中國香港欖球總會發布全新發展策略Hong Kong China Rugby Releases New Strategic Plan
制定策略把握未來十年，並於一至兩年內採取短期行動以啟動進程
為香港欖球運動的長期健康發展，打造可持續未來，並最大程度優化欖球運動帶來的正面社會影響
中國香港欖球總會（欖總）近日發布全新的十年策略計劃，為香港欖球運動的可持續未來奠定基礎，同時在未來一至兩年内應對短期問題及挑戰。
中國香港欖球總會董事局於3月初的會議完成該發展策略的審批程序，並於3月18日的社區會議中，與欖球界成員討論策略細節。
經過董事局及管理層歷時逾六個月的審議及微調，以及欖球界和其他利益持份者的廣泛參與，該策略計劃內容現已悉數敲定。
該發展策略首次將中國香港欖球總會的宗旨定義為「透過欖球運動，致力為香港創造正面社會影響」。 而欖總的使命則為「在香港建立一個緊密相連、可持續發展的欖球發展體系」。
該策略建基於三大支柱——「社區和參與」、「可持續發展」及「代表隊欖球」—三大支柱互相支撐，以提升社區參與、額外的資金及收入，及提升代表隊成績。
「社區和參與」的目標是透過加強互動、提升參與及留任球員，以最大限度優化欖球運動的社會影響力。一系列舉措包括通過地區中心在當區推動欖球運動的發展，提升女運動員和女學生的參與度，利用七人欖球項目提升本地學校及大專院校的參與度，並推動本地學校、大學及大灣區球會融入本地球會社區和賽事。
2024—25年球季將實行以下措施，包括增配資源，為青少年及成人欖球會重新制定資助制度，以及幫助支付組建隊伍的費用，長遠而言，為球會分配適當資源。
我們將通過設立由球會、學校組成的非撞式欖球比賽，將非撞式欖球推廣至小型欖球社區；同時，我們還將把七人欖球比賽納入本地成人級別欖球聯賽，以更好地協調所有欖球運動形式（非撞式欖球、7人欖球和15人欖球），通過一項新的舉措促進球員融入社區、逐步成長。
欖總將於 2024-25 年在天水圍運動場開展「先導地區中心」模式，透過協調學校、球會及設施，確保項目及資源匹配，以更好地發展及協調欖球生態。在可行的前提下，從「先導地區中心」模式汲取的經驗將迅速在香港得以推廣。在資源（基礎設施、人員）到位的情況下，欖總計劃設立六大地區中心。
第二支柱的目標是確保中國香港欖球總會能夠實現長期的可持續發展。終極目標是在收入多元化的基礎上，實現不僅從國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽，還有第二個大型年度活動及欖總數碼平台這這三大收入來源，提升年度盈餘。
欖總致力推動在治理、社會影響及環境領域的可持續發展，矢志成為體育業界可持續發展的領導者。為加強治理能力，欖總在 2023-24 年球季引入獨立董事制度以及修改超級聯賽制度；最近，男子社區聯賽、女子社區聯賽及青少年欖球的新治理架構亦已獲得批准。
2024-26年期間的舉措包括起草可持續發展計劃、制定及實施社會影響評估框架，以及確保計劃與世界欖球總會的環境和社會措施計劃方向一致；並更好地利用技術及數據，加強溝通並開發電子商務機遇。未來，還將制定並通過關於如何加强與大灣區互動的策略。
在賽事方面，欖總將為國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽制定產品策略，最大限度發揮遷移至啟德體育園的機遇；同時，務求在欖球賽程上，打造另一項大型年度賽事。
「代表隊欖球」支柱則致力打造「香港榜樣」的形象，激勵大眾參與欖球運動。代表隊設定下列目標：獲得2028年男子七人欖球及2032年女子七人欖球的奧運資格；2026年亞運會男子冠軍及2030年亞運會女子七人欖球冠軍，並保持七人欖球在香港體育學院的「A級」精英體育項目地位；在十五人欖球方面，將致力加快支援女子代表隊及女子超級聯賽，以獲得 2025年及2029 年女子欖球世界盃的參賽資格的機會。另一目標是確保男子十五人欖球代表隊繼續保持高度競爭力，在地區及國際賽事均表現出色，在全球欖球格局演變的大環境下，把握時機。
措施包括增加本地男、女15人及7人欖球明星的社區曝光度，以提升大眾對比賽的興趣、提高參與度，擴大球迷基礎；促進本地及香港合資格球員的發展途徑、發展跨境賽事、創建更多國際比賽機會；度身訂造教練教育計劃，對比賽官員給予結構性支持，以及推動本地球證發展計劃。
中國香港欖球總會主席蒲敬思 （Chris Brooke ）表示，發展策略提供一個綜合框架，以鞏固及發展本地的欖球運動，並透過擴展該運動，為社區帶來最大的社會效益，同時應對短期挑戰。
蒲敬思表示：「香港擁有出色的欖球社區。我們不但投入賽事、亦致力發展及支持此項運動，同時樂見透過欖球運動、建立友誼及提供服務，為更廣泛的社區帶來的好處。」
「受新冠疫情影響，本地欖球會遭受嚴重打擊，這也確切影響到中國香港欖球總會的財務健康。現時，我們仍努力擺脫疫情的衝擊， 因此，發展策略增設系列舉措，向球會提供更多財政支援及其他支持，以幫助重建及發展本地欖球社區。
「我們明白需要開發一個更穩健的財務模型，以維持中國香港欖球總會的營運及未來眾多的、更廣泛的計劃。移遷至啟德體育園以後，我們將盡最大限度、發揮國泰/滙豐香港國際七人欖球賽之優勢，發展及改進七人欖球產品，以及增加球迷參與度，並開拓全新的收入來源。」
蒲敬思表示，欖總期待地區中心的成立，以創建一個綜合欖球生態系統，並藉加強學校、大專教育機構及球會之間的聯繫，更妥善協調設施使用。同時，亦為非撞式欖球、7人欖球及15人欖球提供更完善的參與途徑。 另外，欖總亦會投放更多資源發展女子比賽，提升教練標準及增加比賽官員的培訓。
他續指：「透過一個更完整的綜合系統，我們可以幫助中國香港欖球總會壯大人才庫，在亞洲達到新高度，以至未來爭取『奧運會七人欖球賽』資格，另在爭取『欖球世界盃15人欖球賽』參賽資格的旅途上，具備強勁的競爭力。」
「透過提升表現，我們樹立榜樣，激勵大眾作為運動員或義工，參與其中；同時，明確地展示欖球作爲香港首屈一指團隊運動的地位；並為中國香港欖球總會提供機遇及平台，分享關於體育為更廣泛社區帶來的好處，以及球員和球隊登場國際舞台的精彩故事。
此發展策略刊於中國香港欖球總會網站：點擊下載報告
資料及相片來源 : 中國香港欖球總會
10-year strategy with short-term action over next 1-2 years to kick start process
Aims to build sustainable future for the long-term health of rugby in Hong Kong and optimise positive social impact
Hong Kong China Rugby (HKCR) has recently released a new 10-year strategic plan that aims to lay the foundation for the sustainable future of rugby in Hong Kong, whilst also addressing short-term issues over the next one to two years.
The HKCR Board approved the plan at a meeting in March and discussed details with rugby community members at a Town Hall meeting on 18th March.
The strategic plan was finalised after more than six months of deliberation and refinement by the Board and senior management team, and engagement with the wider rugby community and other stakeholders.
For the first time, the strategic plan defines HKCR’s purpose as “optimising positive social impact for Hong Kong through rugby”. The HKCR’s mission is “to build a connected, sustainable ecosystem of rugby in Hong Kong”.
The plan has three pillars – Community and Participation, Sustainability, and Representative Rugby – mutually supporting each other to generate more participants at the community level, additional funding and revenue, and better representative performance.
The objective within the Community and Participation pillar is to optimise the societal impact of rugby through enhanced engagement, participation and retention. This includes growing the game locally through vibrant regional hubs, boosting the participation of women and girl players, leveraging the rugby 7s format to boost participation in schools and tertiary institutions, and better integration of local schools, universities and Greater Bay Area clubs into the domestic club community and competitions.
Initiatives to be introduced in 2024-25 season include increased investment in a re-modelled subvention system for youth and senior clubs to help cover the costs of fielding teams, as well as the allocation of appropriate resources to clubs in the longer term.
A further initiative will be to better facilitate player engagement into, and transitions within, the rugby community through enhanced alignment of all formats including touch, 7s and 15s, by extending the touch stream in mini rugby, setting up a pilot club/school touch competition, and introducing a rugby 7s competition as part of the senior domestic competition.
HKCR will launch a pilot regional hub model in 2024-25 based out of its Tin Shui Wai ground to better develop and co-ordinate the rugby ecosystem by aligning programmes and resources with schools, clubs and facilities. Where feasible, learnings from this will rapidly be implemented across Hong Kong, and HKCR will plan to roll out an additional 6 regional hubs as resources (facilities, people) are made available.
The objective under the Sustainability pillar is to ensure that HKCR can achieve its goals on a long-term sustainable basis. The aim is to grow and diversify the revenue base and generate an increased annual surplus, not only from the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, but also from a second major annual event, as well as the monetisation of HKCR’s digital platform.
HKCR aims to be recognised as a leader in the sports industry in sustainability across the areas of governance, social impact and environment. Changes have already been made to improve governance, with the introduction of independent directors in the 2023-24 season and changes to premiership governance, while new governance structures have recently been approved for the men’s community league, women’s community league and youth rugby.
Initiatives within 2024-26 period will include drafting a sustainability plan, developing and implementing a social impact evaluation framework, and aligning with World Rugby’s environmental and social initiatives plan. Better use will also be made of technology and data to enhance communication and develop e-commerce opportunities. An engagement strategy for the Greater Bay Area will also be developed and agreed.
In relation to events, HKCR will develop a product strategy for the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens to maximise the benefits of the move to the Kai Tak Sports Park and aim to create a second, major annual event on the rugby calendar.
The objective under Representative Rugby is to create Hong Kong role models who inspire people to engage in rugby. The playing goals for Sevens rugby are to qualify for the Olympic Rugby 7s in 2028 for men and 2032 for women, to win the Asian Games rugby 7s in 2026 in men and 2030 in women, and to maintain Tier A categorisation for rugby 7s at the Hong Kong Sports Institute. With regard to the fifteen-a-side game, the primary objective is to accelerate support for women’s representative and premiership competitions in order to create an opportunity to qualify for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025 and 2029. A further objective is to ensure that the men’s fifteen-a-side representative team continues to remain competitive and is positioned to perform well at upcoming regional and global competitions, and to take advantage of opportunities that arise from the evolving global rugby landscape.
Initiatives will include greater efforts to showcase local men’s and women’s 15s and 7s rugby stars in the community to drive interest in the game, to boost participation and grow the fan base, to introduce enhanced performance pathways for local and Hong Kong qualified players, the development of a cross-boundary competition, the creation of more international playing opportunities, bespoke coach education programmes, structured
HKCR chairman Chris Brooke said the Strategic Plan provided an integrated framework to consolidate and grow the game in Hong Kong – and by extension maximise social benefits to the community – whilst at the same time addressing short-term challenges.
“We have a fantastic rugby community in Hong Kong who are not only dedicated to playing, developing and supporting the game but also passionate about the benefits that rugby brings to the wider community through sport, friendship and service,” said Brooke.
“We understand that rugby clubs were hard hit by Covid, which also had a severe impact on the financial health of HKCR. We are still emerging from that disruption. That is why this strategic plan includes initiatives to provide more support to clubs, financially and otherwise, to help rebuild and grow the rugby community in Hong Kong.
“We understand the need to develop a more robust financial model to sustain HKCR and our wide range of programmes in the future. We will maximise the benefits of the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens after the move to the Kai Tak Sports Park, evolve and improve the rugby 7s product and fan engagement, and develop new revenue sources.”
Brooke said HKCR was excited by the prospect of creating a more integrated rugby ecosystem through the regional hub initiative that would better co-ordinate the use of facilities, enhance links between schools, tertiary institutions and clubs, and provide pathways for participation through touch, 7s and 15s. More resources would be devoted to developing the women’s game, as well as lifting coaching standards and training for match officials.
“By developing a more integrated ecosystem we can create a broader and deeper pool of talent in both the men’s and women’s games to help Hong Kong China Rugby reach new heights of excellence not only in Asia, but also in support of our quest to qualify for the Olympics in rugby 7s and be highly competitive in relation to the qualification stages associated with the Rugby World Cup in the 15s game,” he said.
“By achieving enhanced performance from a playing perspective, we can create role models who will inspire other people to get involved as players or volunteers, clearly demonstrate that rugby is a premier performance team sport in Hong Kong, as well as provide HKCR with an opportunity and platform to share positive stories about the benefits of sport for the wider community and the excellence that can be achieved by our players and teams in the international arena.”
The Strategic Plan document can be accessed on the HKCR website: click HERE to download the report.
Information and Photo source : Hong Kong China Rugby
