Hong Kong China Rugby announced they have relaunched the Dragons Programme, which the union says is a local performance development initiative dedicated to nurturing rugby talent in Hong Kong.
The programme was established in 1990 by George Simpkins, a former member of the union’s Board of Directors and alumnus of the Dragons Programme includes Rambo Leung, Hong Kong China’s first ever Chinese Representative player.
HKCR said the Dragons Programme focuses on enhancing player development and creating pathways from community rugby to high-performance levels, and all participants are aged 18-28 years and are Hong Kong passport holders – this ensures they are eligible for the Asian Games.
Salom Yiu Kam Shing, who is a former HKCr 7s player and now the Programme Lead, said, “Bringing back the Dragons Programme is crucial for our players. It provides them with a structured pathway to improve their game and ultimately represent Hong Kong on an International playing field”.
HKCR Dragons Programme 2025
In 2025, over 140 players have been nominated to participate, with trials underway to finalise the squad of 40, which will cut down to 23 players to compete against the Singapore Development Team in May 2025.
The final squad announcement takes place on 26 May at the Hong Kong Sports Institute, and they will travel to Singapore to compete on Saturday, 31 May.
Team Management HKCR Dragons Programme
- Programme Lead: Salom Yiu Kam Shing
- Team Manager: Kai Hang Fung
- Head Coach: Brendan Ireland
- Coach: Kenny Ng
- Coach: Joseph Szeto
- Coach: So Hok Ken
- Coach: Gus Leger
- Physiotherapist: Tong Chak Lam Christopher
- S&C Coach: Nam Ka Man
- Analyst: Michael Andrew Bray
Rugby Development News
- Emerging Nations Need a Fairer Playing Field for Age-Grade Competitions.
- New Zealand University Will Tour Japan In May 2025.
- SANIX World Rugby Youth Tournament 2025 – Teams & Pools.
- Chile Will Host New World Rugby U20 Challenger Cup in 2026.
Trending Now
2025 Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens - What You Need To Know
