All Hong Kong rugby activity suspended until further notice as government tightens Covid-19 restrictions
- The Hong Kong Rugby Union confirms ‘it will not be possible to play games’ in current Covid-19-impacted climate
- Initial postponement will last at least until December 15 or ‘until the restrictions are relaxed and the pitches reopen’
The Hong Kong domestic men’s and women’s rugby leagues will be postponed until further notice after further tightening of government Covid-19 restrictions, organisers have confirmed.
As of December 2, in tandem with the city’s new social distancing restrictions for outdoor team sports, the Hong Kong Rugby Union “will suspend all rugby and touch rugby activities at all levels … until such time as the restrictions are relaxed and the pitches reopen”.
The subsequent temporary closure of Leisure and Cultural Services Department venues also influenced the Union’s decision, with two of its three prearranged venues used for rugby training and matches this season off the cards until further notice.
“We understand that the government has further tightened social distancing restrictions in relation to outdoor team sports – with effect from [December 2] it will not be possible to play games and all activity will be limited to groups of 2 [persons],” the Union said in an official statement.
“In addition, the Home Affairs Bureau have announced that all outdoor grass pitches, and a wide range of other sport venues, are closed from [December 2] until further notice – this includes both LCSD [Leisure and Cultural Services Department] and non-LCSD venues such as our King’s Park and Tin Shui Wai Community Sports Grounds.”
The top two domestic leagues were scheduled to play round five on December 5, while training across all age groups had slowly resumed over the last month.
