Four All Blacks have been added to the star-studded BGC APBs line-up for their eagerly awaited Chartis Cup clash with English Premiership champions Saracens.

Exciting winger Sitiveni Sivivatu will team up with back-row icon Jerry Collins, lock Troy Flavell and prop Neemia Tialata.

The quartet join an awesome BGC APBs squad that already includes 100-cap All Blacks great Mils Muliaina, flying Fijian Sireli Bobo and Samoan brothers Alesana and Henry Tuilagi.

The Chartis Cup, which is supported by the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, will be played on Saturday, 9 June at Hong Kong Stadium. More details can be found at www.chartiscup.com.

“With an APBs squad containing five All Blacks, plus a host of other great players from the Asia Pacific region, taking on a world class team like Saracens, it promises to be a fantastic game of rugby,” commented Les Mouat, Chairman and Head of Distribution, Chartis Insurance Asia-Pacific.

“The APBs squad is taking shape nicely and to see players of the calibre of Sitiveni Sivivatu, Jerry Collins and Mils Muliaina will be a treat for the fans based in Hong Kong and those who fly in from overseas.”

A unique feature of the Chartis Cup is that organisers are offering rugby clubs in Hong Kong and overseas a “cash back” incentive to sell tickets.

For every adult ticket sold by a club before 14 April, the club will retain HK$100 per ticket. Adult tickets are HK$300 each and a child ticket is HK$50.

“We want to offer rugby clubs throughout the region the opportunity to benefit from this match and many of them have shown great interest in this,” said Chartis Cup promoter and APBs chairman Jon Phelps.

The Chartis Cup showdown will be the centrepiece of a day-long rugby festival that will feature mini and veterans tournaments and a Rugby Village next to Hong Kong Stadium where fans can watch the day’s international matches live on big screens later in the evening.

Sivivatu holds the All Blacks record for most tries on a test debut, having touched down four times against Fiji in 2005 on his way to totalling 29 in 45 tests.

Blindside flanker Collins, one of the most fearsome tacklers ever to play the game, appeared in 48 tests from 2001-07, including three as captain. Flavell, meanwhile, played 22 tests for New Zealand while Tialata was capped 43 times.

The BGC APBs will return to Hong Kong for the high-profile fixture having already made a major impact in the territory with their Cup triumph at last week’s GFI HKFC Tens. BGC have confirmed they are extending their sponsorship of the team to include the Chartis Cup match.

Saracens, meanwhile, are enjoying another high-flying season – they are currently second in the English Premiership and are the only English club through to the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.

Proceeds from the Chartis Cup will go towards the Royal Project office in Thailand, under the Patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, to renovate schools hit by flooding last year and help students from very poor families with the expense of attending classes.

About Chartis

Chartis is a world leading property-casualty and general insurance organisation serving more than 70 million clients around the world. With one of the industry’s most extensive ranges of products and services, deep claims expertise and excellent financial strength, Chartis enables its commercial and personal insurance clients alike to manage virtually any risk with confidence.

Chartis is the marketing name for the worldwide property-casualty and general insurance operations of Chartis Inc. For additional information, please visit our website at www.chartisinsurance.com. All products are written by insurance company subsidiaries or affiliates of Chartis Inc. Coverage may not be available in all jurisdictions and is subject to actual policy language. Non-insurance products and services may be provided by independent third parties. Certain coverage may be provided by a surplus lines insurer. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds.

About APBs

Formed in 2010, the APBs are designed to showcase the vast array of rugby talent in Asia Pacific, with the occasional invited player from outside the region. Each squad typically contains household names and Rugby World Cup stars mixed with up-and-coming players from the emerging rugby nations, all infused with a commitment to demonstrate a true spirit of playing entertaining rugby. Off the field, the APBs are sociable, approachable and accessible to fans, and promote the game to players of all ages and abilities through coaching clinics and interaction with the rugby community. Crucially, the APBs carry a strong sense of social responsibility, seeking to ensure that their high profile and wide corporate connections allow various charities benefit from their activities.

-- ENDS --

Released on behalf of the Chartis Cup 2012 by Two Up Front – Asia’s sports PR specialists.

Rwanda captain Lucien Bikamba saluted his teammates after a stirring run at the Altus Kowloon RugbyFest ended in the Cup semi-finals.

The Silverbacks won three of their four pool matches and an epic quarter-final that went to a drop-kick shootout before bowing out of the 10s tournament at King’s Park on Wednesday (21 March).

“We were close to reaching our first Cup final at RugbyFest but it was not to be,” said Bikamba. “However, the poise and mental strength the boys showed in winning the Cup quarter-final was outstanding and that was the highlight of our tour so far.

“Our performances have improved each year we’ve come to Hong Kong and I’m proud of the team’s efforts.

“In addition, we have again benefited from some fantastic coaching thanks to the Penguins Coaching Academy and we can take what we’ve learned back to Rwanda to continue the development of rugby there.”

In the pool stages, the Silverbacks beat HSBC Stitt from England, Hong Kong’s Pot Bellied Pigs and the KK Sharks from Borneo, losing only to tournament hosts Kowloon RFC.

But the real drama came in their Cup quarter-final against PLA Securitas from China, which was decided on drop-kicks from the 22-metre line after the teams finished level after extra time. With the entire tournament brought to a standstill as everyone looked on, Rwanda won it on the seventh kick.

Their luck ran out in the semi-finals when they went down 14-5 to Hong Kong’s Loon Legends, who themselves were defeated in the Cup final by Australian team Rowzy Pegazi.

The Silverbacks, who were sponsored by Hong Kong-based property company IP Global, were making their third appearance in RugbyFest, having reached the Plate final in 2010 and the Cup semi-finals last year.

The Rwandan players were guests of Hong Kong Football Club on Thursday where they attended a coaching course supervised by the Penguins Coaching Academy, met the New Zealand sevens team and their legendary coach Gordon Tietjens, and watched the finals of the GFI HKFC Tens.

They will attend the famous Hong Kong Sevens this weekend before flying home on Tuesday.

For more information about the Silverbacks, including the team’s history, development, tours, sponsorship opportunities and media coverage, please visit www.rwandarugby.org.

-- ENDS --

Released on behalf of the Rwandan Silverbacks by Two Up Front – Asia’s sports PR specialists.

Giant Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo lifted the BGC APBs to their first GFI HKFC Tens title with an awesome display of finishing tonight (22 March).

Nadolo – 1.95 metres and 123 kgs – scored two tries as his team beat the New Zealand Legends 10-7 in a hard-fought Cup final at Hong Kong Football Club.

The Japan-based ace finished as the tournament’s leading try-scorer with 11 from six matches.

“I’ve never won a final before so this is awesome,” said Nadolo, 24. “It was a fantastic team effort, I was just fortunate to be on the end of a great line, it was all down to my teammates.

“Leading up to this tournament was nerve wracking, I’ve heard so much about the Hong Kong Tens and what a great tournament it is, so I was really buzzed to be playing.”

The star-studded BGC APBs line-up included All Blacks greats Mils Muliaina and Justin Marshall plus Rugby World Cup veterans from Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and the USA.

And they were coached by Tana Umaga, who played 74 tests – including 21 as captain – for New Zealand, and his former All Blacks teammate Filo Tiatia.

“I grew up idolising these guys so to be part of the same team as them was awesome,” added Nadolo. “I’m just a guy who likes to have fun and that is what I’ve done this week. It’s been an amazing experience.”

Nadolo has previously been on the books of the Waratahs in Super Rugby, French club Bourgoin-Jallieu and English team Exeter Chiefs. He currently plays for NEC Green Rockets in Japan and set a league record last December when scoring six tries in a game.

He has already appeared for Fiji at international level and harbours hopes of winning more caps. “I’ve played a couple of times for Fiji and I hope I’ll get another chance,” he said. “All I can do is my best and hopefully that will get me noticed.”

Nadolo’s two tries came early in the Cup final and it stayed 10-0 until half-time. But then a fired-up Legends team reduced the deficit to just three points soon after the break with a try from Dan Tuivabi that was converted by Trent Renata.

The BGC APBs had to dig deep when USA Eagles captain Todd Clever received a yellow card with three minutes remaining, but their defence held firm as the Legends swamped their line.

The Cup triumph was a sweet moment for the BGC APBs after they finished runners-up on their first appearance in the GFI HKFC Tens a year ago.

Skipper Marshall said the determination to go one better had been a factor. “That gave us extra motivation and we made reference to it in our build-up to this tournament,” said the scrumhalf, who won 81 caps for New Zealand in a stellar international career spanning a decade.

“We have some superstars in our team and some brilliant individuals but, at the end of the day, it was teamwork and our defence that won it for us.

“We felt we let our sponsors down a little bit by not winning last year so we wanted to right a wrong. We had the belief that we could do it this time.”

Marshall said he was not surprised by Nadolo’s performance. “I saw him play as a young kid about three years ago and he was just sensational, so it’s great to see he’s carried on from that.”

Nadolo was named Player of the Tournament and – completing a BGC APBs sweep of the awards – they also captured Try of the Tournament for the length-of-the-field effort that saw Seilala Mapusua touch down in their pool victory over Hill & Associates Scottish Barbarians.

The BGC APBs began the day with a 51-7 demolition of the International Panthers in the Cup quarter-finals – with Nadolo running in four tries and other scores coming from Viliami Ma’afu, Hale T-Pole, Vilimoni Delasau, Fa’atonu Fili and Clever.

Nadolo was on the scoresheet again in a 24-5 semi-final win over ULR Samurai International, with Ma’afu, Delasau and young Japanese hooker Tomohoro Kawanishi also touching down.

About BGC Partners

BGC Partners is a leading global brokerage company primarily servicing the wholesale financial markets. The Company specialises in the brokering of a broad range of products, including fixed income securities, interest rate swaps, foreign exchange, equities, equity derivatives, credit derivatives, commercial real estate, property derivatives, commodities, futures, and structured products. BGC also provides a full range of services, including trade execution, broker-dealer services, clearing, processing, information, and other back-office services to a broad range of financial and non-financial institutions. BGC’s integrated platform is designed to provide flexibility to customers with regard to price discovery, execution and processing of transactions, and enables them to use voice, hybrid, or in many markets, fully electronic brokerage services in connection with transactions executed either OTC or through an exchange. Through its eSpeed, BGC Trader™, and BGC Market Data brands, BGC offers financial technology solutions, market data, and analytics related to select financial instruments and markets. Through its Newmark Knight Frank brand, the Company offers commercial real estate tenants, owners, investors and developers a wide range of services including leasing and corporate advisory, investment sales and financial services, consulting, project and development management, and property and facilities management. BGC’s customers include many of the world’s largest banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments, corporations, property owners, real estate developers, and investment firms. Named after fixed income trading innovator B Gerald Cantor, BGC has offices in over 35 major markets, including New York and London, as well as in Atlanta, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dubai, Hong Kong, Houston, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Moscow, Nyon, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Washington DC and Zurich. For more information, please visit www.bgcpartners.com.

About APBs

Formed in 2010, the APBs are designed to showcase the vast array of rugby talent in Asia Pacific, with the occasional invited player from outside the region. Each squad typically contains household names and Rugby World Cup stars mixed with up-and-coming players from the emerging rugby nations, all infused with a commitment to demonstrate a true spirit of playing entertaining rugby. Off the field, the APBs are sociable, approachable and accessible to fans, and promote the game to players of all ages and abilities through coaching clinics and interaction with the rugby community. Crucially, the APBs carry a strong sense of social responsibility, seeking to ensure that their high profile and wide corporate connections allow various charities benefit from their activities.

-- ENDS --

Released on behalf of the BGC APBs by Two Up Front – Asia’s sports PR specialists.

BGC APBs coach Tana Umaga praised his team’s defence after the top seeds powered into the Cup quarter-finals at the GFI HKFC Tens on Wednesday (21 March).

A hard-fought 7-0 win over the Hill & Associates Scottish Barbarians in their last match of the day at Hong Kong Football Club ensured Umaga’s men finished top of Pool A with a 100 per cent record.

“We showed in our earlier games we can score a few points but our defence really stood up in that final game,” said Umaga, the former All Blacks captain.

“The Scottish Barbarians really challenged us up front, in the scrum and in the line-out drives, but our effort was huge, all the boys really worked hard.

“We know if we stop the opposition from scoring then we have the ability to strike from anywhere and that’s what we did towards the end. All the boys deserve a good rest after that, so we’ll relax tonight and look forward to tomorrow.”

The BGC APBs defended strongly against a fired-up Scottish Barbarians side and won the game with a brilliant breakout try from their own 22 with less than two minutes remaining.

Centre Seilala Mapusua – one of the stars of Samoa’s 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign – collected an astute pass from Kiwi flyhalf Stephen Brett after a rampaging run down the left wing by giant Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo. Brett added the simple conversion.

Mapusua paid tribute to Nadolo, who had scored four tries earlier in the day and was a constant threat every time he received the ball.

“We just have to give it to the big guy and back him up,” said Mapusua. “That’s probably one of the better tries I’ve scored.

“It’s good that the games have got progressively harder during the day. A few of the guys haven’t played intense rugby for a while and that was a hard workout.”

The BGC APBs – whose line-up includes All Blacks greats Mils Muliaina and Justin Marshall – will play the runners-up in Pool B, the International Panthers, in Thursday’s opening Cup quarter-final at 12:20pm.

Earlier on Wednesday, the BGC APBs began their campaign with a 51-0 victory over Playmore’s Shanghai Devils with Nadolo, Hale T-Pole and Alfred Dakuitoga each claiming a brace of tries with further scores from Brett, Todd Clever and Mapusua.

They then defeated the Irish Vikings 37-5 thanks to two more tries from Nadolo with John Carter, Brett, Clever, Dakuitoga and Junior Poluleuligaga also touching down.

About BGC Partners

BGC Partners is a leading global brokerage company primarily servicing the wholesale financial markets. The Company specialises in the brokering of a broad range of products, including fixed income securities, interest rate swaps, foreign exchange, equities, equity derivatives, credit derivatives, commercial real estate, property derivatives, commodities, futures, and structured products. BGC also provides a full range of services, including trade execution, broker-dealer services, clearing, processing, information, and other back-office services to a broad range of financial and non-financial institutions. BGC’s integrated platform is designed to provide flexibility to customers with regard to price discovery, execution and processing of transactions, and enables them to use voice, hybrid, or in many markets, fully electronic brokerage services in connection with transactions executed either OTC or through an exchange. Through its eSpeed, BGC Trader™, and BGC Market Data brands, BGC offers financial technology solutions, market data, and analytics related to select financial instruments and markets. Through its Newmark Knight Frank brand, the Company offers commercial real estate tenants, owners, investors and developers a wide range of services including leasing and corporate advisory, investment sales and financial services, consulting, project and development management, and property and facilities management. BGC’s customers include many of the world’s largest banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments, corporations, property owners, real estate developers, and investment firms. Named after fixed income trading innovator B Gerald Cantor, BGC has offices in over 35 major markets, including New York and London, as well as in Atlanta, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dubai, Hong Kong, Houston, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Moscow, Nyon, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Washington DC and Zurich. For more information, please visit www.bgcpartners.com.

About APBs

Formed in 2010, the APBs are designed to showcase the vast array of rugby talent in Asia Pacific, with the occasional invited player from outside the region. Each squad typically contains household names and Rugby World Cup stars mixed with up-and-coming players from the emerging rugby nations, all infused with a commitment to demonstrate a true spirit of playing entertaining rugby. Off the field, the APBs are sociable, approachable and accessible to fans, and promote the game to players of all ages and abilities through coaching clinics and interaction with the rugby community. Crucially, the APBs carry a strong sense of social responsibility, seeking to ensure that their high profile and wide corporate connections allow various charities benefit from their activities.

-- ENDS --

Released on behalf of the BGC APBs by Two Up Front – Asia’s sports PR specialists.

All Blacks great Justin Marshall is calling on his BGC APBs teammates to show “bonding and belief” in their quest to win the GFI HKFC Tens.

Marshall will be joined in a star-studded squad by 100-cap New Zealand legend Mils Muliaina and a host of other Rugby World Cup, Super Rugby and English Premiership veterans.

“We have some amazing talent in the BGC APBs team, players who can break open a game with a moment of individual brilliance,” said scrumhalf Marshall, who won 81 caps for New Zealand in a stellar international career spanning a decade.

“But you can have all the talent in the world, it will only get you so far if you don’t have bonding and belief as a group. It’s an old cliché, but a team will always beat a collection of individuals.

“We are here because we love the APBs brand and we want to entertain the fans and enjoy the tournament. But, make no mistake, there is a real desire among the players to do well.”

Besides Marshall and 2011 Rugby World Cup winner Muliaina, the BGC APBs have four other stars from last year’s World Cup, Samoan duo Seilala Mapusua and Junior Poluleuligaga, Tonga’s Viliami Ma’afu and USA captain Todd Clever.

A trio of Fijian flyers, 2005 RWC Sevens winner Vilimoni Delasau, giant winger Nemani Nadolo and promising youngster Alfred Dakuitoga, give the team massive try-scoring potential.

The squad’s international make-up is underscored by the presence of former Japan captain Takuro Miuchi and his young compatriot Tomohoro Kawanishi, together with English ace John Carter, the current Oxford University captain.

The BGC APBs are being coached by Tana Umaga, who played 74 tests – including 21 as captain – for New Zealand, and his former All Blacks teammate Filo Tiatia.

Marshall played for the APBs on their debut at last year’s Tens when they reached the Cup final and he is looking forward to another shot at the title.

“We had a great time and really enjoyed ourselves,” he said. “It’s such a fantastic tournament, and we get so well looked after, that it was easy to decide to come back.”

The BGC APBs will wear black armbands throughout the tournament as a mark of respect for Tonga’s King George Tupou V, who died in a Hong Kong hospital last Sunday.

“We have a number of Tongan players in our squad and we understand the reverence they have for their monarchy,” said Marshall. “We feel we should show our sympathy and support for them and the wearing of armbands is an appropriate and respectful gesture.”

The BGC APBs are the top draw in the GFI HKFC Tens, which takes place on Wednesday and Thursday at Hong Kong Football Club.

The team have three matches on Wednesday in Pool A – against Playmore’s Shanghai Devils at 11:00am, the Irish Vikings at 2:20pm and the Hill & Associates Scottish Barbarians at 7:20pm. The knockout rounds will be played on Thursday.

About BGC Partners

BGC Partners is a leading global brokerage company primarily servicing the wholesale financial markets. The Company specialises in the brokering of a broad range of products, including fixed income securities, interest rate swaps, foreign exchange, equities, equity derivatives, credit derivatives, commercial real estate, property derivatives, commodities, futures, and structured products. BGC also provides a full range of services, including trade execution, broker-dealer services, clearing, processing, information, and other back-office services to a broad range of financial and non-financial institutions. BGC’s integrated platform is designed to provide flexibility to customers with regard to price discovery, execution and processing of transactions, and enables them to use voice, hybrid, or in many markets, fully electronic brokerage services in connection with transactions executed either OTC or through an exchange. Through its eSpeed, BGC Trader™, and BGC Market Data brands, BGC offers financial technology solutions, market data, and analytics related to select financial instruments and markets. Through its Newmark Knight Frank brand, the Company offers commercial real estate tenants, owners, investors and developers a wide range of services including leasing and corporate advisory, investment sales and financial services, consulting, project and development management, and property and facilities management. BGC’s customers include many of the world’s largest banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments, corporations, property owners, real estate developers, and investment firms. Named after fixed income trading innovator B Gerald Cantor, BGC has offices in over 35 major markets, including New York and London, as well as in Atlanta, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dubai, Hong Kong, Houston, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Moscow, Nyon, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Washington DC and Zurich. For more information, please visit www.bgcpartners.com.

About APBs

Formed in 2010, the APBs are designed to showcase the vast array of rugby talent in Asia Pacific, with the occasional invited player from outside the region. Each squad typically contains household names and Rugby World Cup stars mixed with up-and-coming players from the emerging rugby nations, all infused with a commitment to demonstrate a true spirit of playing entertaining rugby. Off the field, the APBs are sociable, approachable and accessible to fans, and promote the game to players of all ages and abilities through coaching clinics and interaction with the rugby community. Crucially, the APBs carry a strong sense of social responsibility, seeking to ensure that their high profile and wide corporate connections allow various charities benefit from their activities.

-- ENDS --

Released on behalf of the BGC APBs by Two Up Front – Asia’s sports PR specialists.

BGC APBs coach Tana Umaga is promising the star-studded team will be fired up and ready to play when the GFI HKFC Tens begins on Wednesday.

The squad got their week off to a relaxed start today (19 March) with a light-hearted games lesson with primary school children followed by a gentle training run.

But Umaga is clear that the BGC APBs will be all business once the rugby starts. “We’ve got a lot of talent and experience in the squad and right now we are having fun, laughing and joking and getting to know one another,” he said.

“But these guys are professionals and, once the tournament begins, pride comes into it. They have that competitive edge and they will step up at the right time. We’re looking forward to the tournament.”

The BGC APBs are the top draw in the Tens, which will take place this Wednesday and Thursday at Hong Kong Football Club.

Their stellar line-up includes 2011 Rugby World Cup winner and 100-cap All Blacks legend Mils Muliaina and his former New Zealand teammate Justin Marshall.

They are joined by four other stars from last year’s World Cup, Samoan duo Seilala Mapusua and Junior Poluleuligaga, Tonga’s Viliami Ma’afu and USA captain Todd Clever.

A trio of Fijian flyers, 2005 RWC Sevens winner Vilimoni Delasau, giant winger Nemani Nadolo and promising youngster Alfred Dakuitoga, give the team massive try-scoring potential.

Umaga, meanwhile, played in 74 tests – including 21 as captain – for New Zealand between 1997 and 2005 and is joined on the coaching staff by his former All Blacks teammate Filo Tiatia.

The BGC APBs were all smiles as they played touch rugby and passing games with excited students at Bradbury School in Stubbs Road, Hong Kong, before heading off to a team training session at Happy Valley.

“It was great for the players and a good way to start the week,” said Umaga. “The kids were very receptive to rugby and we enjoyed interacting with them and getting to know each other at the same time. Rugby is great for bringing people together and that’s what we saw today.”

The BGC APBs will continue their build-up to the Tens with a training and meet-the-students session at Chinese International School in Braemar Hill from 11:45am on Tuesday.

About BGC Partners

BGC Partners is a leading global brokerage company primarily servicing the wholesale financial markets. The Company specialises in the brokering of a broad range of products, including fixed income securities, interest rate swaps, foreign exchange, equities, equity derivatives, credit derivatives, commercial real estate, property derivatives, commodities, futures, and structured products. BGC also provides a full range of services, including trade execution, broker-dealer services, clearing, processing, information, and other back-office services to a broad range of financial and non-financial institutions. BGC’s integrated platform is designed to provide flexibility to customers with regard to price discovery, execution and processing of transactions, and enables them to use voice, hybrid, or in many markets, fully electronic brokerage services in connection with transactions executed either OTC or through an exchange. Through its eSpeed, BGC Trader™, and BGC Market Data brands, BGC offers financial technology solutions, market data, and analytics related to select financial instruments and markets. Through its Newmark Knight Frank brand, the Company offers commercial real estate tenants, owners, investors and developers a wide range of services including leasing and corporate advisory, investment sales and financial services, consulting, project and development management, and property and facilities management. BGC’s customers include many of the world’s largest banks, broker-dealers, investment banks, trading firms, hedge funds, governments, corporations, property owners, real estate developers, and investment firms. Named after fixed income trading innovator B Gerald Cantor, BGC has offices in over 35 major markets, including New York and London, as well as in Atlanta, Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Copenhagen, Dubai, Hong Kong, Houston, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Mexico City, Miami, Moscow, Nyon, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Washington DC and Zurich. For more information, please visit www.bgcpartners.com.

About APBs

Formed in 2010, the APBs are designed to showcase the vast array of rugby talent in Asia Pacific, with the occasional invited player from outside the region. Each squad typically contains household names and Rugby World Cup stars mixed with up-and-coming players from the emerging rugby nations, all infused with a commitment to demonstrate a true spirit of playing entertaining rugby. Off the field, the APBs are sociable, approachable and accessible to fans, and promote the game to players of all ages and abilities through coaching clinics and interaction with the rugby community. Crucially, the APBs carry a strong sense of social responsibility, seeking to ensure that their high profile and wide corporate connections allow various charities benefit from their activities.

-- ENDS --

Released on behalf of the BGC APBs by Two Up Front – Asia’s sports PR specialists.