The Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) and the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) today inaugurated the Elite Rugby Training Centre at THEi campus in Kowloon Tong. 

The purpose-built 4,136 square foot facility will house the HKRU’s Elite Rugby Programme (ERP), a new professional rugby scheme designed to support the continued development of the fifteen-aside game in Hong Kong. The ERP is the first fully professional fifteens platform in Hong Kong Rugby Union history.

With state-of-the-art facilities including a gymnasium, a rehabilitation and physiotherapy suite, an indoor pitch space and administrative offices, the ERTC facility provides a bespoke centre for the continued advancement of Hong Kong Rugby and its leading players.

The partnership also enables the HKRU coaches, administrators and players involved to benefit from the elite sports science expertise at THEi, as well as providing an additional world-class training facility for Hong Kong’s performance XVs teams across the Men’s and Women’s teams at both senior and age grade levels.

Attending today’s opening ceremony for the ERTC were Professor David Lim, President of THEi, Professor Peter Cheng, Dean of Faculty of Management and Hospitality at THEi and Mr Pieter Schats and Mr Vern Reid, HKRU Chairman and CEO respectively, along with representatives from the HKRU Board and Faculty Deans, Department Heads and Programme Leaders at THEi. 

“The collaboration provides students with a vital platform for enhanced development in Sports Therapy, Sports Coaching, Recreation Management and related fields,” said THEi President Professor David Lim, “enabling our students to apply specialised knowledge and skills to real-world issues.”

“The partnership with the Technological and Higher Education Institute is an ideal fit,” said HKRU Chairman Mr Pieter Schats. “THEi’s Sports and Recreation department is truly world class and the new facility is an important addition to our resources as it comes at a great time for us given Hong Kong Rugby’s rapid growth.

“This premier facility will provide a tremendous boost to the HKRU domestic league and will also be used by many of our nationals squads,” added Mr Schats.

The Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) 

The Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi) is a member of VTC Group. It offers vocationally-oriented degree programmes across three faculties: Design and Environment, Management and Hospitality, and Science and Technology. The programmes are offered in areas where the VTC has strengths and in growth industries in Hong Kong and the region. They combine knowledge acquisition and practical applications that enables students to grow into professionally-competent graduates. With its strong links with industry partners, THEi provides students with a vital platform for enhancing their development. 

About the Hong Kong Rugby Union

Founded in 1952, the Hong Kong Rugby Union is a member of the International Rugby Board and a founding member of the Asian Rugby Football Union. The HKRU is committed to developing rugby in Hong Kong and throughout Asia. The HKRU is the organizer of the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens and the only international rugby union to have hosted two Rugby World Cup Sevens events (1997 and 2005). Apart from organising two Bledisloe Cup matches in 2008 and 2010, the HKRU hosted the first-ever British & Irish Lions game played in Asia in 2013.