Handshake deal that led to riches for Hong Kong Rugby Football Union

A gentlemen's agreement struck soon after the first Hong Kong Sevens in 1976, between the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union and its first title sponsors Cathay Pacific and Rothmans, paved the way for the present financial clout of local rugby, HKRFU president Brian Stevenson revealed yesterday.

Recounting the early years at yesterday's community celebrations at King's Park to conclude the 60th anniversary of the HKRFU, Stevenson said it was decided then that all profits from the tournament would be kept by the union.

"We made a few thousand dollars in profit from the 1976 tournament and the sponsors agreed that all the money should go to the union. This has enabled us to develop rugby in Hong Kong today." Stevenson said.

From small beginnings - the profits from the 1976 tournament were around HK$6,000 - the HKRFU today boasts total net assets of HK$273 million. A large part of this money is ploughed back into the development of the game and into the community.

Yesterday cheques totalling HK$13 million were handed out to three schools - KGV (HK$10 million), South Island School (HK$2 million) and YMCA Christian College in Lantau (HK$1 million) - by the HKRFU to develop sports facilities. In the past 10 years, the HKRFU has spent more than HK$100 million in developing playing facilities.

"We are able to do this thanks to the Hong Kong Sevens. The union was formed in 1952 and soon after a team from Hong Kong toured Japan, our first official tour. If those guys were around today they would be amazed at how far rugby in Hong Kong has developed," Stevenson said.