The new agreement, which will run for a four-year period, covers the men and women's senior and age-grade national teams, extending HSBC's support of rugby in Hong Kong after becoming the co-title sponsor of the world-renowned Hong Kong Sevens in May 2011.

After a successful campaign in the HSBC Asian Five Nations 2011, the Hong Kong men's national team is currently ranked second overall in Asia at fifteens rugby and is tied-third in sevens behind Korea and Japan.

Meanwhile, the women's squad are the current bronze medallists in the East Asian Games and were placed fourth at the Asian Games.

HKRFU chair Trevor Gregory said: "The HKRFU is delighted to welcome HSBC onboard as the principal partner of our national rugby teams.

"The sponsorship further deepens our relationship with one of Hong Kong's iconic companies and I am confident that together with the support of HSBC, the HKRFU will continue to make great strides in developing rugby in Hong Kong.

"The support from HSBC across all levels will help our national teams continue to meet their performance goals as we look ahead to building on our position in Asia and continue to prepare for events like the Rugby World Cup Sevens in 2013."

The sponsorship coincided perfectly with last weekend's Shanghai Sevens tournament at the Yuanshen Stadium, where Hong Kong's men came second, after champions Korea.

The Shanghai Sevens is the first of four events in the inaugural HSBC Asian Sevens Series 2011, with the next competition being the Borneo Sevens in Malaysia on September 24-25 where Hong Kong are the reigning champions.

Mark McCombe, chief executive of HSBC Hong Kong, added: "HSBC is extremely proud of its Hong Kong heritage and we are delighted to come on board as the shirt sponsor of the Hong Kong team, as part of our long-term commitment to rugby here and across the region."

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