Advertisement
Advertisement
The event marks its 47th year in 2014, with the highlight being the Under-18 Hong Kong side versus the Under-19 overseas side. Photo: SCMP

Cream of crop takes centre stage on New Year's Day

The cream of youth rugby goes on display on New Year’s Day – with plenty at stake for the under-19 brigade.

The cream of youth rugby goes on display on New Year’s Day – with plenty at stake for the under-19 brigade.

The Prudential New Year’s Day showpiece is one of Hong Kong rugby’s most endearing – and enduring – traditions, marking its 47th year in 2014. The tournament comprises eight competitions for both boys and girls from U12s to U19s.

The U19 and U16 boys games are traditionally hotly contested affairs, pitting Hong Kong-based students against overseas-based students.

Adding even more spice to this year’s U19 match is the important opportunity to impress the national selectors ahead of Hong Kong’s participation in (and hosting of) the International Rugby Board Junior World Rugby Trophy in April 2014.

More than 200 players are involved in the eight matches with an estimated audience of 2,000 ringing in the New Year by showing their support at the Hong Kong Football Club.

Hong Kong-born and raised Graeme Morrison, a veteran of previous New Year’s Day tournaments who would later represent Scotland, fondly remembers playing with his “buddies for the love of the game”.

“My first real experiences of representative rugby were in the New Year’s Day tournament. I have been playing professionally for over a decade and whilst I have so many amazing memories that I have gathered on my rugby journey, the games like the New Year’s Day tournament, where I was playing with my close buddies for the love of the game, rank very highly amongst them.

“My best wishes to all Hong Kong families in the New Year. Enjoy the day and the rugby,” said Morrison.

Standing tall at the end of the day will be the recipient of the Larry Abel Award for the best and fairest player. Many winners of the award have graduated to represent Hong Kong at senior level, including Keith Robertson, Tom McColl, Kenzo Pannell, Chan Fuk-ping, Lee Cheuk-yin and Natasha Olson-Thorne (the first female recipient of the ward in 2010).

Match schedule

10:00 Girls under-12: Island Lions vs Peninsula Dragons.

10:55 Boys under-12: Island Lions vs Peninsula Dragons

11:50 Girls under-14: Island Lions vs Peninsula Dragons

12:55 Boys under-14: Island Lions vs Peninsula Dragons

14:00 Girls under-16: Island Lions vs Peninsula Dragons

15:15 Boys under-16: Hong Kong vs Overseas

16:30 Girls Under-19: Lions vs Dragons

18:00 Boys: Under-18 Hong Kong vs Under-19 Overseas

Post