The BGC APBs celebrate winning the 2012 GFI HKFC Tens at Hong Kong Football Club.

Nemani Nadolo powered the star-studded BGC APBs to victory at the GFI HKFC Tens as the giant Fijian winger scored two first-half tries in a gripping 10-7 win over New Zealand Legends in the Cup final.

Legends battled back with a try early in the second half by Dan Tuivabi, converted by outstanding flyhalf Trent Renata, but the APBs showed the character to match their class to hold out for a much-celebrated win at Hong Kong Football Club.

Standing 1.95 metres tall and weighing 123 kilogrammes, Nadolo wowed the crowd on day one and carried on in a similar vein in the knockout stages, finishing as the Player of the Tournament and top try scorer with 11 tries.

“I’ve never won a Grand Final – ever. I’ve heard the hype about the Hong Kong Tens, but I’ve never been here and this topped off a great week. It’s unreal,” beamed Nadolo, who was born in Fiji and raised in Australia.

The 24-year-old powerhouse has enjoyed comparisons to Jonah Lomu and set a Japanese Top League record in December when he scored six tries in a game for NEC Green Rockets.

“Leading up to this week was nerve-racking. I’ve heard so much about the Hong Kong Tens, so it was great to get called up for these guys and play at the back of the line,” said Nadolo, who has played for Waratahs in Australia, Bourgoin-Jallieu in France and Exeter Chiefs in the English Premiership.

“These are people I looked up to and idolised, so it’s unreal to get an opportunity to play with some of the guys. I’m unknown, I’m just a kid, 24, but you saw how much fun I had today.”

APBs captain Justin Marshall paid tribute to the star winger. “He’s sensational. I first saw him play two or three years ago and it’s great that he’s carried on and shown the same form to when I saw him.”

Marshall was one of a host of APBs who returned from last year, when they reached the final in their tournament debut but lost 28-24 to Valley.

New Zealand’s most-capped scrumhalf admitted that defeat provided much motivation for the star-studded squad, which was coached by former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga and featured current and former internationals from New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Japan and USA.

“Last year it was just an amazing tournament. We performed really well but we felt we were beaten by a better side on the day. That was disappointing and we made sure we made reference to that this year,” said Marshall, whose teammates included fellow All Black legend Mils Muliaina.

“To be honest, for all the superstars we have in the team and unique individuals, it was teamwork in defence that probably won us the game, which goes to show we had that belief and also that motivation from last year. We wanted to right the wrongs.”

Legends, also runners-up in 2009, upset second seeds HSBC Penguins 19-0 in the semi-final and came close to pulling off another surprise win in the final, with head coach Brendan Laney praising his young Kiwi compatriots – and Nadolo.

“I didn’t know much about him before, but I do now. He’s a big bugger and fast. We tried to put our big Fijian, Api (Naikatini), on him, but it didn’t work,” laughed the former Highlanders fullback who went on to play for Scotland.

“I’m extremely proud of the boys. They’ve come together really well. We just missed with a couple of kick-offs and a couple of turnovers, but it was a pretty classy outfit across from us.

“We had a couple of our guys pull out early last week and a couple late in the week, but these boys here have had a fantastic tournament. They’ll be pretty sore tomorrow.”

The APBs reached the final with a 24-5 win over 2010 runners-up ULR Samurai Internationals, who lost flanker Jack Wilson to the New Zealand sevens squad and Chiefs A winger Glen Robertson with a thumb injury on the first day.

Samurai coach Blair Larsen said his stripped down squad were beaten by the better team and even hinted that some his players may have been a bit star struck.

“The APBs had a lot of players out there who are heroes to a lot of our boys. We lost Glen and Jack, who were two of our key players, and we had some key injuries at a pretty important time, but injuries are part of the game and the team we played out there were just too good,” Larsen said.

“They’ve got players with a lot of experience of the highest stage. Some of them are getting to the end of their career, but they still know how to play. They’ve got some size and some good attackers as well. I’m sure we’ll be back again next year and every time Samurai play, we play to win.”

Third seeds SRC Borneo Eagles, representing the Sandakan Rugby Club in East Malaysia, won the Plate after beating beat Hill and Associates Scottish Barbarians 26-7, with speedster Ritchie Ah Chong scoring two tries.

Australian Country Invitational won the Bowl with a 21-7 victory over A-Trade Overseas Old Boys.

Hosts Newedge Club won silverware for the second straight year by winning the Shield, beating Lloyd McDermott Dingoes of Australia 35-19 to the delight of the home fans.

Now TV broadcast live coverage of Thursday afternoon’s action on Now Sports 3 (3.00pm-8.30pm on Channel 633), as well as a post-tournament highlights show.

All of the proceeds from Thursday’s HK$100 entry fee were donated to the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF), the event’s official charity. Former England internationals Steve Thompson, a 2003 Rugby World Cup winner, and Leon Lloyd attended on both days in their roles as CNCF Ambassadors.

GFI, a leading brokerage service provider, has been the tournament’s title sponsor since 2006. Other sponsors this year include HSBC, UBS (both Gold Sponsors) and Swire Properties (Silver Sponsor), while official suppliers include Heineken (Beer), Tsunami Sport (Apparel) and Coast (Bar).

Giant Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo helps top seeds BGC APBs win 51-0 against bottom seeds Playmore’s Shanghai Devils in their Pool A opener

Giant Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo of favourites BGC APBs and former New Zealand sevens star Nafi Tuitavake of second seeds HSBC Penguins stood out on the first day of the GFI HKFC Tens as the top eight seeds progressed to the Cup quarter-finals.

The APBs, Penguins, fourth-ranked ULR Samurai International and sixth-seeded New Zealand Legends – all former finalists – each won their three pool games at Hong Kong Football Club, where all of the leading contenders are aiming to win the trophy for the first time.

The Bowl quarter-finals kick off at 10.40am on Thursday before the Cup quarters commence at 12.20pm, with the four losing teams entering the Plate semis.

With Rugby World Cup winner Mils Muliaina in their ranks, the star-studded APBs left it late before winning their Pool A decider 7-0 against an impressive Hill and Associates Scottish Barbarians side featuring four Scotland sevens internationals.

The game was scoreless with two minutes left when the 1.95-metre Nadolo powered down the left flank and slipped the ball inside to flyhalf Stephen Brett before Samoa centre Seilala Mapusua touched down to set up a quarter-final clash with International Panthers, runners-up to Penguins in Pool B.

Tana Umaga, head coach of the BGC APBs, paid tribute to his team and his star player, who are seeking to go one better than last year, when the side lost in the final on their tournament debut.

“We got there in the end, but that’s the talent we have. All credit to the Scottish, they really took it to us. They played the corners, put in a driving maul, then a ruck, kick and go, and that’s not our strength. It was really just a set-piece kind of game,” said Umaga, the former New Zealand captain who won 74 caps for the All Blacks.

“Nadolo’s break was the defining moment for us. That’s why we’ve got him in there. We give him the ball and hope something happens.

“I first saw him here in Hong Kong for our first runaround and he came and stood with the backs. I said: ‘What are you doing, mate? The forwards are over there.’ Then everyone laughed at me and told me he was a winger! He has so much power and pace.”

Penguins racked up 57-0 wins over both China Agricultural University (CAU) of Beijing and the HKRFU Chairman’s X before running out 69-0 winners over a Panthers side featuring former All Black winger Caleb Ralph. Penguins will face the Scottish Barbarians in the last eight.

Tuitavake scored six tries to top the scoring stakes after day one and the winger said Penguins were determined to finally win in Hong Kong after reaching the final in their two first appearances in 2007 and 2008.

“I wasn’t expecting our scores to be so big, but we played well and obviously a lot of our boys know each other well from NZ,” said Tuitavake, whose elder brother Anthony was set to play for the APBs but had to withdraw through injury.

“We were very surprised at the APBs because we expected them to be ahead of Scottish when we arrived at the pitch, but it was scoreless until that big winger (Nadolo) came running down the side. If Scottish can give them a game, other teams can as well. It’s my first time in Hong Kong with Penguins and we’ve come to win. ”

New Zealand Legends, Cup finalists in 2009, upset third seeds SRC Borneo Eagles 12-0 in the Pool C decider, and will take on Tag Heuer Pyrenees of France.

Samurai, finalists two years ago, beat Pyrenees 17-0 to top Pool D and will have a tough encounter against Borneo in the Cup quarter-finals.

Samurai are also eager to triumph in Hong Kong and add to last year’s wins in the UK National Sevens Series, November’s Paradise Sevens in Australia and December’s Dubai Sevens International Invitational.

In the Bowl quarter-finals, Irish Vikings play CAU, A-Trade Overseas Old Boys take on Newedge Club, Lloyd McDermott Dingoes of Australia face Australian Country Invitational, and the HKRFU Chairman’s X tackle Playmore’s Shanghai Devils.

Now TV is broadcasting live coverage of Thursday afternoon’s action on Now Sports 3 (Channel 633, 3.00pm-8.30pm), as well as a post-tournament highlights show.

The GFI HKFC Tens is HK$100 per ticket on Thursday (10.40am-8.30pm), with all of the proceeds donated to the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF), the event’s official charity.

Former England internationals Steve Thompson, a 2003 Rugby World Cup winner, and Leon Lloyd will continue to help fundraising efforts in their roles as CNCF Ambassadors.

GFI, a leading brokerage service provider, has been the tournament’s title sponsor since 2006. Other sponsors this year include HSBC, UBS (both Gold Sponsors) and Swire Properties (Silver Sponsor), while official suppliers include Heineken (Beer), Tsunami Sport (Apparel) and Coast (Bar).

: Samurai players (left-to-right) Glen Robertson, Carl Axtens, Trent Boswell-Wakefield and Ash Dixon have all represented the New Zealand U-20 team in recent years

ULR Samurai International’s chances of winning this week’s GFI HKFC Tens at Hong Kong Football Club have been boosted by the addition of a host of New Zealand’s rising rugby stars.

Runners-up in 2010, Samurai were top seeds last year but lost to eventual champions Valley in the quarter-finals and are ranked fourth for this year’s event, which will be held on Wednesday and Thursday (March 21-22).

After a series of personnel changes, the young squad has been lifted by the inclusion of 22-year-old flanker Trent Boswell-Wakefield, a 2009 IRB Junior World Championship winner and a key player as Hawkes Bay won last year’s ITM Cup Championship to earn promotion to the Premiership.

Carl Axtens, the 20-year-old flanker who plays for Chiefs ‘A’ Development and helped New Zealand’s U-20s win the world title in Italy last June, is another recent recruit along with scrumhalf Lewis Hancock, his Bay of Plenty clubmate, and North Harbour fullback Jamie-Jerry Taulagi.

Fullback Ahsee Tuala (22), who also plays for Chiefs ‘A’, and flanker Sam Hayes-Stevenson (23), nicknamed ‘Crazy’, were the latest additions to the squad, which arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday.

“The guys who have come through the New Zealand U-20 ranks have been identified as players of the future, players who are looking to go on and earn higher honours,” said Blair Larsen, the former All Blacks forward who returns as Samurai coach.

“We’ve managed to put together a pretty exciting squad with some good, young players, having lost a couple through injury and one after a death in the family. We’re not going to be one of the biggest teams here, but we’ve got quite a nice balance so hopefully we can interchange players seamlessly.

“We haven’t got anyone over 25, but to be honest, there wouldn’t be too many old players in the top teams anyway. The players we’re using are ITM Cup players and in development teams for Super Rugby sides. Rugby’s getting younger and younger and Tens is a fast-paced game, so it’s a game for young guys.”

Larsen will be assisted this year by former England sevens head coach Mike Friday, who led England to a fourth straight Hong Kong Sevens title in 2006, and the coaching duo have a dynamic line-up to play with.

Jack Wilson, also of Bay of Plenty, is emerging as a leading light in the short-sided game and the 22-year-old flanker was recently training with the New Zealand sevens team after being included in Gordon Tietjens’ 30-man squad in January.

Hooker Ash Dixon, also a former ‘Baby Black’, was promoted to the full Blues Super Rugby squad for last year, while fellow forwards Manu Leiataua, Ross Wright – the squad’s two oldest players, at 25 – and Taione Vaea are playing for Blues Development this year.

Star backs include Jack McPhee, who played sevens for New Zealand in the Dubai and South Africa events in December 2010, and winger Glen Robertson, who currently plays with Axtens and Tuala for Chiefs ‘A’ and also represented the ‘Baby Blacks’ in Italy last year.

Although dominated by New Zealanders, Samurai’s squad also includes South African flanker Damian Bailey of Hong Kong Cricket Club.

The famous touring side are eager to win in Hong Kong for the first time and add to last year’s wins in the UK National Sevens Series, November’s Paradise Sevens in Australia and December’s Dubai Sevens International Invitational.

On Wednesday, Samurai play in Pool D against A-Trade Overseas Old Boys (1.30pm), Australian Country Invitational (4.50pm) and fifth seeds Tag Heuer Eyewear Pyrenees of France (8.35pm) in the day’s final game.

The BGC APBs, featuring 2011 Rugby World Cup winner Mils Muliaina, kick off the event with a Pool A match against Playmore’s Shanghai Devils (11.00am) before taking on Irish Vikings (2.20pm) and Hill and Associates Scottish Barbarians (7.20pm).

Second-seeded HSBC Penguins play in Pool B against China Agricultural University (11.50am), HKRFU Chairman’s X (3.10pm) and seventh seeds International Panthers (7.45pm).

Third-ranked SRC Borneo Eagles representing Sandakan Rugby Club in East Malaysia compete in Pool C against hosts Newedge Club (12.40pm), Lloyd McDermott Dingoes of Australia (4.00pm) and 2009 runners-up New Zealand Legends (8.10pm).

The GFI HKFC Tens is free entry on Wednesday (11.00am-9.00pm) and HK$100 per ticket on Thursday (10.40am-8.30pm), with all of the proceeds donated to the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF), the event’s official charity.

Former England internationals Steve Thompson, a 2003 Rugby World Cup winner, and Leon Lloyd will help with fundraising in their roles as CNCF Ambassadors.

Now TV is broadcasting live coverage of Thursday afternoon’s action on Now Sports 3 (Channel 633), as well as a post-tournament highlights show.

GFI, a leading brokerage service provider, has been the tournament’s title sponsor since 2006. Other sponsors this year include HSBC, UBS (both Gold Sponsors) and Swire Properties (Silver Sponsor), while official suppliers include Heineken (Beer), Tsunami Sport (Apparel) and Coast (Bar).

The event’s star players have included Joe Roff and Toutai Kefu (both 2006), Jonah Lomu (2007), Brian Lima (2008), Bobby Skinstad (2009) and Waisale Serevi (2010), while George Gregan, Justin Marshall and Christian Cullen helped BGC APBs reach last year’s final.

2012 GFI HKFC Tens

Hong Kong Football Club, March 21-22

Note: Seedings in brackets

Pool A: BGC APBs (1), Hill & Associates Scottish Barbarians (8), Irish Vikings (12), Playmore’s Shanghai Devils (16)

Pool B: HSBC Penguins (2), International Panthers (7), HKRFU Chairman’s X (11), China Agricultural University (15)

Pool C: SRC Borneo Eagles (3), New Zealand Legends (6), Lloyd McDermott Dingoes (10), Newedge Club (14)

Pool D: ULR Samurai International (4), Tag Heuer Eyewear Pyrenees (5), Australian Country Invitational (9), A-Trade Overseas Old Boys (13)

Giant Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo gets to grips with nine-year-old students Harry Hui (left) and Justin Ming during the BGC APBs’ visit to Bradbury School. Photo: Garrige Ho/Two Up Front.

BGC APBs head coach Tana Umaga is promising the star-studded team will be fired up and ready to play when the GFI HKFC Tens begins on Wednesday.

The squad got their week off to a relaxed start on Monday with a light-hearted games lesson with primary school children followed by a gentle training run, but Umaga is clear that his side will be all business once the rugby starts.

“We’ve got a lot of talent and experience in the squad and right now we are having fun, laughing and joking and getting to know one another,” he sai

“But these guys are professionals and, once the tournament begins, pride comes into it. They have that competitive edge and they will step up at the right time. We’re looking forward to the tournament.”

The BGC APBs are the top draw in the Tens, which will take place this Wednesday and Thursday at Hong Kong Football Club.

Their stellar line-up includes 2011 Rugby World Cup winner and 100-cap All Blacks legend Mils Muliaina and his former New Zealand teammate Justin Marshall.

They are joined by four other stars from last year’s World Cup, Samoan duo Seilala Mapusua and Junior Poluleuligaga, Tonga’s Viliami Ma’afu and USA captain Todd Clever.

A trio of Fijian flyers, 2005 RWC Sevens winner Vilimoni Delasau, giant winger Nemani Nadolo and promising youngster Alfred Dakuitoga, give the team massive try-scoring potential.

Umaga, meanwhile, played in 74 tests – including 21 as captain – for New Zealand between 1997 and 2005 and is joined on the coaching staff by his former All Blacks teammate Filo Tiatia.

The BGC APBs were all smiles as they played touch rugby and passing games with excited students at Bradbury School in Stubbs Road, Hong Kong, before heading off to a team training session at Happy Valley.

“It was great for the players and a good way to start the week,” said Umaga. “The kids were very receptive to rugby and we enjoyed interacting with them and getting to know each other at the same time. Rugby is great for bringing people together and that’s what we saw today.”

The BGC APBs will continue their build-up to the Tens with a training and meet-the-students session at Chinese International School in Braemar Hill from 11:45am on Tuesday.

Former New Zealand sevens captain Ed Cocker is also in the Borneo squad, who represent Sandakan Rugby Club in Sabah, East Malaysia. The Eagles are seeded third in the 16-team event, which will be held at Hong Kong Football Club on Wednesday and Thursday (March 21-22).

Ah Chong, who is of Samoan heritage, was named Player of the Hottest 7s in January and was the second-highest try scorer with seven, including two in the 42-10 victory over Fijian side Daveta in the final.

Khan, whose father is Indo-Fijian and mother Rotuman, ran in nine tries to finish as the event’s top try scorer, two weeks after helping Auckland retain their New Zealand National Sevens title in Queenstown.

Both Khan and Cocker helped Valley win last year’s GFI HKFC Tens, while Ah Chong missed the event through injury as Borneo reached the semi-finals. The 24-year-old Samoan thinks a number of exciting additions makes the Eagles genuine contenders for this year’s title.

“We were one step short last year, so our goal is to get to the final and win it. I think we’ve got a pretty good squad, although all of the top teams are there for a reason – to win it,” said Ah Chong.

“The team missed Rocky last year because he was with Valley, who were champions, so I’m really happy to be on the same side as him again. He’s a smart player and really knows how to play the game.

“We played really well in Darwin to win for a third time and even though we were defending champions, we approached each game as underdogs and tried to play as a new team. Ed Cocker’s a really good player and will also make a big difference.”

Ah Chong was also a star at the SCC Sevens in Singapore last November, although his three tries for Borneo in the final weren’t enough as Daveta lifted the trophy.

The Eagles also have Samoa internationals Lucky Mulipola, the 1.92-metre, 124-kilogramme former Highlanders centre who played in last year’s World Cup, and big prop Simon Lemalu, who just missed out on the squad for New Zealand.

Fiji flanker Malakai Ravulo, who played in last year’s Rugby World Cup, returns to Hong Kong with Borneo and is joined by several North Harbour clubmates including scrumhalf Phil Tuigamala, nephew of former All Blacks winger Va’aiga Tuigamala.

However, Ah Chong is most excited about watching – and possibly playing against –

2011 Rugby World Cup winner Mils Muliaina, the 100-cap All Black who will star for top seeds BGC APBs.

“I’m really looking forward to Mils Muliaina because I’ve always liked watching him play. I’ve never played with or against him before. You only get to play against guys like him once in a lifetime,” Ah Chong said.

“I’m excited about Hong Kong because it was one of the best tournaments I’ve ever played in, sevens or tens. The stadium, the crowd, atmosphere, everything was great.”

On Wednesday, Borneo compete in Pool C against hosts Newedge Club (12.40pm), Lloyd McDermott Dingoes of Australia (4.00pm) and 2009 runners-up New Zealand Legends (8.10pm).

The BGC APBs kick off the event with a Pool A match against Playmore’s Shanghai Devils (11.00am) before taking on Irish Vikings (2.20pm) and Hill and Associates Scottish Barbarians (7.20pm).

Second-seeded HSBC Penguins play in Pool B against China Agricultural University (11.50am), HKRFU Chairman’s X (3.10pm) and seventh seeds International Panthers (7.45pm).

Fourth seeds ULR Samurai International play in Pool D against A-Trade Overseas Old Boys (1.30pm), Australian Country Invitational (4.50pm) and fifth seeds Tag Heuer Eyewear Pyrenees of France (8.35pm) in the day’s final game.

The GFI HKFC Tens is free entry on Wednesday (11.00am-9.00pm) and HK$100 per ticket on Thursday (10.40am-8.30pm), with all of the proceeds going to the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF), the event’s official charity.

Former England internationals Steve Thompson, a 2003 Rugby World Cup winner, and Leon Lloyd will help with fundraising in their roles as CNCF Ambassadors.

Now TV, Hong Kong’s largest pay-TV operator, is broadcasting live coverage of Thursday afternoon’s action on Now Sports 4 (channel 634), as well as a post-tournament highlights show.

GFI, a leading brokerage service provider, has been the tournament’s title sponsor since 2006. Other sponsors this year include HSBC, UBS (both Gold Sponsors) and Swire Properties (Silver Sponsor), while official suppliers include Heineken (Beer), Tsunami Sport (Apparel) and Coast (Bar).

The event’s star players have included Joe Roff and Toutai Kefu (both 2006), Jonah Lomu (2007), Brian Lima (2008), Bobby Skinstad (2009) and Waisale Serevi (2010), while George Gregan, Justin Marshall and Christian Cullen helped BGC APBs reach last year’s final.

2012 GFI HKFC Tens

Hong Kong Football Club, March 21-22

Note: Seedings in brackets

Pool A: BGC APBs (1), Hill & Associates Scottish Barbarians (8), Irish Vikings (12), Playmore’s Shanghai Devils (16)

Pool B: HSBC Penguins (2), International Panthers (7), HKRFU Chairman’s X (11), China Agricultural University (15)

Pool C: SRC Borneo Eagles (3), New Zealand Legends (6), Lloyd McDermott Dingoes (10), Newedge Club (14)

Pool D: ULR Samurai International (4), Tag Heuer Eyewear Pyrenees (5), Australian Country Invitational (9), A-Trade Overseas Old Boys (13)

Nafi Tuitavake receives the Ablitt Cup after HSBC Penguins win the 2010 SCC Sevens in Singapore

Nafi Tuitavake has been included in a strong HSBC Penguins squad for next week’s GFI HKFC Tens in Hong Kong, where he could come up against his elder brother Anthony, the tough-tackling former All Black. The 16-team tournament will be held at Hong Kong Football Club from March 21-22.

The younger Tuitavake, a four-year New Zealand sevens player who scored his first international try at Hong Kong Stadium in 2007, captained Penguins to victory in the 2010 SCC Sevens in Singapore and will star for the second seeds at Sports Road.

North Harbour head coach Liam Barry, a one-cap All Black, is in charge of a Kiwi-dominated squad of players who, following hooker Paul Ngauamo’s withdrawal, are all playing for Penguins in Hong Kong for the first time.

Forwards include flankers Matt Vant Leven and the giant Mat Luamanu, who played Super Rugby for the Chiefs and Blues respectively last year.

Scrumhalf Chad Tuoro and winger Leka Tupuola have played sevens for New Zealand, while other key players include flyhalf Willie Walker, the former New Zealand Maori who played in the English Premiership, and South African Frank Wagenstroom who played wing for Sharks and Cheetahs.

Despite the strong support, the 23-year-old Nafi will be wary of his big brother, who’ll play for Tana Umaga’s top-seeded BGC APBs along with World Cup winner Mils Muliaina and Justin Marshall. Both Tuitavakes play centre or wing and could go face to face in the final, if not earlier.

“I’d be excited to play against him, but I don’t want to get hit by him. He’s a really good defender, knows how to put a good shoulder in and makes some big hits. He’s also very fast. I’d need to put brotherly love aside for the match and just give it my best,” said Nafi, who has been in good form the Chiefs Development team this year.

“We’ve never played against each other in competition, but I guess the most competitive level was in training for North Harbour. It was the academy guys against the first team and it was live, you had to prove yourself. We went up against each other a couple of times.”

Nafi admits he’d rather play with Anthony than against him and retains good memories of teaming up for North Harbour’s first team in the ITM Cup, New Zealand’s top domestic competition.

“We played a lot together during my first season in the first team and it was an awesome experience,” said Nafi, who helped New Zealand’s U-20 side win the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan. “Sometimes he’d play second five (inside centre) and I’d play outside centre, or he’d play outside centre and I’d play wing.”

Anthony, now 30, won win six caps for the All Blacks in 2008 and played Super Rugby for Highlanders and Blues before his move to NEC Green Rockets in Japan, where he plays today.

Nafi is now looking to trump his brother in Hong Kong and continue his winning record for Penguins, having also helped the side retain the COBRA 10s in Kuala Lumpur last November when he played as a guest in the final.

“I’ve only played Tens once, at the COBRA 10s, and it’s a completely different game from sevens – you get shut down really quickly. It’s not as free flowing,” Nafi said.

“However, I think Penguins have a good squad for Hong Kong. I’m friends with Mat Luamanu because we play ITM Cup for North Harbour and also Ray Niuia, who’s in the North Harbour development squad. I know Willie Walker because when I was young he was playing with my brother at North Harbour.

The speedster is also looking forward to returning to Hong Kong, the scene of his greatest career memory after New Zealand sevens coach Gordon ‘Titch’ Tietjens selected an opportune moment to unleash the then 18-year-old.

“The first time I put on the New Zealand jersey was in 2007, in Hong Kong, and I scored with my first touch,” Nafi says. “We were playing against Chinese Taipei and ‘Titch’ put me on the final minute. Victor Vitu passed me the ball and I managed to get away and ran about 50 or 60 metres for the try.”

The BGC APBs will kick off the GFI HKFC Tens at 11.00am on March 21 with a Pool A match against Playmore’s Shanghai Devils, which will be followed by Hill and Associates Scottish Barbarians taking on Irish Vikings.

HSBC Penguins, finalists in 2007 and 2008, will play in Pool B against International Panthers from Australia, HKRFU Chairman’s X and China Agricultural University.

Third-ranked Borneo Eagles from the Sandakan Rugby Club in Sabah, East Malaysia, will play in Pool C with 2009 runners-up New Zealand Legends, Lloyd McDermott Dingoes of Australia and hosts Newedge Club.

ULR Samurai International, runners-up in 2010 and top seeds last year, are seeded fourth and play in Pool D with Tag Heuer Eyewear Pyrenees of France, Australian Country Invitational and A-Trade Overseas Old Boys.

The GFI HKFC Tens is free entry on Wednesday (11.00am-9.00pm) and HK$100 per ticket on Thursday (10.40am-8.30pm), with all of the proceeds going to the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF), the event’s official charity. CNCF Ambassadors Steve Thompson, England’s most-capped hooker and a 2003 Rugby World Cup winner, and former England teammate Leon Lloyd will help with fundraising.

Now TV, Hong Kong’s largest pay-TV operator, is again broadcasting live action on Thursday as well as a post-tournament highlights show.

GFI, a leading brokerage service provider, has been the tournament’s title sponsor since 2006. Other sponsors this year include HSBC, UBS (both Gold Sponsors) and Swire Properties (Silver Sponsor), while official suppliers include Heineken (Beer), Tsunami Sport (Apparel) and Coast (Bar).

The event’s star players have included Joe Roff and Toutai Kefu (both 2006), Jonah Lomu (2007), Brian Lima (2008), Bobby Skinstad (2009) and Waisale Serevi (2010), while George Gregan, Justin Marshall and Christian Cullen helped BGC Asia Pacific Barbarians reach last year’s final.

2012 GFI HKFC Tens

Hong Kong Football Club, March 21-22

Note: Seedings in brackets

Pool A: BGC APBs (1), Hill & Associates Scottish Barbarians (8), Irish Vikings (12), Playmore’s Shanghai Devils (16)

Pool B: HSBC Penguins (2), International Panthers (7), HKRFU Chairman’s X (11), China Agricultural University (15)

Pool C: SRC Borneo Eagles (3), New Zealand Legends (6), Lloyd McDermott Dingoes (10), Newedge Club (14)

Pool D: ULR Samurai International (4), Tag Heuer Eyewear Pyrenees (5), Australian Country Invitational (9), A-Trade Overseas Old Boys (13)

All Blacks great Justin Marshall has confirmed he will return for the star-studded BGC APBs at the upcoming GFI HKFC Tens, which will be held at Hong Kong Football Club from March 21-22.

The 81-cap scrumhalf will be joined by two of his compatriots – New Zealand sevens legend Orene Ai’i and former Crusaders and Blues flyhalf Stephen Brett.

Latest additions to the APBs squad also include four other Rugby World Cup stars – ex-Japan captain Takuro Miuchi and Tongan trio Epi Taione, Hale T-Pole and Nili Latu.

The team will also have the services of giant Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo, who set a Japan Rugby Top League record in December when scoring six tries in a game.

The APBs have already announced that 2011 Rugby World Cup winner Mils Muliaina will appear for them in the Tens together with his former international teammate Anthony Tuitavake and Fijian flyer Vilimoni Delasau, a Rugby World Cup Sevens winner in 2005.

The Hong Kong-bound squad will be coached by another New Zealand great, former test captain Tana Umaga, and he will be assisted by ex-All Blacks forward Filo Tiatia.

Marshall, who also captained the All Blacks four times in a stellar international career spanning a decade, played for the APBs in their first appearance at the Tens last year when they reached the Cup final.

He believes that this year’s squad will be highly attractive to fans and well capable of contending for the Cup.

“I had a fantastic time at last year’s Tens so I’m really looking forward to meeting up with my APBs teammates again and having another go at the title,” he said.

“We came very close to winning the Cup at our first attempt last year and this time around everyone is 100 per cent determined to go one better. Hopefully, we can entertain the crowd, score a few tries and, ultimately, lift the Cup.”

Young Kiwi flanker Matt Blain, the 2010 Queensland Premier Player of the Year who plays with Ralph at the Sunshine Coast Stingrays, and Francis Cullimore, the former Waratahs centre who played sevens for New Zealand and Australia, are also in the new-look Panthers squad.

David Kelaher, the former Australia sevens captain, provides continuity from the side’s last appearance in Hong Kong in 2008 and will act as player/coach, while former Australia winger Peter Jorgensen also returns.

Ralph, who played 14 tests for the All Blacks from 1998-2003, joined Australia legend George Gregan as Super Rugby’s third-most capped players with 136 games after making a surprise appearance last year for the Reds, the eventual champions.

Now 34, the former Crusaders winger is expected to be one of the stars of the GFI HKFC Tens as he returns to Hong Kong for the first time since helping New Zealand reach the semi-finals of the 1997 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

“I recently played my first-ever 10s tournament in Bangkok, for a club side, and I noticed those three extra players make quite a difference compared to sevens,” said Ralph, a New Zealand sevens regular from 1996-2000 and part of the 1998 Commonwealth Games gold-winning side in Kuala Lumpur.

“I’m really looking forward to going back to Hong Kong and playing for Panthers for the first time. It should be a lot of fun. I know Matty [Blain] well from the Stingrays, but not too many of the others, so it’s tough to predict how well we’ll do.

“I’ll be in Hong Kong for the whole week, so I’ll stay on to watch the Sevens. It’ll be good to be on the other side of the lines.”

Ralph was player/manager for the Stingrays last year, but made headlines with his cameo appearance for the Reds as he tied Gregan in Super Rugby appearances.

However, he was unable to add to his 58 tries and remains one behind Doug Howlett on the competition’s all-time try-scoring list. Ralph scored the majority of his tries while helping Crusaders win six Super Rugby titles from 1999 to 2008, before moving to Japan.

“You don’t really think about these records when you’re playing, but as I was told, you become quite proud of them later on. I’ve had a great career, so it’s nice to look back and appreciate these kinds of things,” said Ralph, whose record also includes four tries at the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Joe Roff, Toutai Kefu and Matt Cockbain headlined the Panthers squad that won the Plate at the 2006 GFI HKFC Tens, while Kefu also helped the side top their pool in 2005 and lift the Bowl in their most recent appearance in 2008.

The Panthers are seeded seventh this year and are in Group B with the second-ranked HSBC Penguins, finalists in 2007 and 2008, the HKRFU Chairman’s X and China Agricultural University of Beijing.

Tournament favourites BGC APBs are in Group A with Hill and Associates Scottish Barbarians, Irish Vikings and Playmore’s Shanghai Devils.

Third-ranked Borneo Eagles from the Sandakan Rugby Club in Sabah, East Malaysia, will play in Pool C with 2009 runners-up New Zealand Legends, Lloyd McDermott Foundation of Australia and hosts Hong Kong Football Club.

Samurai International, runners-up in 2010 and top seeds last year, are seeded fourth and play in Pool D with Tag Heuer Eyewear Pyrenees of France, Australian Country Invitational and Overseas Old Boys.

The tournament is free entry on Wednesday and HK$100 per ticket on Thursday, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF), the tournament’s official charity.

Steve Thompson, England’s most-capped hooker and a 2003 Rugby World Cup winner, and former England teammate Leon Lloyd will help with fundraising activities at the tournament in their new role as CNCF Ambassadors.

In recent years, star players have included Joe Roff and Toutai Kefu (both 2006), Jonah Lomu (2007), Brian Lima (2008), Bobby Skinstad (2009) and Waisale Serevi (2010). In 2011, George Gregan, Justin Marshall and Christian Cullen starred for BGC Asia Pacific Barbarians.

Now TV, Hong Kong’s largest pay-TV operator, is again broadcasting live action on Thursday as well as a post-tournament highlights show.

GFI, a leading brokerage service provider, has been the tournament’s title sponsor since 2006. Other sponsors this year include HSBC, UBS (both Gold Sponsors) and Swire Properties (Silver Sponsor), while official suppliers include Heineken (Beer), Tsunami Sport (Kit) and Coast (Bar).

2012 GFI HKFC Tens

Hong Kong Football Club, March 21-22

Note: Seedings in brackets

Pool A: BGC APBs (1), Hill & Associates Scottish Barbarians (8), Irish Vikings (12), Playmore’s Shanghai Devils (16)

Pool B: HSBC Penguins (2), International Panthers (7), HKRFU Chairman’s X (11), China Agricultural University (15)

Pool C: SRC Borneo Eagles (3), New Zealand Legends (6), Lloyd McDermott Foundation (10), Hong Kong Football Club (14)

Pool D: Samurai International (4), Tag Heuer Eyewear Pyrenees (5), Australian Country Invitational (9), Overseas Old Boys (13)

Hong Kong Scottish representatives (left to right) James Murray, coach Craig Wilson, Tom Bury, Murray Allan and Dave Whiteford pose ahead of Hill and Associates Scottish Barbarians’ debut in the GFI HKFC Tens from March 21-22

Tana Umaga’s top-seeded BGC APBs will face a strong Hill and Associates Scottish Barbarians side on the first day of next month’s GFI HKFC Tens after being drawn with the first-timers in Pool A. The 16-team tournament will be held at Hong Kong Football Club from March 21-22.

HSBC Penguins, two-time finalists, have been seeded second, while Borneo Eagles of Malaysia and 2010 runners-up Samurai International are ranked third and fourth respectively.

Rugby World Cup winner Mils Muliaina is among the star players for the Umaga-coached BGC APBs who last year reached the final on their tournament debut under Australia great David Campese.

However, Scottish Barbarians could prove a tough test as the squad is set to feature four Scotland sevens squad members not selected for the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, as well as leading players from Hong Kong Scottish and other local Premiership clubs.

Irish Vikings, who have former England winger David Rees heading an international line-up, and Playmore’s Shanghai Devils from the Shanghai Rugby Football Club are Pool A’s other two teams.

Dave Whiteford, General Manager for Hong Kong Scottish and a manager for Scottish Barbarians, believes the eighth seeds will impress on their GFI HKFC Tens debut.

“The four Scotland sevens players should help us make an impact, while our Hong Kong Scottish players include former sevens international Tom Bury and four former Scotland U-20 players. We also have some good players from other local clubs,” said Whiteford, one of the former U-20 representatives in the Scottish Barbarians squad.

“It will be a highlight for a lot of our players to play against Mils Muliaina, an All Blacks legend with 100 caps, especially less than six months after he won the Rugby World Cup. Irish Vikings have always been quite strong with some star names and that will be a key match if we want to qualify for the Cup quarter-finals.

“We’re promoting awareness of the Scottish Barbarians through a variety of societies and other channels, and even have the support of the Scottish Rugby Union, so hopefully we’ll have good numbers watching us at Football Club.”

The HSBC Penguins, runners-up in 2007 and 2008 and winners of the last two COBRA 10s in Kuala Lumpur, have been drawn in Pool B with International Panthers of Australia, who won the Plate in 2006.

The HKRFU Chairman’s X, made up of Hong Kong squad players, and China Agricultural University of Beijing are also in Pool B.

Borneo Eagles, who last month won a third straight title at the Hottest 7s in the World in Darwin, Australia, will play in Pool C with Brendan Laney’s sixth-seeded New Zealand Legends, runners-up in 2009 and pipped by BGC Asia Pacific Barbarians in last year’s quarter-finals.

The indigenous-focused Lloyd McDermott Foundation of Australia, Plate finalists last year and coached by former Wallaby Glen Ella, and hosts Hong Kong Football Club, the reigning Bowl champions, also play in Pool C.

Samurai, runners-up in 2010 and top seeds last year, are seeded fourth and will need to progress from Pool D if they’re to win the Hong Kong title for the first time following wins in Gold Coast and Dubai at the end of last year.

The renowned touring club, whose squad will be dominated by New Zealanders, have been drawn with fifth-seeded Tag Heuer Eyewear Pyrenees of France, Australian Country Invitational and Overseas Old Boys.

The tournament will encourage spectators with free entry on Wednesday and HK$100 tickets on Thursday.

Steve Thompson, England’s most-capped hooker and a 2003 Rugby World Cup winner, and former Leicester and England winger Leon Lloyd will attend as Ambassadors for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation, the official charity of the GFI HKFC Tens.

In recent years, star players have included rugby legends Joe Roff and Toutai Kefu (both 2006), Jonah Lomu (2007), Brian Lima (2008), Bobby Skinstad (2009) and Waisale Serevi (2010). In 2011, George Gregan, Justin Marshall and Christian Cullen starred for BGC Asia Pacific Barbarians.

Now TV, the largest pay-TV operator in Hong Kong, is again broadcasting live action on Thursday as well as a post-tournament highlights show

GFI, a leading brokerage service provider, has been the tournament’s title sponsor since 2006, while other sponsors this year include HSBC, UBS (both Gold Sponsors) and Swire Properties (Silver Sponsor). Official suppliers include Heineken (Beer), Tsunami Sport (Kit) and Coast (Bar).

2012 GFI HKFC Tens

Hong Kong Football Club, March 21-22

Note: Tournament seedings in brackets

Pool A

APBs (1)

Hill & Associates Scottish Barbarians (8)

Irish Vikings (12)

Playmore’s Shanghai Devils (16)

Pool B

HSBC Penguins (2)

International Panthers (7)

HKRFU Chairman’s X (11)

China Agricultural University (15)

Pool C

SRC Borneo Eagles (3)

New Zealand Legends (6)

Lloyd McDermott Foundation (10)

Hong Kong Football Club (14)

Pool D

Samurai International (4)

Tag Heuer Eyewear Pyrenees (5)

Australian Country Invitational (9)

Overseas Old Boys (13)

Steve Thompson and England teammate Jonny Wilkinson take on New Zealand. Photo: Andrew Fosker/Seconds Left Images.

What are you hoping to achieve for CNCF in Hong Kong?

Despite just getting involved with the Foundation, I’m already quite proud of it. It’s massive that CNCF has become the official charity for the GFI HKFC Tens and it goes to show how much work the staff and volunteers put into it and how much passion they have. Sometimes with charities you can question what they’re doing, but with CNCF you can see straight away where the money goes and what it’s for. With one Foundation and one aim, everyone can work closely and achieve specific goals. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the Foundation works in Hong Kong.

The whole point of me getting involved is to help raise money. There is a social side, as there was in Dubai, because you need to have fun. The more fun the crowd has, the more they’ll give, and that’s what we’re here for. At the end of the day, these kids are really benefitting from it.

After Hong Kong, you’re going to Vietnam to visit CNCF’s operation in Ho Chi Minh City. What are your expectations?

I’ve seen programmes on TV and read leaflets, but until you’re actually there to see it for yourself, that’s when you can comment on it. I’m looking forward to going there for a first visit so I can open my own eyes and take it all in.

You’ve joined as a CNCF Ambassador at the same time as Leon Lloyd and are travelling through Asia together. How long have you known each other?

Because we’re about the same age, we go back to age-group rugby and did England U-19s and U-21s together. I’ve ‘hated’ him for years because he played for Leicester and I was Northampton and we were big rivals. I got to know him on and off the pitch. He retired a few years ago, but the charity has brought us back into the same circles.

Looking back on your playing career for club and country, what are your highlights?

I’ll always remember my first cap, which was against Scotland at Twickenham in the 2002 Six Nations. Every game at Twickenham was a massive highlight. I’m a proud Englishman, so I just love singing the national anthem. There’s no better feeling than when the band starts and the whole ground starts singing. For me, the pride in doing that is one thing I’ll miss massively.

The summer tour before the 2003 World Cup, when we won in Australia and New Zealand, was massive. We’d never won in Australia before that so to do that and beat New Zealand as well was a massive highlight.

Of course, there’s the World Cup. Afterwards was also one of my biggest downers as well. We were so focused on winning it and when we went back into the changing room afterwards, the World Cup was sat there, and it felt like: is that it? There was an empty sort of feeling, a bit like Boxing Day when you’re a kid. It was a great experience, though.

How do you think rugby fans will remember you?

Everyone that talks to me always says that I’m nicer than they thought I was going to be! I’d hate for people to think I’m arrogant, but they say I look arrogant on the field. It’s quite a bad thing to say. I’m also hated in other countries. Whenever I go there, people say I’m actually quite a nice bloke, like they’re surprised! I’d like to be thought of as determined, driven, passionate and loyal. That’s the thing about rugby – it’s a team game and I love that aspect.

Factbox

Name: Steve Geoffrey Thompson

Born: Hemel Hempstead, England; July 15, 1978

Height: 1.88m (6ft 2in)

Weight: 118kg (18st 8lb)

School: Northampton School for Boys

Position: Hooker

Years               Club/team                              Caps (points)

1998-2007     Northampton Saints (ENG)  195 (80)

2007-2010     CA Brive (FRA)                      42 (10)

2010-2011     Leeds Carnegie (ENG)          15 (15)

2011-2011     London Wasps                      0 (0)

Years               National team(s)

2002-2011     England                                  73 (20)

2005               British and Irish Lions          3 (0)