Press Release
NEW YORK (Oct. 2nd, 2014) - The New York stop of the HSBC Rugby Festivals powered by Serevi took place this week through a series of coaching clinics hosted in local schools around the area. Led by the greatest ever sevens player Waisale Serevi along with USA Rugby speedster Carlin Isles and former captain and coach Matt Hawkins, over a thousand local kids were introduced to the sport for the first time through HSBC’s international grassroots rugby programme.
The HSBC-sponsored initiative aims to give youngsters the chance to learn rugby skills first-hand and serve as an introduction to the sport in the lead up to the 2016 Olympic Games, when rugby sevens will make its debut. Launched in Brazil earlier this year, the program stopped in Hong Kong and will next travel to Canada, Australia and Dubai in the coming months.
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Having helped coach at the HSBC Rugby Festival in Queen’s, the fastest man in rugby Carlin Isles commented:
“Having not had these same opportunities to get involved in rugby when I was growing up, I am really keen to get involved in the HSBC Rugby Festivals to help grow the game in America. It was exciting to see hundreds of children enjoying playing rugby in New York and I hope many of them will continue to play as I know what a great sport it has been for me.”
HSBC is a long-term sponsor of rugby at all levels around the world, and the partnership with Serevi Rugby focuses predominantly on children who have not previously played the sport. Over 3,000 youngsters have now been involved in an HSBC Rugby Festival as part of the Serevi partnership. The program also has a coach education element which will see hundreds of adults earn their IRB Level One coaching qualification enabling them to continue to work with the players in their communities.
Giles Morgan, Global Head of Sponsorship and Events at HSBC Holdings plc, is delighted with the popularity and passion shown by the kids this week:
“It is great to see so many kids playing and getting excited about rugby in New York as we help take the game to new audiences in the lead up to the Olympics. The HSBC Rugby Festivals offer youngsters the chance to learn rugby from a true legend in Serevi and I’m excited we can bring his enthusiasm and knowledge to new players and communities across the world. HSBC has supported rugby for a long time and helping to grow the sport as we countdown to Rio 2016 is a key aim of our investment in the game.”
Serevi, who retired from international rugby in 2009, co-founded a unique youth development program – Serevi Rugby – the following year in Seattle, USA, and through the partnership with HSBC, will help to spread the word of rugby far and wide especially to developing rugby nations, an objective the bank passionately shares.
Serevi, who led Fiji to rugby World Cup sevens victory in 1997 and 2005 commented, “As a sport which has been so integral to my life, I’m delighted to have had the opportunity to introduce rugby and give back to so many children in New York. Through the sessions, we hope to not only have helped shaped future sevens stars but also to provide the youngsters with a great set of values in which to live.”
HSBC also supports the game at the elite level as title sponsor of the IRB’s Sevens World Series which kicks off in Australia on 11th October. It is a particularly important year for the Series as countries including the USA will have the chance to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games. The USA hosts Round 5 of the HSBC Sevens World Series which takes place in Las Vegas in February.
For further information and exclusive content from HSBC’s different sponsorships in rugby, please contact Dylan.holman@fasttrackagency.com and follow @HSBC_Rugby.
About HSBC and Rugby
HSBC is a long-term investor in rugby around the world. As well as being the title sponsor of the HSBC Sevens World Series, the bank is co-title sponsor of the Hong Kong Sevens and the Principal Partner of the Hong Kong rugby teams.
Recently, HSBC became the Official Banking Partner of the Qantas Wallabies and sponsor of the HSBC Rugby Festivals powered by Serevi – a new international grassroots rugby program.
About Serevi Rugby®Headquartered in Seattle, Serevi® is focused on growing the game of rugby in North America and beyond. The official Youth Programming Partner of USA Rugby, Serevi offers on-field programming and off field conditioning for coaches and players through the youth to elite spectrum. It also offers performance and casual rugby apparel to players and fans of the sport. For more information on Serevi Rugby, including upcoming player and coach training sessions visit www.serevirugby.com.