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[2021年1月18日,香港] 隨著「2019新型冠狀病毒」疫情大流行對財政和物流的影響日益加劇,香港欖球總會(欖總)將旗下的全職男子十五人欖球代表隊項目轉型至半全職形式,「精英十五人欖球計劃」將待現時職球員合約在2021年6月30日屆滿後結束。

因疫情大流行而對欖球日程產生前所未有的影響 (包括「國泰航空/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽」連番延期、啟德體育城的商業不確定性、「環球極速欖球」(Global Rapid Rugby)停辦、「2023世界盃外圍賽」延期10個月和「亞太欖球錦標賽」(Asia Pacific Rugby Championship)最少延後至2023年 – 以及本地保就業計劃結束和計劃營運成本,令欖總不能持續地為此聘用30名全職球員。
欖總主席唐諾生(Patrick Donovan)表示:「當我們評估疫情大流行對欖球運動最新影響之際亦是全球欖球的不明朗時期。「新型冠狀病毒」疫情令舉辦『香港國際七人欖球賽』的財政壓力持續增加,在『環球極速欖球』停辦和『世界盃外圍賽』由2021年11月延期至2022年8月的雙重打擊下,令原本佔百分之95的收入雪上加霜。」
「這些非常情況令我們必須改變現行模式以保持長遠的財政可持續性。作出這艱難決定後,我們已盡快知會受影響的職球員,一起支持這轉型至其他機會。」
欖總會履行受影響的職球員合約,包括提供全額健康保險和強積金供款,並將會為這轉型提供廣泛和個人化的支援。
獲香港體育學院資助的男女子七人欖球項目和香港女子十五人欖球代表隊項目則不受影響。
於2016年推行的「精英十五人欖球計劃」目的是提升本地欖球水平和吸引冒起的欖球人才留港發展,並且達到大部份目標。
在全球體育界面對巨大財政壓力下而要繼續應付計劃的龐大支出,因而令欖總要為保障財政穩健而作出這艱難決定。欖總亦正評估日後的半職業化模式。
縱使「精英十五人欖球計劃」球員的比賽機會自2020年3月開始銳減,但在政府的保就業計劃支援下,欖總過去一年保留了計劃的全體職球員,並會在6月尾合約完結時開始轉型至半職業化。「精英十五人欖球計劃」的現行球員合約屆滿後將不會續約。
球員福利是「精英十五人欖球計劃」的主要宗旨並會貫徹始終,欖總會為球員提供個人化和專業職場支援,即時協助他們轉型至半職業化。
欖總接洽了人力資源公司Leathwaite提供職場規劃顧問服務,包括發展進修課程、面試培訓和於轉型期間與本地顧主交際機會。
唐諾生續說:「這並非輕率決定,球員福利向來備受重視,這是對『精英十五人欖球計劃』未來的一個非常困難和經歷了長期的討論。這是我們會堅決履行的事情。」
欖總會繼續派遣男女子代表隊參賽,繼續保持作為繼日本之後亞洲排名最高的隊伍的爭勝心,以及以晉身未來「世界盃」決賽週為目標。
經過漫長阻滯,一旦「亞洲欖球錦標賽」如期於5月上演,港隊將精銳盡出力圖衛冕。
今次轉型是繼去年4月欖總重組行政人員架構後的另一節流舉措,該次重組涉及所有部門進行裁員和減薪,希望在不穩定的營運環境下達至收支平衡。
資料及相片來源 : Elite Step Asia Limited / Hong Kong Rugby Union