, Kick-off: 16:30

Gai Wu Fawkes 53-5 Tin Shui Wai Pandas
@ KG V, Kick-off: 16:30

Revolution SRC 7-10 Valley Red
@ KG V, Kick-off: 15:00

HKU Sandy Bay Storm v USRC Tigers 2
@ So Kon Po, Kick-off: 13:00

National League 2

University 0-40 City Twinkles
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 18:00

Kowloon v Gai Wu Hawks
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 16:30

Image: hkrfu

Women’s Premiership Champions 2019-20: Valley Black

Congratulations!!

Sevens Challenger Series Launches

The match schedule and pools have been drawn for the inaugural men’s tournament on the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series, which will take place in Viña del Mar, Chile, on 15-16 February, 2020.

Sixteen countries will compete across two match days in the first of two Sevens Challenger Series tournaments which will take place in Chile and Uruguay in February.

The new series has been launched by World Rugby to expand rugby sevens growth across the globe and to offer teams quality competition.

Hosts Chile are drawn in Pool D and will face Brazil, Mexico and Zimbabwe, while hosts of the second round of competition, Uruguay will be joined by Japan, Portugal and Tonga in Pool A.

Elsewhere, Hong Kong, Colombia, Jamaica and Papua New Guinea make up Pool B with Germany, Italy, Paraguay and Uganda completing the Pool C line-up.

Teams will travel to Montevideo, Uruguay, for the second round of the Sevens Challenger Series on 22-23 February before the top eight teams progress to the final play-off tournament at the Hong Kong Sevens on 3-5 April, 2020 where they will compete for a spot on the World Rugby Sevens Series 2021.

The promoted team will replace the bottom placed core team in the World Series rewarding the winners with an opportunity to play against the world’s best.

“We are incredibly excited at the opportunities that lie ahead for the players and unions participating in the inaugural World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series tournament in Chile,” commented World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont.

“The Sevens Challenger Series will provide a solid foundation for the emerging talent on the international rugby sevens scene as these individuals set their sights on the prospect of competing on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and we look forward to seeing them in action.”

World Rugby Vice-Chairman and President of Rugby Americas, Agustín Pichot added: “The World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series will be a huge driver in developing rugby sevens within South America, a region where there are many passionate players and supporters of the game.

“I am delighted that this exciting new series is kicking off in South America. It is a huge opportunity for both Chile and Uruguay, who will be tremendous hosts and excellent advocates of this new and exciting competition.”

Teams who will compete in the 2020 World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series: Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Portugal, Tonga, Uganda, Uruguay, Zimbabwe.

Additional reporting and images: World Rugby

Women’s Rugby Results – 14 December, 2019

Premiership

Gai Wu Falcons 10-17 USRC Tigers
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 18:00

HK Scottish 5-10 CWB Phoenix
@ KG V, Kick-off: 18:00

Tai Po Dragons 10-24 Kowloon
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 16:30

Valley Black 32-0 HKFC Ice
@ King’s Park, Kick-off: 15:00

Images: hkru

Superwoman Rose on Juggling Babies, Rugby, Work, and Long Distance Learning

Rose Hopewell-Fong never lets anything slip through her fingers – whether it’s on the rugby field or in the classroom.

So when she picks up her University of Sunderland Alumni Achiever of the Year (Hong Kong) honour this month, she will be grasping it with both hands.

It will be yet another honour for Rose to add to her trophy cabinet, which already reflects her hard work, not to mention her multi-tasking skills.

Rose grew up in Hong Kong but later moved to England to study, also representing England U20s in Rugby Union.

After a difficult decision to return home to Hong Kong, she went on to represent Hong Kong 7s and 15s Rugby Union in a professional capacity.

While all this was going on, the now 29-year-old embarked on a long-distance learning PGCE programme at the University of Sunderland, to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher.

Rose retired from professional 7s rugby in 2015, but has continued to represent Hong Kong in 15s most notably at the Rugby World Cup in Dublin during 2017.

Since then, in the last two years, she has started and completed her Masters in International Education with the University of Sunderland and become mum to Olivia Margaret, now 17 months old.

After giving birth she returned to the rugby pitch and represented Hong Kong 15s in three test matches as Vice-Captain before becoming pregnant again. She is due to welcome her second child in January 2020. All of this while working full time in an international school, most recently earning a promotion into the Pedagogical Leadership Team.

Throughout this impressive juggling act, Rose has been supported by husband Anthony Hopewell. The pair met at their rugby club and Anthony and Olivia Margaret are among the noisiest fans when the wife and mother plays for club or country.

Rose said: “I feel very honoured to receive the award and so grateful that Sunderland has such programmes for long-distance learners.

“There is no award for juggling multiple commitments in one’s personal life. An international sporting representative, a full time worker, a part time distance learner and becoming a mother – which will soon be twice – in just two years has been hectic yet so rewarding to say the least.

“Whilst we all strive to achieve goals in our careers post graduation, it is so nice to have an award that recognises the individual achievements in someone’s personal life as an amalgamation that can be celebrated wholly. Thank you University of Sunderland.”

Originally published by University of Sunderland 26 November, 2019
Images: HKrugby, AsiaRugby