Hong Kong Rugby Union 2020-21 Season
![Hong Kong Rugby Union](https://www.rugbyasia247.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/HKRU-logo.jpg)
The Hong Kong Rugby Union *HKRU) 2020-21 season is due to start on November 7th 2020 if there are no increased spikes in COVID-19.
The Hong Kong government recently relaxed the COVID-19 pandemic control measures for sports venues. Before the rugby season can get underway, a 4-week ‘return to play’ protocol will need to be put in place, hence the potential November start date.
Hong Kong Rugby Union 2020-21 Season
The rugby union seasons for all HKRU competitions should resume if the situation remains stable:
- Saxo Markets Men’s Premiership
- KPMG Women’s Premiership
- Youth leagues
Rugby Clubs in Hong Kong
A number of the Hong Kong-based clubs are also celebrating milestone seasons in 2020.
- Valley RFC is celebrating its 45th year as a club.
- Kowloon RFC is in its 44th year as a rugby club in HK.
- Hong Kong Football Club (HKFC) is marking its 134th year!
- Hong Kong Scottish is relatively young but celebrates a decade as a club.
HKRU Leagues
The full list of HKRU leagues listed are:
Men’s
- Saxo Markets Men’s Premiership
- Saxo Markets Men’s Premiership A
- Championship
- Championship A
- National League
- Community League 1
- Community League 2
- Community League 3
Women’s
- KPMG Women’s Premiership
- KPMG Women’s NL 1
- KPMG Women’s NL 2
Age Grade
- Tertiary
- Schools
- Junior
- U14 Premiership
- U16 Premiership
- U19 Premiership
- U14 Championship
- U16 Championship
- U14 Girl’s League
- U16 Girl’s League
- U19 Girl’s League
If the season does go ahead, rugby fans will be able to live-stream the men’s and women’s premiership games on the HKRU’s social media. It’s unclear when spectators could return to watch games live.
What are the Return to Play protocols?
![HKRU Return to Play protocols](https://www.rugbyasia247.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/HKRU-Return-To-Rugby-Protocol.jpg)
HKRU Return to Play protocols
The HKRU released a five-phase “Return to Rugby Roadmap” with information such as hygiene practices, safety guidelines (including medical declarations and club checklists) and contingency plans for clubs should a player test positive in future.
HKRU chief executive officer Robbie McRobbie told the SCMP (the HKRU media partner), “The announcement of the reopening of private recreational lease venues – which included our own King’s Park, Tin Shui Wai and Hong Kong Football Club grounds – was the first opportunity for us to get players back on the pitch since the brief period we had in early July.”
Additional [LCSD] football and rugby pitches also opened up which have allowed the rugby union to move from phase two to three in their Covid-19 return-to-play protocols.
The HKRU Rugby Academy e-learning
Like all rugby unions, the HKRU have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic by moving rugby courses and other resources online. The Hong Kong Rugby Union Rugby Academy e-learning offers Coaching, Refereeing, and Teaching resources for rugby enthusiasts.
Asian rugby news
- Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2021.
- HKRU: Strategic Research Study findings.
- Karina Soerjanatamihardja: Growth of Women’s Rugby in Indonesia.
- ChildFund Pass It Back: Creating Rugby Pathways