I know of many people on this side of the noodle-curtain who were terribly disappointed (this writer included) when RugbyZone closed down at the end of last year.

Our disappointment was exacerbated with the news that KuduClub will be following suit soon.

Gone is our online access to Boots & All (SuperSport) and SuperRugby (KykNet) that we used to be privvy to on KuduClub.

Always on the lookout for new rugby websites to fill this void, I recently came across one of the most-exciting (nay, trend-setting) Rugby e-magazines around these days.

Union Sports Mag is one of those nifty interactive sites where you digitally turn the page by pulling your mouse across the screen or (in my case) sliding my index-finger down the top of my iMac’s magic mouse.

One of the cool features that I really appreciate is being able to watch a video interview ON the page without having to visit another page or site; and the latest issue of Union Sports Mag has many videos. My personal favorite being the looong interview with the former-BlitzBok Gio “Appels” Aplon. The dimunitive full-back is not only a solid last-defense for the Stormers and Springboks, he’s also quite comfortable in front of the camera. (other than canvassing for free bricks!)

I don’t want to give too much away but, if you were at our Hong Kong Sevens Dinner at the Hong Kong Football Club or in the HK Stadium’s Boerewors Bend last year, you’ll be happy to see Blades again in the video interview on page 17.

I’m not even going to mention the ‘Hottie of the Month” feature.

Lastly, the Union Sports Mag would be a like a flat Carlsberg at the Hong Kong Stadium last weekend if it wasn’t fully integrated with your favorite social media platforms. Interact with the publishers via FaceBook, Twitter, StumbleUpon, and many more.

Click here to have a look.

Did I mention that Union Sports Mag is FREE?

(Screenshot of the Union Sports Mag copyright: UnionSports 2011 All Rights Reserved)

Coming straight after the opening Major of the year, The Masters Tournament from 7-10 April, Nike Golf team up with Nike Athlete Tiger Woods for the first Nike Golf “Make It Matter” Tour in China and Korea.

The Nike “Make It Matter” Tour aims to illuminate the sport of golf in Asia among youth, golf fans and aspiring athletes alike — all through the insights shared by Woods as it relates to golf, including athletic training, practicing, preparing for competition and product innovation.

The Tour’s first stop in Asia is the Mission Hills Golf Club, marking the second time the club has hosted Woods. His inaugural visit 10 years ago was a landmark event for Chinese golf development, raising the game’s profile both domestically and overseas.

An excited Tenniel Chu, Vice Chairman of Mission Hills Golf Club said: “We warmly welcome the return of Tiger Woods. Ten years ago, his visit was an important milestone for Mission Hills and the golf community in China.

“Mission Hills has long been committed to developing golf events for young people and training the next generation of players in China. We lookforward to cooperate with Nike Golf and hope Tiger Woods’ strong appeal will attract more enthusiasts into the game of golf, especially among our younger athletes.”

As part of the Nike “Make It Matter” Tour, Mission Hills will host the Nike Golf Junior Championships for golfers aged 12 to 18.

The tournament will be held from 11-12 April at the Mission Hills Duval Course, with 120 young golfers competing for the chance to meet Woods in person. All contestants will also be invited to participate in the Tiger Woods Golf Clinic on 12 April on the Olazabal Course.

During his last visit 10 years ago, junior golfers such as Han Ren and Feng Yue had the chance to play with Woods, with both going to become some of China’s leading amateur golfers after that experience.

Woods will also share some of Nike Golf’s innovative new products with the junior golfers, alongside Nike Golf President Cindy Davis.

Nike Golf ‘Make It Matter’ Asia Tour activities include ：

· Tiger Woods Golf Clinic

· Tiger Woods demonstration

· Tiger Woods discussion on product development

· Tiger Woods and Cindy Davis media meeting

· Tiger Woods discussion on player exercise/training

(Additional image of Tiger Woods by http://americansportss.wikispaces.com/Golf)

As Howzit Online Media I run two blogs: BlitzBokke.com as well as Howzit-HongKong.com, my account of a South African’s life on this side of the noodle-curtain.

As such I have been posting about the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens on both blogs.

People have been mailing me asking about pictures and videos from the weekend’s mayhem I mean rugby, that I have decided to posted all of them in one page.

Keep you eye on this page though as I am still finding new pictures that I will be adding to the sets below.

Here then is a compilation of the pictures from the HK Sevens (and Rugby Week):

The unveiling of the Guinness-certified World’s Biggest Rugby Ball:

How the World’s Biggest Rugby Ball was made and transported to Hong Kong:

The Air Asia Hong Kong Beach 5s

Laureus brings together the Soweto Schools Rugby Programme (SSRP) and the BlitzBokke:

SAAHK Sevens Dinner with Morne Du Plessis and the BlitzBokke:

Rugby stars hold a coaching clinic with SSRP and Operation Breakthrough:

Hong Kong Sevens Day 1

Hong Kong Sevens Day 2

South Africans at the Hong Kong Sevens:

BlitzBokke at the Hong Kong Sevens

I have been a subscriber to KuduClub ever since I moved to Asia a decade ago.

While some of the adverts promoted the online service as a “portal for Afrikaans” on the internet, I enjoyed watching all programmes especially South African favourites like Carte Blanche, Kwela, Boots and All, Super Rugby, Roer and many others.

Of late I have unable to even log into the service, to great frustration, especially since the SuperRugby season had started and I had to get my weekly “rugby fix” from watching Boots and All (English) and SuperRugby (Afrikaans).

I was rather shocked and very disappointed to learn today (via their FaceBook page) that KuduClub has/is going to be shutting down. 

This closure follows high on the heels of the closure of another online service offering mostly SA content: RugbyZone at the end of last year.

Not a good move, guys.  This move will only lead to more pirate streaming/watching.

Where’s my SlingBox?

The South African Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Hong Kong (SAWCC) successfully hosted a breakfast seminar on 25 March at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Hong Kong (FCC) .

Speakers were Mr Andric Yew, the Head of Principal Investments- China Samsung Securities Asia Ltd, who spoke on the topic of “Perspectives from potential Asian Investors about Investing in Mining Projects in Africa ”.

Mr Yew covered risks and advice to owners and investors on African mining assets.

Mr Paul Chikawa – the Honourable Consul General of Zimbabwe spoke about “Mining Investment Opportunities” in Zimbabwe and covered the abundance of viable investment opportunities in Mining in Zimbabwe .

The Honourable South African Consul General to Hong Kong and Macau – Ms Nomatemba Tambo spoke about the ‘ Importance of South Africa joining BRIC’ and Raising Africa’s Alignment in Trade and Investment through BRIC.

The seminar had an excellent turnout of 34 interested individuals and the breakfast session had excellent feedback.

The SAWCC will be hosting more business seminars going forward.

 From left to right: Mr Andrew Yew, Mr. Paul Chikawa and Nomatemba Tambo

South Africa won the Plate at a cold and slippery Hong Kong Stadium last night.

In the process the BlitzBokke earned 16 Series points after beating Australia 26-19 in a pulsating Final.

Bernard Foley and Hamish Angus (2) scored for Australia but two from Sibusiso Sithole and one each from Cecil Afrika and Branco du Preez clinched the victory for the 2011 USA Sevens Cup winners.

South Africa was earlier eliminated from the Cup challenge by nemisis Fiji who won in extra-time (24 – 19) when they, somewhat controversially scored the ‘golden try.’

What if…

However,many fans of the BlitzBokke will be wondering what might have been had the referee spotted an apparent knock on in extra-time of their thrilling Cup quarterfinal against Fiji.

With the scores locked at 19-all, a Fijian player was tackled and appeared to have lost the ball forward, only for the referee to wave play on. They scored (against the run of play) from the resulting move to deliver a cruel knockout blow to the gutsy South Africans.

Speaking to coach Paul Treu at the Awards Dinner last night, he expressed his satisfaction about the referee’s decision to allow play to continue.  “I reviewed the footage afterward and I’m happy with the referee’s decision,” he said.

They played above expectation

A nevertheless proud Treu was full of praise for the huge effort from his players:

“I could not have asked for more from them. They gave it everything they got and we were very unfortunate against Fiji. The injuries to Paul and Bernardo meant we were down to ten players and as a result, the guys just had to shoulder on, which they did in splendid fashion.

“We will have a lot of sore bodies during the next couple of days and we will therefore have to take it somewhat easy during the week in Adelaide.”

The Springbok Sevens management team has made two injury-forced changes to his squad for the next HSBC Sevens World Series tournament in Adelaide. Paul Jordaan and Bernardo Botha both suffered leg injuries on the second day and played no further part in tournament, reducing the South Africans to ten players and forcing Treu to field almost the same line-up for the remaining matches.

The pair has left for home while MJ Mentz and Pieter Engelbrecht have left South Africa on Sunday evening to join the team in Adelaide.

Meanwhile the Series top scorer Cecil Afrika (pictured above) was last night awarded the Lesley Williams Trophy as the tournament’s Best & Fairest player.  Other players who made the judges’ short-list and who received an honourable mention include: Tim Mickleson (NZ), Tom Josefu (Samoa), Tomasi Cama (NZ), Philip Mack (Canada) and Frank Halai (NZ).

I was fortunate to have my handy FlipCam at the ready just as this very special words come from the big-screen at the Hong Kong Stadium yesterday:

“Hello Hong Kong. Here is something I wrote before the Sevens was even thought of.”

The organisers of the 2011 Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens couldn’t have come up with a more special rendition of the classic Hong Kong Sevens anthem.

A very special moment indeed.

Here is another clip we made of this tune, together with some other HK7s anthems.

On the train into Hong Kong Island for Day 2 of the Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens, I saw some “pelicans” the “Power Rangers,” “Kiss” (the band).

While I can’t say if they were South Africans dressed up, there are plenty of Green & Gold jersey around the stadium.

Other the Springbok Fans in Boerewors Bend, there are lots of Bok jerseys behind me in the Media Box (Western Stand).

I’m going to venture into the infamous South Stand in a while, but here are some images of the Saffas I’ve taken so far:

New Zealand rugby legends Jonah Lomu and John Kirwan were the star attractions as this year’s HSBC ARFU (Asian Rugby Football Union) Rugby Coaching Tour kicked off in Happy Valley on Wednesday, 23 March 2011, with a coaching clinic for youngsters from the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children (HKSPC) and the Qingdao Sharks Rugby Football Club from China.

The 15-stop Coaching Tour will engage thousands of children in Asia and introduce them to rugby, while HSBC will provide coach education, kit and equipment to ensure a sustainable legacy is left within each community.

Lomu was a popular figure upon his return to the SAR, where the giant winger burst onto the international stage in the 1994 Hong Kong Sevens before establishing himself as rugby’s biggest superstar with 37 tries in 63 tests, including 15 in two Rugby World Cups, a record that still stands today.

“It has been an amazing day and very rewarding. The HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour is a great initiative and I’m honoured to be part of this year’s launch,” said 35-year-old Lomu, HSBC’s special guest for the day.

“The kids seemed to really enjoy themselves and the bank clearly does great work. Rugby is a fantastic way of introducing many important values and life skills such as team work, healthy living and communication, so it is a really positive thing that they have embraced rugby so quickly.”

Kirwan, an HSBC Rugby Ambassador, will take an active role in this year’s HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour alongside former Scotland coach Frank Hadden. Kirwan will also be bidding to lead Japan to a fourth successive HSBC Asian 5 Nations title, a campaign that starts with an away match against Hong Kong next month.

“In initiating this year’s Coaching Tour, HSBC and ARFU are taking another important stride in growing the game throughout the region. As a coach and as an ambassador for HSBC and for the game, I am passionate about the development of rugby at all levels. This Coaching Tour, which starts at the grassroots of the game and will also involve working with some of the divisional Asian 5 Nations teams as we move throughout the region, is a fantastic example of this in action and I’m delighted to be involved,” Kirwan said.

“As well as developing existing young rugby players across the continent, the tour will focus on introducing rugby to children who may otherwise not have seen or played the game. Taking the sport to brand-new audiences and enabling and inspiring more children to play the game will be a huge marker of success for me,” added the former winger, who scored 35 tries in 63 tests for New Zealand.

HSBC ARFU Coaching Tour 2011

March 23 Hong Kong

April 21 & 23 Colombo, Sri Lanka

April 21 Almaty, Kazakhstan

April 28 Hong Kong

May 5 Bangkok, Thailand

May 12 & 13 Dubai, UAE

May 19 Hong Kong

May 19 & 21 Tokyo, Japan

May 30 Incheon/Seoul, Korea

Exact dates to be confirmed:

June Macau

July Hong Kong

September Shanghai, China

September Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

October Pattaya, Thailand

November Goa, India

I have attended and participated in a fair share of ‘side-line’ activities ahead of several Hong Kong Sevens tournaments.

However, this week I was part of a truly special event ahead of the 2011 Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens.

On Wednesday I was fortunate to be at King’s Park where 10 boys from the Soweto Schools Rugby Programme had a meet-and-greet with the Springbok Sevens team.  The youngsters traveled to Hong Kong with Chairman of the Laureus Foundation South Africa, Morne Du Plessis who was here as a guest of the Southern African Association in Hong Kong (SAAHK).

Of course there were a lot of cameras in attendance but even I was inspired (and somewhat emotional) listening to Morne interact with the boys while the BlitzBokke were going through their training paces on the pitch.

Sevens skipper Kyle Brown also made the boys’ day when he gave a impromptu chat when the two side eventually got together.

Brown said: “The theme of this team is ‘touching people through rugby’ and there a lot of synergies btween that and the work of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. It is very inspiring for us to meet these young people. Being where we are doesn’t come easy, you have to work hard and keep fit and focused in order to suceed. We are so pleased that the Soweto kids are here in Hong Kong to support us, I hope we do them proud in the tournament.”

He also shared a signed Springbok Sevens jersey with the Soweto kids and in return was rewarded with a signed Laureus jersey.

Another highlight was when the boys performed their “Soweto Haka” with the BlitzBokke, arm-in-arm, facing the ‘challenge.’

Goosebumps stuff.

The Soweto tour party will be guests at the Hong Kong Stadium today where the Hong Kong Sevens kicks off.

Here are some more images from the meet-and-greet: