Societe Generale has been a long-time supporter of rugby, and is one of the main sponsors at the Rugby World Cup 2019 hosted by the Brave Blossoms. The French bank also actively partners with charitable organizations, and one of them is ChildFund, dedicated to helping children in need. So it was a straightforward idea to combine rugby and charity: organising a touch rugby charity tournament as a fundraising initiative, to bring underprivileged youths to the Kids Rugby Spirit Festival at the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

For several months, over 200 APAC staff relentlessly raised funds, to meet in Hong Kong for a 2-day fun and dramatic touch rugby tournament to foster an ever stronger team spirit. Hong Kong summer weather is hardly predictable, and the teams had to battle on the field against extreme conditions, from blazing heat on the first day to a drenching tropical rainstorm on the second.

However, even a typhoon could not stop our heroes, galvanised by the idea that this was all for a great cause. And that did not stop us, with our camera, sound equipment and awesome crew to be there to catch and produce this film. Hey! What rugby fan would miss the opportunity to interview rugby legends Matt Giteau, Thomas Castaignède and Nick Hewson?

Congratulations to the winning teams, and all the others too: thousands of Euros were raised. That is awesome for the kids, going to Japan for a trip of a lifetime. What about fans in Hong Kong then? Were they to be left behind? Societe Generale and the Hong Kong Rugby Union did not forget them and set up the first and only Fanzone in the world right here, in the heart of Central. A massive LED screen to watch all the action of the games, great food and drinks by Oolla, and a great party like spirit: that’s as close as you could get to being in Yokohama! The final is this weekend... don’t miss it!

Want to know how such an event is put together? Yes your fixer was here for the build up of the zone, shooting from sunrise to sunset to give you that cool time lapse sequence.