Police Rugby Club recruiting new blood for a growing sport
The Police Rugby Club has embarked on a recruitment campaign to attract new blood to what is becoming one of the world's fastest growing sports after its inclusion in the Olympics from 2016. Rugby is a team sport that puts emphasis on fitness, camaraderie, teamwork, self-discipline and above all fun.
The club, which has a long and proud history, is actively seeking new talents, from both sexes, to add to its existing pool of skilful and dedicated members. To achieve this aim, it has adopted a two-pronged strategy to attract children of Force members, including regular, auxiliary and civilian officers, to take up the sport as well as adult beginners who may never have thought of playing before. The club also welcomes anyone who has taken a sabbatical absence from the game and fancies lacing up their boots again.
For children, the club have started a Mini Rugby Summer Training Programme. Mini Rugby is a non-contact sport and the programme offers an excellent way for children to stay healthy, master new skills, learn some English and make new friends in a safe environment. The training, conducted by qualified coaches and members of the club, is free of charge and all children, boys and girls, between the ages of five to 11 are welcome. The programme will be held at the Police Sports and Recreation Club (PSRC) every Sunday in June and July between 10 am and 11.30 am.
For adults taking up the sport for the first time, the club is running beginners training sessions for both men and women at the PSRC every Tuesday evening between 7.30 pm and 9.30 pm The training is being conducted by the Forces very own Hong Kong international players, Police Constable Tsang Hing-hung and Woman Police Constable Wong Man-han. The training sessions provide an excellent opportunity to learn a new sport and keep fit at the same time.
The club recently participated in the Forces PHM Carnival to showcase the sport and drum up recruits. Despite heavy rains, its two stands attracted hundreds of visitors. The stands, in the forms of an inflatable passing challenge and an electronic reaction test machine, were a big hit, especially with recruits from the Police College, members of the specialist units and of course kids.
Anyone interested in joining the mini rugby programme or the beginners training sessions are welcome to head for the PSRC on Sunday mornings or Tuesday evenings. For more information, email hkprugby@gmail.com or contact John Carroll on johncarroll@police.gov.hk or 2860-7804 or Peter Whitton on peterwhitton@police.gov.hk or 2860-2193 or 6131-8623.
Tour in Guangzhou
Last but not least, the club also recently embarked on a tour to take part in the Guangzhou Rugby 10s tournament in the guise of its touring side, the Old Bill. The tournament attracted teams from all over the Mainland, including the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), Macau, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Xiamen, South China Agricultural University and hosts, the Guangzhou Rams.
The Old Bill team, which included officers at the ranks of Police Constable to Senior Superintendent, as well as some players who have progressed through the ranks of the Operation Breakthrough youth team, went into the competition full of optimism despite worries that they might be a bit rusty in fitness, having not played since the conclusion of the domestic season in March. However the optimism was well rewarded with early wins against Macau and Shenzhen before coming up against Xiamen for a place in the cup final. Unfortunately the team could not quite match Xiamen and lost, only getting a place in the Plate Final against hosts, the Guangzhou Rams.
In the Plate Final, despite the loss of their talisman player, Chief Inspector Peter Whitton, to injury, the team performed courageously in the finest traditions of the Force and true to its values of fair play. However without one of their best players and despite the outstanding efforts by every member of the team, they came out second best and narrowly lost an enthralling encounter. The cup competition was deservedly won by the PLA who beat Xiamen in the final, but the real winner of the tournament was the sport itself, which brought all the teams together.
