In the late 1970's Stanley Fort Rugby Football Club was the third mini-rugby club to be founded in Hong Kong after DEA Tigers and the Hong Kong Football Club. The club was originally based at the British Garrison in Stanley which in June 1997 transferred to the PLA. After the handover Stanley Fort RFC continued to train at the barracks every other week, joining interclub training sessions away from home on the other Sundays. In 2002 Stanley Fort re-established some old links with Valley RFC so that it could build a better framework to cater for more youth sides and provide a seamless path to senior rugby. In 2004, to enhance the affiliation with Valley RFC, the club changed its name to Valley Fort RFC and now plays in black and red (following the senior team strip) as opposed to its traditional strip of green and white.

Valley Fort is one of the larger mini-rugby clubs in Hong Kong and has 380 registered players in its mini and colt sections as of Feb 2005, an increase of 18% from last year. The club runs a number of teams at all age groups from Under 5's to Under 18s.

Like the senior game, mini-rugby is played from September to March. There are full festivals involving all clubs around Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories and regional festivals are organised where clubs with smaller facilities are able to invite clubs based close to them or specific age groups to participate. Valley Fort RFC make a point of promoting inter-club training sessions as it is simple to organise and provides more opportunity for children to play in competitive games. Coaching drills and experience are shared and it means the children can keep a weekly training program intact despite not having access to their home ground each weekend.

In HK here are now more than 2,000 children scattered among 15 clubs playing mini-rugby each week-end.

The New Year’s Day tournament at the Football Club and the International tournament in March at Kai Tak allow the Under 12's, 14s, 16s and 18s to play against overseas teams. Specifically the New Years Day tournament provides an excellent opportunity for people in Hong Kong to really see the achievements of children that have come up through the ranks of mini-rugby.

It is essential for the health of the game in Hong Kong that mini-rugby is given every opportunity to continue to attract more young children. Rugby has always been a game that crossed social barriers and accommodated players of all physiques and in recent years we have seen the game in Hong Kong cross cultural and ethnic barriers. There also appears to be a better understanding of the benefits that can be gained from playing a team sport such as rugby.

Fortunately the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union recognises the need to support the game at the grass roots level and there are U14, 16 and 18 HK representative sides that tour to various countries in Asia. Valley Fort has been well represented on all squad tours in the past which we hope will continue to provide our players with the incentive to improve their skills and stay in the game.

Please click HERE to view the Club Structure Diagram!

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