Hong Kong in New International Rugby Initiative

The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union (HKRFU) has confirmed its participation in a new global rugby initiative, the Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations tournament, which will take place in Dubai next month.

The Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations will feature four ambitious National XV’s teams: Kenya (Confederation of African Rugby), Brazil (Confederación Sudamericana de Rugby), UAE and Hong Kong Kong (Asian Rugby Football Union).

“We are delighted to be participating in the inaugural Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations in Dubai. The competition against Kenya, Brazil and the UAE will further improve our preparations for the HSBC Asian Five Nations and the upcoming qualification process for Rugby World Cup 2015,” said Trevor Gregory, Chairman of the HKRFU. “It is increasingly vital that teams get as much exposure to high-level test rugby as possible and the intensity of the competition, which will see each team play three matches within a week, will prove important in competitions later on in the year.”

The participation in the Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations will replace Hong Kong’s end-of-year European Tours which have seen the 27th-ranked side play Czech Republic, Germany, Holland and Norway in the past two years.

Mark Egan, IRB's Head of Development and Performance, said, “Cross Regional competition between nations of a similar IRB ranking will allow us to benchmark these unions against each other and see how they are progressing. We are particularly excited to see Brazil participating as this is a targeted union within the IRB strategic investment programme and we are already beginning to see improved international performances from both their sevens and fifteens programmes.”

The week-long Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations will take place from 9 - 16 December 2011 after the HSBC World Sevens Series’ Dubai Sevens event.

Emirates Airlines Cup of Nations Schedule

10 December - Brazil v Kenya 13.00
10 December - Hong Kong v UAE 15.00
13 December - Hong Kong v Kenya 18.00
13 December - UAE v Brazil 20.00
16 December - UAE v Kenya 15.00
16 December - Hong Kong v Brazil 17.00

The competition is fully sanctioned by the International Rugby Board.

See recent travel news from: Travel News Asia, Hong Kong, Emirates, Rugby