HSBC sponsors Hong Kong national rugby teams

from Voxy:

The Hong Kong Rugby Football Union is pleased to announce that HSBC is the new principal partner of Hong Kong’s Men’s and Women’s National Rugby Teams. As part of the sponsorship, the HSBC logo will enjoy pride of place on the official national rugby jerseys of Hong Kong.

The sponsorship extends across the HKRFU Men’s and Women’s Senior and age-grade National Teams and runs for a four-year period. The latest sponsorship of the Hong Kong teams extends HSBC’s support to rugby in Hong Kong after becoming the co-title sponsor of the world-renowned Hong Kong Sevens in May 2011.

After a successful campaign in the HSBC Asian Five Nations 2011, the Hong Kong Men’s National team is currently ranked second overall in Asia at fifteens rugby and is tied-third in sevens behind Korea and Japan. The Hong Kong Women’s Team is the current bronze medalist in the East Asian Games and was the fourth-placed team in the Asian Games.

HKRFU Chairman Trevor Gregory commented on today’s announcement, saying, “The HKRFU is delighted to welcome HSBC on board as the principal partner of our national rugby teams. The sponsorship further deepens our relationship with one of Hong Kong’s iconic companies and I am confident that together with the support of HSBC, the HKRFU will continue to make great strides in developing Rugby in Hong Kong.

“The support from HSBC across all levels will help our National Teams continue to meet their performance goals as we look ahead to building on our position in Asia and continue to prepare for events like the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2013,” added Gregory.

Mark McCombe, CEO of HSBC Hong Kong, said, “HSBC is extremely proud of its Hong Kong heritage and we are delighted to come on board as the shirt sponsor of the Hong Kong team, as part of our long-term commitment to rugby here and across the region.

“With HSBC as the co-title sponsor of the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens once again, we have a tremendous opportunity to build real pride and loyalty in the Hong Kong shirt, starting with this weekend’s Shanghai Sevens, the opening event of the HSBC Asian Sevens Series. It also marks the beginning of the teams’ journey towards next year’s Hong Kong Sevens, as we increasingly encourage the broader Hong Kong community to support their team.”

The sponsorship timing is appropriate as the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union National Men’s and Women’s Sevens teams are off to Shanghai to take part in the Shanghai Sevens this weekend (August 27 -28 at the Yuanshen Stadium in Shanghai).

The Shanghai Sevens is the first event in the inaugural HSBC Asian Sevens Series 2011, which will feature four events in 2011. The Hong Kong Men’s team will take part in all four events.