New Year’s Honours: MBE awarded to Hong Kong Rugby Union chief executive Robbie McRobbie for philanthropy and UK relations
- The Hong Kong-based Scot has been recognised for his ongoing use of sport as a tool for development and social change
Hong Kong Rugby Union chief executive Robbie McRobbie has been awarded a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the New Year’s Honours List for his services to philanthropy and UK-Hong Kong relations.
The list recognises Britons for their outstanding contributions to their fields.
“People joke that it stands for ‘many buggers’ efforts’,” McRobbie, 47, said. “And I do feel it is a reflection on all the people I’ve been lucky enough to work with. I’m very proud to be awarded an MBE, but there are so many passionate people using sport as a tool for change and I hope this is a credit to them all.”
Since 2003, when McRobbie first joined the HKRU from the police force, he has been developing programmes to utilise sport as a social tool. For example, he has worked with Operation Breakthrough, set up by current and former police officers, which helps at-risk youngsters find meaning through sport.
“Prior to Operation Breakthrough, there wasn’t much understanding of how sport could be a tool for social change,” McRobbie said. “But now there’s a much wider acceptance and a lot of great charities in Hong Kong.”
With the HKRU, McRobbie has set up a programme for deaf rugby players. A team competed in the first major international deaf rugby tournament in Australia in 2018 and many of the players have gone on to join mainstream clubs.