Sandy Bay left needing one more try at the death to steal the crown, but HKFC do enough to deny their late-season surge and retain the trophy.
Researchers say figures show former internationals are 15 times more likely to develop motor neurone disease.
Low-scoring affair, which Kowloon won 11-5, is ultimately decided by a James Piercy try three minutes from time.
Defending champions recover from slow start to beat USRC Tigers, while Sandy Bay make statement with victory over Valley RFC and Kowloon surprise HK Scottish.
Season begins at King’s Park with Hong Kong Football Club v USRC Tigers, followed by Sandy Bay v Valley and HK Scottish v DAC Kowloon.
Adrian Wadden, who played 14 times for the Toronto Arrows in his debut season, joins Sandy Bay under a new partnership between Hong Kong and Canadian rugby.
Football Club will begin the defence of their Dettol Men’s Premiership title against USRC Tigers when top-flight domestic rugby returns to Hong Kong on October 1.
Men’s and women’s top-flight competitions ended early as coronavirus cases surge in the city, but officials hope some lower leagues will return after fifth wave ends.
Wiggins is heading to America as assistant coach ahead of new season which starts next month, will be responsible for side’s defence and academy.
Dettol Men’s Premiership decided before Christmas as Football Club run out 49-13 winners at home.
Penalty in final minute enough to give Tigers a 15-13 victory over Kowloon in pulsating encounter at King’s Park.
Gai Wu face HKFC in a ‘must-win’ game which would see either leapfrog for a Grand Championships play-off spot, while Football Club men’s coach Jack Wiggins calls centurion Ronan Donnelly ‘close to club legend’.
Race to grand championship comes down to the wire as Dettol Men’s Premiership approaches business end of the season.
Defending champions cement their place at top of Dettol Hong Kong Premiership, running in eight tries at King’s Park.
New acting general manager Montana Heslop and men’s coach Joe Barker bringing a community feel to King’s Park, and a fresh approach off the field has translated into good results on it.
The action moves to Hong Kong Stadium for a thrilling day of action in the HKRU Premiership.
Dettol Premiership men’s champions hold psychological edge going into Saturday’s special clash, in a rare outing for fifteens at Hong Kong Stadium.
‘I had to pull myself together and say this is what I want to do,’ recalls Liam Herbert, who is becoming the future of Hong Kong rugby after failing to make the grade at Aston Villa.
Valley secure a scrappy 16-7 victory over HKU Sandy Bay, while Valley Black out-play Causeway Bay Phoenix 54-0 before next round’s important Hong Kong Stadium Series.
HKU Sandy Bay coach Will Webster expecting a ‘fierce battle’ in Hong Kong Premiership but insists ‘things are starting to click’.
Hong Kong Sevens star player Liam Herbert says ‘I know we look like rebels’ but insists next month’s matches are ‘our best shot’ of qualifying for 2022 World Cup.