Festivals - Press Releases

HSBC Rugby Festival kicks off at Cooke
04/04/2009

Image: HSBC Shirt

Former Ireland international and British & Irish Lions legend, Willie John McBride, was on hand today to help launch the HSBC Rugby Festivals in Northern Ireland, in association with Cooke Rugby Club. HSBC is Principal Partner and shirt sponsor of the British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa this summer and is investing in the world's largest schools rugby programme which is being hosted by all four home unions.

McBride captained the most successful ever Lions side which toured South Africa in 1974. He has played 63 Tests for Ireland including eleven as captain, and toured with the Lions five times — a record that gave him 17 Lions Test caps. He launched today's HSBC-sponsored tournament, which saw the participation of over 750 youngsters from clubs and schools across Northern Ireland.

Speaking at the launch he said, "Today is a great example of just how much enthusiasm there is for rugby here and the importance of getting children involved at an early age. I have seen the enjoyment they get from playing the game and it helps to build not only their sporting skills, but their team skills and their ability to work alongside each other in order to succeed. Events like today are a great cross-community exercise."

Image: HSBC Shirt

Cecil Russell, HSBC Regional Director for Northern Ireland said: "These children are from rugby clubs and schools from right across Northern Ireland. They are just beginning their rugby experiences, and hopefully they will enjoy being part of the HSBC Rugby Festival today."

The boys and girls at today's HSBC Rugby Festival were aged between seven and 11 years.

Mike Watson, Convenor of Mini Rugby at Cooke said: "Working with HSBC to spread the rugby message has ensured that children of all ages can enjoy the sport in the run up to the forthcoming Lions Tour."

Over the coming months, the HSBC Rugby Festivals will involve more than 60,000 children, as well as over 3,000 teachers and coaches. The one day festivals are being staged in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – the first time a British & Irish Lions sponsor has undertaken such a comprehensive grass roots programme. The initiative will culminate in South Africa during the Lions Tour with more coaching festivals in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

In another first for a Lions sponsor, 40 of the schools participating in the HSBC Rugby Festivals will be twinned with schools in South Africa as part of a kit donation and cultural exchange programme. Working with the International Rugby Board's SOS IRB Kit Aid scheme, HSBC will be linking the schools in the UK and Ireland with schools across South Africa.

Image: HSBC Shirt

Giles Morgan, Group Head of Sponsorship, HSBC Holdings plc explained more, "HSBC is the world's local bank and aims to bring together people from different cultures. Working at the grass roots level of the game is one of the most important elements of HSBC's sponsorship of the British & Irish Lions, and we are extremely proud to be bringing together children from across the UK and Ireland with children in South Africa. We hope that the children on both sides of the scheme will benefit from learning more about each other's culture and experiences and that a shared passion for rugby will act as the perfect bond."

As part of the HSBC Rugby Festivals, HSBC will provide schools with kit as well as ongoing tips and coaching via a central grass roots area on the official Lions website www.lionsrugby.com.

Hastings kick starts the HSBC rugby festivals in Scotland
05/12/2008

Former British & Irish Lions captain Gavin Hastings was on hand at Murrayfield today to help the Scottish Rugby Union launch the HSBC Rugby Festivals.  HSBC is the Principal Partner of the British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa next summer and is investing in the world’s largest schools programme which is being undertaken by all four home unions.

Hastings, who earned 61 caps for Scotland, was joined by David Callam of Edinburgh, to pass on tips and coaching advice to some lucky youngsters from Tynecastle High School. 

The original plan for a festival with 450 children from across the region had to be postponed due to the recent cold weather freezing the pitches.  But Hastings and Callam were still keen to meet up with the children to announce the HSBC programme.

Speaking at the launch Hastings said, “We were due to have 450 children together today to participate in a major rugby festival but the traditional Scottish weather has put paid to that! 

“However, it is still a great illustration of just how much enthusiasm there is for rugby in Scotland.  To spend time with the children today and hear how much enjoyment they get from playing the game is fantastic. The festival will still take place in the New Year so the children will still get to take part.”

Hastings captained the British & Irish Lions in New Zealand in 1993, Gavin is an HSBC ambassador for the Lions Tour next summer.  He continued, “The HSBC Rugby Festivals aim to encourage children who don’t necessarily have many opportunities to play rugby to get involved with the sport that we all love.”

Nick Rennie, Community Rugby Partnership Manager, Scottish Rugby, also backed the scheme and said: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank HSBC and all involved with the HSBC Rugby Festivals for their support. 

"We all look forward to seeing the game of rugby being played in more schools and this series of festivals will ensure that children from every region across Scotland have the opportunity to take part, stay active and make new friends."

Over the coming six months, the HSBC Rugby Festivals will involve more than 60,000 children, as well as over 3,000 teachers and coaches. The one-day festivals are being staged in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – the first time a British Lions sponsor has undertaken such a comprehensive grass roots programme.  The initiative will culminate in South Africa during the Lions Tour next summer with more coaching festivals in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

In another first for a Lions sponsor, 40 of the schools participating in the HSBC Rugby Festivals will be twinned with schools in South Africa as part of a kit donation and cultural exchange programme.  Working with the International Rugby Board’s SOS IRB Kit Aid scheme, HSBC will be linking the schools in the UK and Ireland with schools across South Africa.  The first of these schools was announced recently by Jason Robinson who was joined by South African Rugby World Cup winner Bryan Habana to twin Pimlico Academy in South London with Hillcrest Primary School in Port Elizabeth. 

Giles Morgan, Group Head of Sponsorship, HSBC Holdings plc explained more, “HSBC is the world’s local bank and aims to bring together people from different cultures. Working at the grass roots level of the game is one of the most important elements of HSBC’s sponsorship of the British & Irish Lions, and we are extremely proud to be bringing together children from across the UK and Ireland with children in South Africa.  We hope that the children on both sides of the scheme will benefit from learning more about each other’s culture and experiences and that a shared passion for rugby will act as the perfect bond.”

As part of the HSBC Rugby Festivals, HSBC will provide schools with kit as well as ongoing tips and coaching via a central grass roots area on the official Lions website  www.lionsrugby.com.

Further details of the HSBC Rugby Festivals can be found at www.lionsrugby.com.

Robinson kick starts the HSBC rugby festivals in Wales
04/12/2008

Former England international and British & Irish Lion Jason Robinson was on hand at Cardiff University in the Welsh capital today to help the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) launch the HSBC Rugby Festivals.  HSBC is the Principal Partner of the British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa next summer and is investing in the world’s largest schools rugby programme which is being undertaken by all four home unions.

Robinson, who toured twice with the British and Irish Lions in 2001 and 2005, was joined by current Welsh star, Huw Bennett, to pass on tips and coaching advice to over 150 youngsters from schools across Wales.  In total, pupils from twenty Welsh schools will benefit from the experience.

Speaking at the launch he said, “Today is a great illustration of just how much enthusiasm there is for rugby in Wales.  To spend time with the children and see how much enjoyment they get from playing the game is fantastic. The children are from emerging rugby schools across the region, meaning that they are just beginning their rugby experiences, and hopefully they will enjoy being part of the HSBC Rugby Festival today.”

The boys and girls at today’s HSBC Rugby Festival were aged between eight and 14, and were treated to personal tips from Robinson who joined the Welsh Rugby Union coaches to take the youngsters through various drills and skills exercises.

Robinson, who is an HSBC ambassador for the Lions Tour next summer, continued: “The HSBC Rugby Festivals aim to encourage children who don’t necessarily have many opportunities to play rugby to get involved with the sport that we all love.  I have been impressed by the talent on display here in Wales today, and hope that all the youngsters continue to enjoy playing rugby.”

Over the coming six months, the HSBC Rugby Festivals will involve more than 60,000 children, as well as over 3,000 teachers and coaches. The one day festivals are being staged in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales – the first time a British Lions sponsor has undertaken such a comprehensive grass roots programme.  The initiative will culminate in South Africa during the Lions Tour next summer with more coaching festivals in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Port Elizabeth.

In another first for a Lions sponsor, 40 of the schools participating in the HSBC Rugby Festivals will be twinned with schools in South Africa as part of a kit donation and cultural exchange programme.  Working with the International Rugby Board’s SOS IRB Kit Aid scheme, HSBC will be linking the schools in the UK and Ireland with schools across South Africa.  The first of these schools was announced recently by Jason Robinson who was joined by South African Rugby World Cup winner Bryan Habana to twin Pimlico Academy in South London with Hillcrest Primary School in Port Elizabeth. 

Giles Morgan, Group Head of Sponsorship, HSBC Holdings plc explained more, “HSBC is the world’s local bank and aims to bring together people from different cultures. Working at the grass roots level of the game is one of the most important elements of HSBC’s sponsorship of the British & Irish Lions, and we are extremely proud to be bringing together children from across the UK and Ireland with children in South Africa.  We hope that the children on both sides of the scheme will benefit from learning more about each other’s culture and experiences and that a shared passion for rugby will act as the perfect bond.”

WRU Group Chief Executive Roger Lewis said, “The Welsh Rugby Union sees the development of the community game as a priority and we are delighted to be able to assist with this initiative.

“One of our main goals is to increase participation levels in the game and projects like the HSBC Rugby Festivals give young people fantastic experiences which will no doubt inspire them to strive to achieve their potential in sport and in life.”

As part of the HSBC Rugby Festivals, HSBC will provide schools with kit as well as ongoing tips and coaching via a central grass roots area on the official Lions website  www.lionsrugby.com.

Further details of the HSBC Rugby Festivals can be found at www.lionsrugby.com.

British & Irish Lions legends launch HSBC's rugby grass roots initiative in Ireland
12/10/2008

British & Irish Lions legends and HSBC Lions ambassadors Jason Robinson and Brian O’Driscoll today launched the Irish element of the world’s largest rugby union grass roots initiative, the HSBC Rugby Festivals. The festivals, which are supported by HSBC, the Principal Partner of the British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa in 2009, will be the first time that a grass roots campaign spans all four home unions, as well as South Africa. This grass roots initiative will reach over 60,000 school children and 3,000 teachers and coaches across 300 youth festivals in the UK and Ireland and form strong cultural links with schools in South Africa.

In another first, 40 of the schools within the Rugby Festivals programme will be selected to participate in the SOS IRB Kit Aid Programme, affiliated to the International Rugby Board (IRB). These schools will act as regional hubs for other schools in their area, collecting rugby kit which will then be flown to emerging rugby schools in South Africa ahead of next year’s British & Irish Lions Tour. As part of HSBC’s programme, the chosen UK and Ireland schools will be twinned with South African schools and a series of mini rugby festivals will also take place ahead of Lions test matches next summer. A network of approximately 300 local community rugby coaches will help co-ordinate the scheme along with support from other local Lions ambassadors.

Brian O’Driscoll and Jason Robinson, who shared a room when they toured with the Lions in 2001, were reunited at Terenure College (Dublin) today as the first of the Irish Rugby Football Union’s festivals took place. Robinson, who will be fronting the initiative across the four home unions and South Africa and O’Driscoll, who captained the Lions in 2005, were involved in coaching sessions and met school children from across Ireland.

As part of the HSBC Rugby Festivals, HSBC will provide schools with kit as well as ongoing tips and coaching via a central grass roots area on the official Lions website – launching later in 2008 at www.lionsrugby.com.

Giles Morgan, Group Head of Sponsorship for HSBC Holdings plc, said: “The HSBC Rugby Festivals have two fundamental elements. First, it is about getting more kids involved in playing the sport and inspiring them through the involvement of the HSBC ambassadors. The support of the four governing bodies has been tremendous and we are all excited about introducing a programme that for the first time encompasses all four nations of the British & Irish Lions.

“The festivals have another important aim of bringing together people from different cultures and countries – something that is at the very heart of HSBC as the world’s local bank. By linking schools in the UK and Ireland with schools out in South Africa through SOS IRB Kit Aid, we hope that the children involved will be able to experience even just a fraction of what makes the British & Irish Lions so special.”

Brian O’Driscoll, who has won four caps for the British & Irish Lions, said: “It’s great to team up with a former Lions team-mate to launch such a fantastic initiative.  It’s amazing to see so many children from all over Ireland come to Dublin and take part in the HSBC Festivals and hope this will inspire the next generation to strive for the next level. Part of the appeal of the British & Irish Lions is the coming together of four nations as one, and for a grass roots initiative to replicate this is very worthwhile.”

Jason Robinson, who won five British & Irish Lions caps, added: “I know what it’s like to be a school child aiming for the highest level of sport and it is fantastic that HSBC is making such a strong commitment to youth rugby across five countries. It is a programme that will hopefully transform and touch the lives of many youngsters in this country, and I look forward to meeting many of those involved across the festivals over the next nine months.”

Padraig Power, IRFU Commercial and Marketing Director, said: “Increasing underage development and participation is one the key objectives for rugby in Ireland over the next four years and the HSBC Rugby Festivals deliver in this respect.  The British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa will be one of the major sporting events of next year and this is a wonderful initiative to create a legacy for the Lions in Ireland which will hopefully benefit the game here for years to come.  I would like to thank HSBC for their support of the festivals and to all the children for taking part.”

Further details of the HSBC Rugby Festivals will be available post launch at www.lionsrugby.com.

More information about the specific programmes in Wales, Ireland, Scotland and South Africa will be released in due course.

British & Irish Lions legend Jason Robinson launches HSBC's rugby grass roots initiative
08/10/2008

British & Irish Lions legend and HSBC Lions ambassador Jason Robinson today launched the world’s largest rugby union grass roots initiative as he announced details of the HSBC Rugby Festivals. The festivals, which are supported by HSBC, the Principal Partner of the British & Irish Lions Tour to South Africa in 2009, will be the first time that a grass roots campaign spans all four home unions, as well as South Africa. The programme will reach over 60,000 school children and 3,000 teachers and coaches across 300 youth festivals in the UK and Ireland and form strong cultural links with schools in South Africa.

In another first, 40 of the schools within the Rugby Festivals programme will be selected to participate in the SOS IRB Kit Aid Programme, affiliated to the International Rugby Board (IRB). These schools will act as regional hubs for other schools in their area, collecting rugby kit which will then be flown to emerging rugby schools in South Africa ahead of next year’s British & Irish Lions Tour. As part of HSBC’s programme, the chosen UK and Ireland schools will be twinned with South African schools and a series of mini rugby festivals will also take place ahead of Lions test matches next summer.

Jason Robinson, who today launched the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) element of the programme at a festival at Broughton RFC in Manchester, will be fronting the initiative across the four home unions and South Africa. A network of approximately 300 local community rugby coaches will help co-ordinate the scheme supported by other local Lions ambassadors.

In England, the HSBC Rugby Festivals will incorporate the existing RFU Emerging Schools programme that comprises more than 150 individual events. Young players take part in Under-12, 13 and 14 categories at local, county and regional festivals before a national finals day staged at Staines RFC. The top teams meet on the pitch at Twickenham, in front of a 40,000 crowd, on the day of the annual Army v Navy match in May.

As part of the HSBC Rugby Festivals, HSBC will provide schools with kit as well as ongoing tips and coaching via a central grass roots area on the official Lions website – launching later in 2008 at www.lionsrugby.com.

Giles Morgan, Group Head of sponsorship for HSBC Holdings plc, said: “The HSBC Rugby Festivals have two fundamental elements. First, they are about getting more kids involved in playing the sport and inspiring them through the involvement of the HSBC ambassadors. The support of the four governing bodies has been tremendous and we are all excited about introducing a programme that for the first time encompasses all four nations of the British & Irish Lions.

“The festivals have another important aim of bringing together people from different cultures and countries – something that is at the very heart of HSBC as the world’s local bank. By linking schools in the UK and Ireland with schools out in South Africa through SOS IRB Kit Aid, we hope that the children involved will be able to experience even just a fraction of what makes the British & Irish Lions so special.”

Jason Robinson, who won five British & Irish Lions caps, added: “I know what it’s like to be a school child aiming for the highest level of sport and it is fantastic that HSBC is making such a strong commitment to youth rugby across five countries. It is a programme that will hopefully transform and touch the lives of many youngsters in this country, and I look forward to meeting many of those involved across the festivals over the next nine months.”

Andrew Scoular, RFU’s Director of Community Rugby, said: “We’re delighted that HSBC is supporting the development of the game in this way. The HSBC Rugby Festivals programme incorporates the RFU’s Emerging Schools Festival which has grown over the last decade and last year involved more than 50,000 children whose schools previously played little or no competitive rugby. The Armed Forces play a key role in delivering this and staging a memorable finals day at Twickenham each year that provides a superb climax to the season for these young players.”

Further details of the HSBC Rugby Festivals will be available post launch at www.lionsrugby.com.

More information about the specific programmes in Wales, Ireland, Scotland and South Africa will be released in due course.