What winning world games gold means to disciplined services side – and Hong Kong rugby
The internet connection between Fairfax in Virginia and Hong Kong has been buzzing overnight with the news that our disciplined services men’s sevens team struck gold at the World Police and Fire Games.
The internet connection between Fairfax in Virginia and Hong Kong has been buzzing overnight with the news that our disciplined services men’s sevens team struck gold at the World Police and Fire Games.
The Hong Kong lads won the Division 2 gold medal Thursday with a hard-fought 10-7 triumph in the final against the Royals, a services team from Berkshire in the UK.
This biennial multi-sport event is, in a good year, bigger than the Commonwealth Games. I’m not kidding – between the grand opening held on June 26 and this Sunday’s closing ceremony, Fairfax will have hosted 12,000 athletes from 70 countries competing in 61 sports.
There is traditionally a healthy Hong Kong delegation with police rugby teams competing at Stockholm in 1999 and Barcelona in 2003, and then competing as a combined disciplined services side in New York in 2011.
I know how much this will mean to the team – they’ve trained really hard in the lead up to the games
Four rugby teams took part this year, with the police also entering a men’s team alongside the disciplined services, plus the “Old Bill” veteran side and the police ladies.
This strong interest is a testament to the enthusiasm that has been built over the past few years by the Disciplined Services Rugby Committee, which brings together representatives from the police, fire services, customs, immigration, correctional services, civil aid and auxiliary police.
Each department, except for fire services, now plays touch rugby on the back of which there is an annual series of three indoor, outdoor and beach competitions.
Interest in contact rugby has also grown and each December a combined Services XV play the PLA for the TK Lai Cup. Plans are also now well advanced to enter this disciplined services team in the coming Hong Kong Rugby Football Union domestic league.
Hong Kong’s world games gold will undoubtedly act as a further boost to rugby’s local profile.
As my HKRFU colleague Andrew Li says: “I know how much this will mean to the team – they’ve trained really hard in the lead up to the games, with national team player Cado Lee [Ka-to] coaching them. The next WPFG is in Montreal and then in 2019 it’s coming to Chengdu, China for the first time, so there’s plenty to look forward to in the next few years.”
Rugby is currently the only sport that brings together the different services on a regular basis, and it provides a valuable opportunity to foster understanding and friendship between officers away from their often stressful and pressurised jobs.
The world games offers a similar environment on an international scale, and this week will see sport unite men and women from law enforcement and fire services, playing and socialising together – united by the brotherhood, and sisterhood, of blue.
Guns ’n’ Hoses forever!
