HKRU Men’s Premiership 2021-22 season preview: coaches and captains talk revamps, transitions and recruits

Clubs welcome new coaches, captains and teammates after months without competitive matches

‘The success of the national team is very much based on the success of the clubs themselves’, says new Hong Kong 15s coach Amor

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Hong Kong men's team captains and representatives at the HKRU Dettol Premiership 2021-2022 season launch at the Hong Kong Football Club in September. Photo: Ike Images

Published: 12:52pm, 17 Sep 2021Updated: 12:52pm, 17 Sep 2021

The Dettol Hong Kong Men’s Premiership 2021-22 season kicks off on September 18 after more than a year and a half without consistent competition. Players and coaches are desperate to dust off the cobwebs and open with a bang in what looks to be the league’s most competitive iteration to date.

All six teams spent the extended off-season building squad depth, with several replacing outgoing head coaches and captains. Most underwent sloppy but crucial friendly hit-outs in the preseason, though fans will not see the full extent of teams until existing recruits settle and those from overseas wait out their quarantines.

The Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) is introducing a lengthened season campaign which sees teams play each other three times in total, with the top four finishers earning a spot in the coveted end-of-season Grand Championships.

The calendar also features the inaugural Premiership Stadium Series to be held at the Hong Kong Stadium from October 30 to November 13, doubling up as an operational trial for the returning Hong Kong Sevens next April.

Valley captain Sion Bennett (second from left) speaks at the HKRU Dettol Premiership 2021-2022 season launch at the Hong Kong Football Club in September. Photo: Ike Images

With the men’s sevens contingent in Canada for a Sevens Series, the national 15s also looks to the Asia Rugby Championships (ARC) next year to book a 2023 Rugby World Cup place, among other qualifiers. Hong Kong eligible players will look to impress new national 15s coach Simon Amor as the domestic scene ushers in a post-Elite Rugby Programme era.

“The success of the national team is very much based on the success of the clubs themselves and how the [coaches] help develop their players. I am looking forward to seeing some incredibly competitive, tough, fast and skilful games over the coming weeks. This will help us build as a national team towards the ARC and defending our title in January,” said former England international Amor.

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