Hong Kong China Rugby is First International Rugby Union To Align With IUCN Sports For Nature Initiative

rugbyasia247 Posted On April 22, 2025

2 Views

Hong Kong China Rugby is First International Rugby Union To Align With IUCN Sports For Nature Initiative

Hong Kong China Rugby announce they have become the first international rugby union and first Hong Kong-based organisation to join the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Sports For Nature initiative on Earth Day (22 April 2025).

HKCR said the initiative aims to tap into the enormous potential of sports as a vehicle, and deliver transformative action for nature by 2030 and beyond, enabling sports to champion nature and contribute to its protection and restoration.

The Sports For Nature initiative provides a game plan for sports at all levels to accelerate and inspire others to take action for nature.

HKCR General Manager, Club Development and Sustainability Jamie Farndale said about the commitment: “As an outdoor sport, rugby is utterly dependent on nature. Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to research focusing on extreme heat and its associated risks to sport. With Hong Kong facing rising temperatures, increased black rain events, flooding, and drought, rugby is facing increasing challenges.”

HKCR also released their Sustainability Action Plan for 2025-2030 at the 2025 Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens.

What Has HKCR Agreed To – IUCN Sports For Nature

Hong Kong China Rugby will take on the responsibility for educating its rugby community and driving positive change by signing on and committing to four key pillars:

Protecting nature and avoiding damage to natural habitats and species
Restore and regenerate nature wherever possible
Understand and reduce risks to nature in our supply chains
Educate and inspire positive action for nature across and beyond sport

Farndale added, “Nature not only provides us with our playground – the space in which we train, play, and compete – but it also helps protect us from these increasing risks. It provides us with clean air, fresh water, nutritious food, and the resources and materials necessary to make rugby possible. At Hong Kong China Rugby, we recognise the crucial link between our sport and the health of our environment. We are proud to pledge our commitment to utilising our platform to protect and restore the natural world that sustains us.”

Sam Barratt, Chief of Youth Education and Advocacy, UN Environment, said of HKCR’s participation that it was great to have the rugby union joining the Sports for Nature initiative.

“All over the world, keeping the game in play is getting harder with more extreme weather. Nature is a critical ally that can help sports be resilient, and Sports for Nature is a collective of sports working to conserve, restore and act for nature with their athletes and fans on board. We hope that they’ll set the pace for others to follow,” said Sam Barratt.

You can find out more about Sports for Nature here.