HSBC rugby ambassador and Australia’s most capped Test player George Gregan returns to the Middle East this weekend to continue his support for the region’s rising rugby stars at the HSBC-sponsored Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Harlequins Junior Rugby Tournament.
The festival, round one of four HSBC sponsored junior rugby events, attracts over 2,300 children from across the Gulf and as far away as Russia, for two days of competitive rugby at Zayed Sports City in Abu Dhabi on Friday and Saturday.
Former Australian captain Gregan, back for a second consecutive year in his role as an HSBC rugby ambassador, is becoming a regular visitor to the UAE in his effort to grow rugby across the Middle East and transfer his invaluable rugby knowledge to the region’s rising junior rugby stars.
“I am delighted to be back in the UAE and getting involved with coaching young children at the festival this weekend. This is my second visit to the UAE and the sport is certainly developing rapidly in the region and I hope together with HSBC’s support I can continue to contribute to that growth,” said Gregan.
The Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Harlequins Junior Rugby Tournament marks the fourth year HSBC has been a proud partner of one of the biggest junior festivals in the region, and an event which sits at the heart of the bank’s commitment to supporting the growth of rugby across the Middle East.
“HSBC’s long-term commitment to Middle East rugby is giving young people the opportunity to take part, learn life skills and stay healthy,” said Marcus Hurry, Deputy Chief Executive Officer at HSBC UAE. "We are delighted to have an icon of global rugby with us in Abu Dhabi this weekend to inspire the region’s youth at one of the largest junior festivals that we support,” he added.
Teams at this weekend’s event can start earning points towards the HSBC Youth Rugby Series – a series of four HSBC-sponsored junior rugby festivals that visit Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain and Doha over the 2012/13 rugby season. At the end of the season, the winning teams will win a VIP training session with an HSBC rugby ambassador and new kit for their team.