Hong Kong takes the global stage with its rugby league team. 29 warriors will be representing the country

If you are a passionate Hongkie who hails rugby in all forms, let this post speak to you. Young as the sport may be as it thrives in the 852, the Hong Kong Rugby League had surpassed great lengths of challenges. The sport had indeed made a name in Hong Kong rapidly letting local talent arise with their skills in the field. Combining these with international reinforcement, which are based in Hong Kong, brute strength and 100% commitment stands as the pillars of the team.

The Hong Kong Rugby League is an organization ran by volunteers that relies on the goodwill and financial support of people who help us grow and develop the culture of rugby league in Hong Kong.

– Hong Kong Rugby League Limited

THE Hong Kong RUGBY LEAGUE JOURNEY

Rugby League is a full-contact sports played by the opposing teams, composed of 13 players each, on a rectangular field.

The Hong Kong Rugby League was formed in 2014. The first rugby league matches officially happened in 2015. In 2017, Super League ignited a lot of local talents’ and veterans’ (from rugby union) interest in its inauguration.

Continuously making a name for themselves through past tournaments, the Hong Kong National Rugby League Team formed  a representative by the name of Residents XIII.

RESIDENTS XIII

Though not officially international representatives of the Hong Kong Rugby League, the Residents XIII stood an unshakeable ground for allowing the sport to develop. It gave an opportunity to open-age residents to shine.

In 2015, the Residents XIII won over the Philippine teams twice and the Thailand team. This boosted their confidence and embraced the sport from then on. 

From when it had started, they have had a total of 3 tours. This helped some players to step up into the team representing internationally under the name Hong Kong Thunder.

HONG KONG THUNDER

THE Hong Kong Thunder debuted their test match for the East Asia Cup last November, 2017 against Japan. Hong Kong lost, 22-24. But this had advanced Hong Kong into being recognised by the Rugby League International Federation (RILF) for the first time, ranking them 45th in the world by December, 2017.

This huge defeat had the Thunder on their feet training hard to feel each of their teammates’ pulse. Reinforcing their stamina and working hard ‘as a team’ paid off when they recently came home from Japan with their biggest win of 20-32 in favour of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong RUGBY LEAGUE EFFORT

During the time in between, the Hong Kong Rugby League went all out with their events.

Initiated by an international event called, Rugby League 9’s, rugby league flourished unstoppably. It attracted many international teams including the Tongan National Team which went head-to-head with the Hong Kong Pacific Toa in the finals. That game had put both local spectators, cheering at the King’s Park, Kowloon, and the global spectators, via live broadcasting through Hong Kong Rugby League’s Facebook page, at edge of their seats.

Both teams that were composed mostly of Pacific men held as brothers in the end. It was truly a moving game since rugby league which led it in becoming one of Asia Pacific’s historical rugby league game. It promoted camaraderie to a great extent. This act of oneness advanced the rugby league in the hearts of many fans and had put Hong Kong Pacific Toa to be a local favourite.

The Super League that followed HKRL 9’s is where you could see the country’s growing fondness for the sport already.

Four rugby league clubs battled courageously making way for further development of Hong Kong Thunder team that is bound to attend the 2-week tournament in Western Sydney, Australia. Oreana Storm, the Broncos, the Wanchai Warriors and the Hong Kong Pacific Toa altogether contributed to the 29 key players for Hong Kong Thunder to be formed in its sturdiest. Hong Kong Pacific Toa rose as the champion at the 2018 Super League.

The tournament allowed a lot of players to be seen of their potential. As a result, most of the 29 chosen warriors came from the respective rugby league clubs that joined.

THE COMMITTED 29

Because of their love for the sport and with a sole intent to develop rugby league in Asia, these men are more than willing to do what it takes to represent Hong Kong. Many of the experiences they have had outside the country were paid mostly on their own.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

On top of the hard beating at circuit trainings, cross fit stamina building and continuous work out and field training, these men have their day jobs. Some of them have families of their own. And so, part of their advocacy is to lead the youth into embracing the benefits of sports. Bringing their families in each game enhances bonding. Also, by coming together in Sunday tag games and family games, families build rapport altogether and many charity events have been formed to benefit the less fortunate.

Don’t get me wrong, although some of them are family guys and are men full of jokes and are naturally funny, you would not dare run into them defenceless or without a strategy to do side step when need be.

From my personal favourite, Hong Kong Pacific Toa came Hung Yip, 19 years old, who makes his debut as a dual-code International and is part of the Super League champions, Hong Kong Pacific Toa. Followed up by its captain, Hogan Toomalatai who did a hat-trick at the most recent game that Thunder won in Japan. Supported by the equally strong fellow islanders, Evi Seumanutafa who is an International Rugby representative also for Hong Kong and Falaniko Solomona, who had both shown greatness during the Super League Championship alongside his brother being known as the “Solomona Brothers” of the league. 

THE TOURNAMENT

The 2018 Emerging Nations World Cup will be a rugby league tournament held for Tier Two and Tier Three nations, the third edition of the Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament. The two-week-long tournament will be held in Western Sydney, Australia this October.

Being away for two weeks could take its toll on the squad. They had to take a leave from their day jobs. Also, this will account for foodand travel expenses, playing kit, registration fees and insurances. Not to mention, because rugby league is a full-contact sport, it needs an on-call physiologist with them at all times. This is where you come in.

BE PART OF HISTORY

The Hong Kong Rugby League would like to ask for your support. Half of the expenses will be shouldered by the team itself. But there’s still a floating HK$130,000 to be raised for the whole 29 of them. Let them continue the story. Let the WIKIPEDIA write more about them by engaging yourself to the same advocacy of propagating love for sport.

I, for one, hail sports and am more than thankful that my husband is into it. Besides the benefit that comes with that release of much testosterone in tackling, running and their scrums, he stands to be a good role model. This goes to the youth in Samoa (his hometown) and to our own 4-year old daughter. She had grown to be outgoing, loving sports and running like there’s no tomorrow. She’s not afraid of sweat, the grass nor big men. She lives to her name Brave because of her big daddy.

Here’s the link on how you could support the Hong Kong Rugby League:

For the mean time, you might need to hear what the key players may have to share.

Listen to how representing Hong Kong had become a wonderful journey for them.