Societe Generale and Hong Kong Rugby Union Community Foundation Partner to Bring Positive Change to the Society

The partnership this year will focus on three HKRU Community Foundation-supported projects:

• ‘Breaking Barriers through Sport’ programme with the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children supporting both local and ethnic minority children aged 16 or below and their families;
• ‘A Chance to Play', with The ChickenSoup Foundation which gives 100 youth the opportunity to join local mini rugby clubs at zero personal cost; and
• the second Asian School Rugby Sevens Championship in July.

The announcement was made on 25 June at the Societe Generale Citizen Commitment Day at King’s Park where over 300 Societe Generale staff and children from the charity partners attended the sport-themed festival.

“Societe Generale is excited to partner with the Hong Kong Rugby Union Community Foundation, which shares our objective to use sports and cultural activities to promote education and social integration, creating an opportunity for us to contribute to the communities in which we operate,” said Hikaru Ogata, Chief Executive Officer for Societe Generale in Asia Pacific.

The HKRU Community Foundation will support the programmes with specialized coaching services provided by the Union’s Community Rugby Department as well as the provision of venues for the specific programme activities, which include both Rugby and other sports.

“The Hong Kong Rugby Union is delighted to be partnering with Societe Generale around these engaging and innovative community-based programmes. Societe Generale has the ethos of rugby in its DNA as demonstrated by its commitment to giving back to the community through the game, which is emblematic of our own belief that rugby is a value-added sport that can positively contribute to one’s personal development.

“We look forward to working closely with Societe Generale and the beneficiaries to provide the expertise and resources of our Community Rugby department as we look to shape young futures through rugby,” said Stuart Gunn, Inclusive Rugby Officer of the Hong Kong Rugby Union.