HSBC Joins HKFC World Youth 10s Tournament as Founding Partner

The HKFC World Youth 10s 2026 takes place from 11-12 April at several venues across the city in Hong Kong, and they are proud to announce that HSBC has come on board as the founding partner of the tournament, while also confirming celebrated ambassadors who have partnered and will be in attendance.

All Photo Credit – HKFC

With 230 youth rugby teams registered for the tournament in 2026, in addition to the strong local club presence, there are 25 international teams joining from Australia, the US, Malaysia, and Singapore. 

The weekend will also see special appearances from several new tournament ambassadors. Among them are Rugby 7s Olympians, players and teams who will be competing in the Hong Kong Sevens Rugby Week.

What HSBC Brings to the Table?

Andrea De Vincentiis, MD, Global Head of Brand Partnerships for HSBC, said of why they chose to come on board as the Founding Partner of the HKFC World Youth 10s, “Hong Kong has always held a special place in HSBC’s story; as a city, as a market, and as a home for rugby. 

When we look at what the HKFC World Youth 10s represents, we see something that speaks directly to what we believe sport should do – create opportunity, build community, and invest in the next generation. We’ve been part of the rugby ecosystem for over 20 years, and founding partnerships like this one are how we put that long-term commitment into practice.”

The HKFC World Youth 10s 2026 organisers said of having such a globally recognised partner on board, “To have such an institution show their support for our tournament and vision gives us confidence that we can grow this event into the biggest and best youth rugby festival in the world. 

HSBC have supported rugby in Hong Kong and the world for so many years, and to have their name associated with the HKFC World Youth 10s brings us all immense pride. We are extremely grateful for their support and partnership.”

International Teams Flock to HKFC World Youth 10s 2026

In terms of the level of local and international participation and what it says about where the tournament is heading, the organisers added, “Our first-ever edition of the international event was last year in 2025, where we had 3 overseas clubs attend. To see the rapid growth to 25 overseas teams in such a short space of time fills us with enormous excitement as to the potential of the HKFC World Youth 10s. 

Being able to kick off ‘Rugby Week’ in Hong Kong by celebrating youth rugby gives us hope that we can only get bigger and better.”

For both the young players and their families who are coming to attend, there is a lot to look forward to across the venues in Hong Kong.

“Hong Kong has always had an impressive, diverse and expansive youth rugby community. We hope that teams visiting from overseas can enjoy and appreciate the rugby culture that exists in Hong Kong and spread the rugby gospel further and wider. 

The 2026 event is a true Hong Kong city-wide event with matches taking place at the HKFC, in Happy Valley, Causeway Bay, SCAA and Sandy Bay. 

With the Tradition HKFC Tens and Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong 7s around the corner, our young players and families can make the most of Rugby Week and enjoy the rugby and our country for more than just one weekend. Everyone might even be lucky enough to spot some current and former international players in and around the tournament. Don’t forget to look out for all of those future international rugby players as well!”

A Great Addition To the Hong Kong Rugby Week & Alignment with HSBC’s Commitments

HSBC has a long-standing relationship with Rugby 7s, as Andrea De Vincentiis, MD, Global Head of Brand Partnerships for HSBC, explained. 

He agrees that the HKFC Global Youth 10s tournament is a natural extension of HSBC’s work in creating a platform for young players to continue their journey, experience competition, and deepen their connection to the game.

He explained the three core reasons why pairing with the youth tournament fits into HSBC’s wider sporting and community commitments in Hong Kong.

1. Hong Kong Rugby Week is a genuine landmark on the global sporting calendar, and HSBC has been proud to be part of it for more than two decades. Our commitment to rugby in this city has never just been about the elite game. The youth tournament sits at the heart of what we’re trying to build – a pipeline of players, fans, and communities who feel that rugby belongs to them.
2. That commitment is already well established through the HSBC Try Rugby Programme. Since 2017, more than 77,000 primary school children across 380 local schools in Hong Kong have taken part, helping to introduce the sport to a new generation and broaden its reach across the community. 
3. Our platform this season is built around celebrating the cities that make SVNS what it is, and Hong Kong is one of the most vibrant of all. Investing in its young rugby players ensures that celebration has a lasting impact, well beyond a single weekend.

HKFC World Youth 10s Ambassadors Confirmed

The tournament is also delighted to announce world-class ambassadors who will be making appearances at the tournament this weekend. 

The full list of the HKFC World Youth 10s 2026 ambassadors includes:

• Alicia Lucas
• Jordan Conroy
• Harry McNulty
• Charli Jacoby
• Lori Cramer
• Bryan Bryne
• Sofie Fella
• HKCR Boys
• Fiji Mens & Womens 7s
• Denmark Womens 7s
• HKFC 10s International Players

2016 Olympic gold medalist in Rugby 7s, Alicia Lucas, who is also a HSBC Brand Ambassador and a well-known rugby pundit, as well as former Irish 7s player and Rugby 7s Olympian, Jordan Conroy (who will also be playing at the Tradition HKFC 10s 2026 for SHRM Overseas Old Boys) will be at the tournament as official ambassadors. 

You can see them in the fan zone, where you might be surprised by some guest rugby player appearances over the two days.

Alicia said of what it means to be an ambassador for the HKFC World Youth 10s, and to be visible at a youth tournament that includes players from various groups spanning U5 to U18, “Youth participation is the future of our great game. I didn’t start playing rugby until I was 18 years old, and it completely changed my life. Still now, at 34, it continues to enrich it. 

I wish I had exposure to the game earlier and had been able to build confidence in my contact skills from a younger age. It is also a great opportunity for children of all ages to learn fantastic life skills of competing, working hard, showing up for their teammates, resilience and ultimately how to have fun doing so,” added Alicia Lucas.

Jordan Conroy commented on what it means to personally be involved in the tournament like this at the grassroots level, “As an ambassador, it’s always important to me to try and inspire the next generation coming up in the sporting world. I want to be able to excite the young players to be great, to have fun and enjoy the game they play. 

By giving them a tournament such as this, I think it gives them a taste of the experience that can come if they really want to pursue a future career in the rugby world. It teaches them a lot of lessons, not just on the pitch but about life. 

Allowing them to grow as players and having such insight & exposure to such an experience at an early age, in my opinion, is a great learning curve. We want the younger generations to excel in sports. The HKFC World Youth 10s tournament allows us to give them that, and being on board as an ambassador gives me great pleasure,” said the two-time Olympian, Conroy.

Make The Most of the Youth Tournament and Have Fun

In terms of what the hope is for the young players and their clubs to take away from being part of this HSBC-backed tournament, Andrea De Vincentiis surmised, “We hope they take away the feeling that the sport and HSBC are genuinely behind them and that the people and organisations who care about rugby’s future are paying attention, not just to the stars on the pitch today, but to the players who will define the game tomorrow. 

We also want them to understand that the opportunities rugby creates don’t end when the final whistle blows. Through our work with partners like the Global Rugby Players Foundation, we’re focused on supporting players throughout their careers and beyond.”

Jordan agreed and said these tournaments and experiences shaped his love for the game. “For me, growing up playing tournaments, it was nothing but excitement. Playing with my teammates and making memories, and of course, the chance of winning silverware was always a goal. 

It gave me things to work towards, allowing me to show off my hard work along with my team. Having such a tournament to do so drove me to be better for the next tournament. When I was a young player, I wanted to thrive for greatness. I wanted to play all the time. To this day, I remember these tournaments because they are for life. It’s so important for young people to have these opportunities to express themselves, not just for them but also for their parents and families.”

Jordon Conroy added, “My message to everyone playing at the HKFC World Youth 10s is very simple – I want them to take as much enjoyment and fun from this experience. The excitement of playing in front of crowds and being up against other opposition – they should all take it in. The main focus is just to enjoy the game and be present. Win, lose or draw, it’s about enjoying the game of rugby and becoming better each game.”

Alicia also stressed the importance for young girls in rugby to see professional women players showing up at events like this, saying, “It’s incredibly important to show them that the pathway exists if they choose to pursue it. I didn’t know there was an Australian Women’s Rugby team until I was invited to trial for it. It is critical that we show girls and women of all ages that they can be anything they want to be and share stories of what it takes to get there. 

My main message would be to enjoy the hard work of competing, remember to back yourself and never stop learning. Rugby is fun, exciting and one of the best sports to do with your mates.”

Hong Kong Sevens Week 2026

• Get Excited For The HKFC Youth 10s 2026.
• HKFC 10s Announces Title Sponsor Extension with Tradition Until 2028 – Three-Day Format in 2026 Kicks Off With 8 Women’s Matches.
• Tradition HKFC 10s 2026 Teams & Pools.
• 2026 Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens – Fan’s Guide On What You Need To Know.