PUBLISHED ON 23 APR 2025
We are excited to announce the return of the Dragons Programme, a local performance development initiative dedicated to nurturing rugby talent in Hong Kong. Established in 1990 by George Simpkins, a former member of our Board of Directors, the Dragons Programme focuses on enhancing player development and creating pathways from community rugby to high-performance levels.
This year, over 140 players have been nominated to participate, and trials are currently underway to finalize the squad. The aim is to select a training squad of 40, which will later be narrowed down to 23 players to compete against the Singapore Development Team in May.
All participants are aged 18-28 years and are Hong Kong passport holders, ensuring a strong focus on local talent and Hong Kong qualified players for future Asian Games.
Training will take place twice per week with the final squad announcement being on the 26 May at the Hong Kong Sports Institute. The final squad will travel to Singapore on 29 May to compete on Saturday 31 May, providing a great opportunity for players to showcase their skills on a larger stage.
A notable alumnus of the Dragons Programme includes Rambo Leung, Hong Kong China’s first ever Chinese Representative player. Salom Yiu Kam Shing, who is the Programme Lead, emphasized that “Bringing back the Dragons Programme is crucial for our players. It provides them with a structured pathway to improve their game and ultimately represent Hong Kong on an International playing field”.
Stay tuned for more updates on the Dragons Programme on our HKCR social media channels, as we prepare for our upcoming match against the Singapore Development Team.
Team Management
Programme Lead: Salom Yiu Kam Shing
Team Manager: Kai Hang Fung
Head Coach: Brendan Ireland
Coach: Kenny Ng
Coach: Joseph Szeto
Coach: So Hok Ken
Coach: Gus Leger
Physiotherapist: Tong Chak Lam Christopher
S&C Coach: Nam Ka Man
Analyst: Michael Andrew Bray