Football Club claim title at Fat Boy 10s, as charity event raises more than HK$300,000 for underprivileged children
- Valley Dinosaurs take women’s title while Valley Knackered Nags triumph in men’s vets competition
- More than 32 teams went head-to-head for bragging rights in what is now one of the bigger local social rugby tournaments on the calendar
Hong Kong’s Pot Bellied Pigs rallied the local rugby community over the weekend to raise more than HK$300,000 at the annual Fat Boy 10s tournament, with money going to support charity initiatives, education programmes and medical missions across the region.
Ross Bendix, a member of the Pot Bellied Pigs and director of the 10s, described this year’s event, held in Hong Kong for the second consecutive year, as “an enormous success”.
“The ladies and men’s rugby community of Hong Kong got together, had fun and raised lots of money for charity,” he said. “We were able to showcase the domestic helper ladies playing at half-time, it was simply brilliant and long may it continue.”
Hong Kong Football Club beat Typhoons in the men’s final at King’s Park on Saturday, while in the women’s final Valley Dinosaurs took honours and Valley Knackered Nags won the men’s veterans crown.
Organised by Pot Bellied Pigs, this year’s tournament raised funds for charitable partners RSL Medical Missions, the Duyan Ni Maria (Cradle of Mary) Foundation and rugby development programmes in the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam.
“The rugby community are a very special bunch of people that enjoy life to the fullest, both on the field of play, but also coming together off it by giving generously for good causes like the Fat Boy 10s,” Anson Bailey, life president of the Pot Bellied Pigs, said.
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Hong Kong rugby teams compete in fundraiser tournament
“We raised more than HK$300,000 over the weekend, but will continue to talk to our friends and colleagues about supporting those in need.”
Tournament director Andrew Green said the money raised would not have been possible without the support of sponsors and the entire rugby community.
In total, this year’s event saw 32 teams compete, along with a special exhibition tournament made up of domestic helpers and the Philippine Rugby Union national team, the Volcanoes.
Saturday was also the 25th of the Pot Bellied Pigs supporting charity initiatives across the region.
“A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the tournament through the men’s open, men’s vets, women’s open and the domestic helper teams,” Green said. “It was a celebration of social rugby.”
“Also thank you to the Hong Kong Rugby Union for their support and the hard work of their staff and the on-site food and beverage team. We would not make the money we do for good causes without the help from all those that contributed on the day and our superb sponsors DHL, KPMG, Tanner De Witt and Ogilvy.”