Hong Kong Rugby Union 2020-21 Season

The Hong Kong Rugby Union *HKRU) 2020-21 season is due to start on November 7th 2020 if there are no increased spikes in COVID-19.

The Hong Kong government recently relaxed the COVID-19 pandemic control measures for sports venues. Before the rugby season can get underway, a 4-week ‘return to play’ protocol will need to be put in place, hence the potential November start date.

Hong Kong Rugby Union 2020-21 Season

The rugby union seasons for all HKRU competitions should resume if the situation remains stable:

• Saxo Markets Men’s Premiership
• KPMG Women’s Premiership
• Youth leagues

Rugby Clubs in Hong Kong

A number of the Hong Kong-based clubs are also celebrating milestone seasons in 2020.

• Valley RFC is celebrating its 45th year as a club.
• Kowloon RFC is in its 44th year as a rugby club in HK.
• Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC) is marking its 134th year!
• Hong Kong Scottish is relatively young but celebrates a decade as a club.

HKRU Leagues

The full list of HKRU leagues listed are:

Men’s

• Saxo Markets Men’s Premiership
• Saxo Markets Men’s Premiership A
• Championship
• Championship A
• National League
• Community League 1
• Community League 2
• Community League 3

Women’s

• KPMG Women’s Premiership
• KPMG Women’s NL 1
• KPMG Women’s NL 2

Age Grade

• Tertiary
• Schools
• Junior
• U14 Premiership
• U16 Premiership
• U19 Premiership
• U14 Championship
• U16 Championship
• U14 Girl’s League
• U16 Girl’s League
• U19 Girl’s League

If the season does go ahead, rugby fans will be able to live-stream the men’s and women’s premiership games on the HKRU’s social media. It’s unclear when spectators could return to watch games live.

What are the Return to Play protocols?

HKRU Return to Play protocols

HKRU chief executive officer Robbie McRobbie told the SCMP (the HKRU media partner), “The announcement of the reopening of private recreational lease venues – which included our own King’s Park, Tin Shui Wai and Hong Kong Football Club grounds – was the first opportunity for us to get players back on the pitch since the brief period we had in early July.”

Additional [LCSD] football and rugby pitches also opened up which have allowed the rugby union to move from phase two to three in their Covid-19 return-to-play protocols.

The HKRU Rugby Academy e-learning

Like all rugby unions, the HKRU have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic by moving rugby courses and other resources online. The Hong Kong Rugby Union Rugby Academy e-learning offers Coaching, Refereeing, and Teaching resources for rugby enthusiasts.

Asian rugby news

• Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2021.
• HKRU: Strategic Research Study findings.
• Karina Soerjanatamihardja: Growth of Women’s Rugby in Indonesia.
• ChildFund Pass It Back: Creating Rugby Pathways