As is tradition, players, parents, coaches and staff dragged themselves out of bed at the crack of dawn on New Year’s Day for the annual Prudential New Year’s Day Tournament. The day once again proved to be the ONLY way to kick off the year of 2019, full of fantastic rugby, mega support, and a couple of settlers to cure the hangovers.

This annual tradition began on January 1^st 1966, when students from KGV took on the ‘Overseas Schoolboys’, a team of players based in Hong Kong, but studying abroad and returning for the holidays. 53 years later, the tournament is bigger and better than ever with nine matches ranging from U12s to U19s, both boys and girls.

First up the U12s took to the pitch (apologies to mums and dads!) as the Boys U12 Island Lions reigned supreme 12 – 0 over the Peninsula Dragons, taking the Waterford Bowl and awarding Rory O’Conner with the ‘Best and Fairest Player’ award. The Girls then turned things up in a tight 5-4 win of the Peninsula Dragons over the Island Lions, who took the Robert’s Shield, whilst Holly Terrebrood picked up the ‘Best and Fairest Player’ award.

Next up saw the Boys and Girls U14s take the stage with the Boys Peninsula Dragons stealing the Stuart Leckie Cup with a 19 – 5 win over the Island Lions and Theodore Mag taking the ‘Best and Fairest Player’ award, whilst the Girls once again switched things up with an Island Lions win of the Overton Cup, 22 – 12 over the Peninsula Dragons, Emma Standing bagging the ‘Best and Fairest Player’ award.

The afternoon kicked off with the Boys and Girls U16s and the first ‘Overseas’ team polishing off their boots. Our Boys U16s Hong Kong Dragons showed what they were made off in the George White Trophy with a 43 – 21 win over the Overseas Lions, Ollie Pyle taking the ‘Best and Fairest Player’ award, followed by a landslide victory from the Girls U16 Peninsula Dragons taking the Naylor Cup with a 41 – 14 over the Island Lions, Sophie Langford taking the ‘Best and Fairest Player’ award.

And then to the headline acts. The Boys U19 Warriors, a recent concept formed by the Hong Kong Rugby Union to encourage local player development, split into two teams with the Lions taking the Jin Si Trophy following a 24 – 12 win over the Dragons as Chau Tsz Tung took home the ‘Best and Fairest Player’ award. Finally both Girls and Boys U19 Hong Kong Dragons took on the Overseas Lions contingents both losing out 10 – 5 and 65 – 17 respectively. The ‘Best and Fairest Players’ awards were bestowed to Lucia Bolton and Ian Carmichael.

To round things off, the prestigious Larry Abel Trophy for the ‘Best and Fairest Player’ of the entire tournament was presented to the well-deserving Oliver Pyle, commending his playing conduct throughout the day.

Another fantastic day had by all, and as always we couldn’t have done it without the help of the HKRU staff, HKFC, referees, medical team, coaches, players, supporters and of course our sponsors, Prudential. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all involved.

So that’s a wrap! The Hong Kong Rugby Union would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy 2019 and we’ll see you all again 1^st January 2020.