Client News
Rwandan Silverbacks planning Hong Kong return
Hong Kong, 1 April 2010 - We’ll be back! That was the message from the Rwandan rugby team as they prepared to fly home on Thursday (1 April) from their groundbreaking tour to Hong Kong.
The Silverbacks made a huge impression both on and off the pitch during the 11-day trip – their first outside East Africa – and already plans are under way to make it an annual event.
“This visit to Hong Kong has been unbelievable, a fantastic rugby experience and an incredible life experience, for all the players,” said captain Djuma-Adams Mugabo.
“We had a great time playing, we received some top-level coaching and we’re going back with coaching certificates so that we can teach youngsters the basics of the game and build the future of Rwandan rugby.
“In addition, we’ve made many new friends and have enjoyed being in this magnificent city. For many of the players, it’s been their first trip on an aeroplane, a train and a boat. This tour is something we will never forget.
“If the people who have helped us come to Hong Kong can do so again, then it would be an absolute pleasure for us to return. We would like to build on this and bring new, up-and-coming players so that they can benefit from this sort of experience as well.”
Project organiser Dave Hughes, a Hong Kong-born rugby enthusiast and Rwanda volunteer worker, insisted it would become an annual tour.
“The trip has been an overwhelming success,” he said. “The guys have been superb ambassadors for their country, they have impressed people with their rugby and they have made a lot of new friends.
“The interest from the media and public has been exceptional, the Hong Kong rugby community has reached out in an amazing way and we have enjoyed some healthy corporate support.
“The challenge now is to grow rugby in Rwanda – increasing the number of young players, improving the coaching structure and adding new facilities. Making this tour an annual event is a key component of that.”
Top of Hughes’ list is sourcing land in the capital, Kigali, for a dedicated rugby pitch and securing the funds to build it.
The Silverbacks – named after Rwanda’s signature mountain gorillas – finished as Plate runners-up in the inProjects Kowloon RugbyFest, a 10-a-side tournament in Hong Kong featuring 14 teams from around the world.
South African rugby great Bob Skinstad was among the impressed spectators and immediately gave them an open invitation to play in the Cape Town Tens, the tournament he co-founded last year.
The Rwandans also trained with two elite touring teams, Aliens from New Zealand and Penguins from the UK, while Penguins staff put them through a first-level IRB coaching course.
The team then attended the world famous Hong Kong Sevens courtesy of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union, who waived the cost of tickets.
In addition, HKRFU director of development Ruth Mitchell organised a huge collection of playing kit and boots for the players to take back to Rwanda.
“The response from the rugby community was overwhelming,” revealed Mitchell. “Clubs like Valley and DeA Tigers donated whole packages of unused team kit. We ended up with about 40 bin bags full of shirts, shorts and socks, all either brand new or laundered and ready for use.”
Kowloon RFC, the hosts of RugbyFest, helped the Rwandans by waiving the tournament entry fee and sourcing corporate sponsorship. Companies backing the project included Silver Heritage, KPMG, Blank Rome and G4S.
The squad were given a free minibus for their entire visit courtesy of Woodland Pre-Schools and at RugbyFest they played in a pristine new strip designed and produced at minimal cost by Tsunami Sport.
As the Silverbacks headed for the airport, Hughes was already thinking ahead. “There’s a huge amount of work to do but the Hong Kong tour has given us great momentum,” he said. “This is just the beginning.”
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Released on behalf of the Rwandan Silverbacks by Two Up Front – Asia’s sports PR specialists.