By Sports Repoeter/Doha
Over 700 young rugby players from across the region will converge on the final leg of the HSBC Youth Rugby Series this weekend in Doha, with end of season prizes up for grabs, courtesy of main sponsor HSBC.
The HSBC Youth Series has gone from strength to strength in recent years and this year’s festival in Doha looks set to be the biggest in its history, with teams ranging from U-7 to U-18 and hailing from all over the Gulf.
Ex-Scotland scrumhalf and captain, Rory Lawson, will be adding the stardust to this year’s proceedings in his role as a HSBC rugby ambassador. Lawson, who famously captained Scotland to victory over South Africa at Murrayfield and is the grandson of legendary commentator Bill McLaren, will be lending his support to all the teams taking part and offering expert coaching tips at the HSBC Skills Zone.
Speaking ahead of the event, Lawson was quick to praise the efforts of all involved with the grassroots game in the Middle East: “It’s truly a privilege for me to be involved in festivals such as the HSBC Rugby Festival Doha and be able to give something back to the sport I so love. Having spent some time in the region now, I’ve been amazed by the energy and commitment shown by everyone involved in keeping the game so alive at the junior level. It’s as this early stage that kids form lifelong bonds with one another and with the sport, so the HSBC Youth Rugby Series is a fantastic tool for supporting the growth of the game.”
This year marks the fourth year HSBC has been a title sponsor of the junior festival, an event which sits at the heart of the bank’s commitment to opening up the world of rugby across the Middle East.
Kris Werner, Head of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, HSBC Qatar, said: “Today, the HSBC Rugby Festival is the largest junior rugby festival in Qatar and it gives me great pleasure to welcome teams from across the Gulf once again. I would like to wish each and every player, parent, coach and supporter a memorable and enjoyable day”
For this year’s festival, HSBC will be bringing fun for all the family in the form of rugby prizes, and the HSBC Skills Zone – the ultimate rugby time trial testing skills of rugby players. All HSBC customers who attend the festival will also receive a free gift when they present their card at the HSBC welcome desk.
Rory Lawson
