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Rugby fans will get an important boost with the start of the Saxo Markets Men’s Premiership season on Saturday. After a four-week return to play protocol, the six Premiership sides commence action with a staggered season opener - a three game showcase at King’s Park - to open a taut, ten-round league.
With attendance limited to essential playing and management personnel only and a limit of ten guests per team at King’s Park, all involved in this weekend’s showcase will balance the excitement of playing with the collective responsibility required to maintain public health in a season like none before in the Hong Kong Rugby Union’s (HKRU) 68 year history.
“After a very eventful offseason, I’m excited, and somewhat relieved, to be here tonight to mark the start of the Saxo Markets Premiership. Rugby is a sport that develops and refines resilience, and this has once again been proven over the past few months.
“Looking back on a challenging year, I am most proud of the efforts of our rugby community to persevere and support each other. While we remain physically separated, we are united in our common goal of fighting the coronavirus, and our shared excitement at the kick-off of the rugby season,” said Mr Patrick Donovan, Chairman of the Hong Kong Rugby Union.
In keeping with the Hong Kong Rugby Union’s Covid-19 protocols, each Premiership match at HKRU managed venues will be assigned a dedicated manager to help ensure compliance with a raft of risk mitigation measures (see below). Given HKRU restrictions on public attendance, every Saxo Markets Premiership game will be streamed live on the HKRU’s digital channels.
After the lengthy off-season and a graduated return to play process, the six Premiership sides are raring for action according to Bloomberg HK Scottish coach Craig Hammond: “No one has played in six months, so everyone will be absolutely buzzing on Saturday. This is a great opportunity for the Premiership to launch with a bang.”
On the pitch, attention will focus on Natixis Hong Kong Football Club after they defended their 2019 Premiership title last season, and added the inaugural Challenge Trophy and Grand Championship title (their first in nine seasons) in 2020.
Societe Generale Valley proved the biggest impediment to HKFC’s success, finishing as runners-up in the league (7-3) and the Challenge Trophy (tied first on table points but lost on points differential). It proved a similar result in a marathon Grand Championship final that went deep into added time before Club fly half Glyn Hughes sealed a thrilling 15-12 win with his fifth penalty of the night.
HKFC have added more muscle up front with new signings in Scotland U19s prop Jamie Ross and Otago university prop Callum Hardie, and power and mobility to an already competitive back row with No.8 Charlie Kingham, whose England Sevens caps should suit him on Hong Kong’s fast tracks.
For its part, Valley boast a few off-season changes as well, most notably the departure of club stalwart Andrew Ned Kelly to coach Heriots in Scotland’s Super Six. Long-time assistant coach and former Samoa international Mark Fatiolofa succeeds Kelly at the helm. His first order of business will undoubtedly be addressing a rare two-year drought of silverware for Valley, a rarity for one of Hong Kong’s most successful outfits marking its 45th season in 2020.
Last year’s third placed finishers HK Scottish are also out to celebrate an anniversary in style as they hope to christen their 10th season with a title. They have added to an experienced core of players with some overseas strength, including a first ever player exchange with sister club London Scottish. Hong Kong prop Jack Parfitt is playing in London this year, while centre Dean Squire is appearing for the Shek Kip Mei side.
Herbert Smith Freehills HKU Sandy Bay and DAC Kowloon battled it out for the fourth and final play-off spot with their records tied at 4-6. Sandy Bay advanced on a superior table points total (20 to 16). Both clubs make a renewed push this season with Kowloon particularly active in the off-season, inking four new players.
Cardiff Met centre/fly half Harry Johnston, Cornish Pirates and Sale prop Thomas Concu, and Harley Fox, who represented Queensland in both Union and League as a schoolboy and has played for Melbourne Rebels and the Rising, join the Loon in 2020. The club is also welcoming former Scotland U18 captain and Glasgow Warriors academy member Euan McLaren.
Sandy Bay added even more heft up front with second row Elliot Ward joining from Leeds Tykes, while a pair of South African backs in centre Tertius Kruger, who has played for Cheetahs and Southern Kings in Guinness Pro14, and scrumhalf Brendon Nell out of Stellenbosch, look exciting.
With an injury struck season in the rear view mirror, Borrelli Walsh USRC Tigers are intent on making a statement, and have added a sprinkling of home nations talent to get across the line. Tigers have brought in Cardiff Met and Wales U18s prop Harrison Dobbs; former Scotland U18s and sevens squad member, Josh Henderson, at fly half; and former England U18s and England Students centre Charlie Wilson, from the Newcastle Falcons Academy.
In keeping with their tradition as a funnel for Hong Kong talent, Josh Henderson’s mother was born in the city, making him Hong Kong eligible without the standard five-year wait for incoming players.
With the HKRU’s elite rugby sevens programme players released to their clubs - joining Hong Kong’s fifteens hopefuls and the league’s international stars, the pace and skill level of the Saxo Markets Premiership is set to skyrocket. Finally some good news in 2020!
HKRU match day Covid-19 protocols:
