Hong Kong sends 20 to Deaf Sevens Worlds
AM730 · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago4 MIN
Summary
Hong Kong’s deaf rugby team will compete at the third World Deaf Rugby Sevens Championships in Tokyo from October 31 to November 3. The Hong Kong delegation will comprise 20 coaches and players, and a pre-tournament send-off ceremony was held on October 21. Rugby for Good, which has promoted rugby in the deaf community for more than a decade, is supporting the team’s campaign, alongside sponsorship from law firm Walkers. The tournament will feature 13 participating countries and regions, including the United States, England, Australia and South Africa.
Key Points
- The third World Deaf Rugby Sevens Championships will be staged in Tokyo from October 31 to November 3, with 13 countries and regions taking part.
- Hong Kong will send a 20-member delegation made up of coaches and players, and held its send-off ceremony on October 21.
- Players must be at least 18 years old, and must have hearing loss of 40 decibels or more in both ears.
- First-time participant So Wing-ban (蘇永斌) said he never imagined representing Hong Kong and described the selection as a milestone.
- Rugby for Good chief executive Chow Sze-ho (周思豪) said the team’s third straight world championship appearance showed resilience and the power of inclusion.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers, the team’s participation shows how disability sport can widen access to representative competition while building peer support networks in the local deaf community. Rugby for Good said Hong Kong has about 50,000 people with hearing impairment, underscoring the potential reach of inclusive sports programmes.