Meet the Piratas, our all-women’s touch rugby team for aunties in our community

Grant Abbott, head coach of the Piratas shares some more information about our dynamic all-women’s touch rugby team for domestic helpers living and working in and around Discovery Bay. We also hear from some of the ladies in the team about what the Piratas mean to them.

Introducing coach Grant

Who are the Piratas?
We are a domestic helper, ladies touch team. It is a league with HKCR and Rugby for Good program. Where most of the ladies live and work in Discovery Bay, we do have Piratas ladies from other parts of Hong Kong.

What kind of support does the club provide to the team.?
The DB Pirates have are an invaluable support.

They have provided shirts that the ladies wear with huge pride to have the club logo on their chest with their name and shirt number on the back. Each player has a unique shirt number and they choose the name on their shirt.

DB Pirates assists with transport to our matches if needed as well support the team practice at North Plaza pitch.

What has been the most rewarding part of coaching the Piratas.
Many of the ladies have never played rugby let alone understand laws and standards of the game. To see the players and team grow and learn has been very rewarding to myself

Also that within DB and through Hong Kong we are able to give back to the ladies that have a huge impact and part within our lives here.

Training the team or through my son’s teams over the years has given me a release or redirection of energy from working in Hong Kong, it’s not easy but the change in focus has given me a reflection in myself and what I can add to the DB Pirates and our community.

What’s been your favourite moment or memory from training or matches with the team?
A few years ago, the ladies won the B division championship and the whole team’s reaction at the end of the game was very special. It meant a lot to the whole squad, a moment they will always remember

Another memory has been the times where the squad had tickets to HKG 7’s Sunday. The team love to wear their DB Pirate shirts to the event and that the whole squad together in the stand, they do stand out and love representing DB for the Hong Kong rugby community.

When and where do the Piratas train and how can potential players or members of the club get involved.
The ladies train Friday night 8:30pm at North plaza pitch.  If any helper or even those in community wish come down and trial or have run with the team all are welcome to. The team trains or plays all year round to add some exercise fun laughs and banter through the year.

Meet some of our players

How long have you been with the team?
I have been with the Piratas for 3 years

What motivated you to join the Piratas and start playing rugby?
What motivated me most is that if my fellow aunty can learn how to play rugby I can do what they can also and prove to myself that we Pilipina can also play a foreign game.

How has playing rugby with the Piratas impacted your life?
The impact that rugby gives to my life is to learn how to manage my time between my work and to join into our weekly training and to have a lot of patience and having a lot of friends.

What’s been your favorite moment or memory from training or matches with the team?
For me there is no favorite memories because every time we were together, we make sure that we make a happy bond with our team mates every time where together and to the other teams when have a tournament. All the memories are special for me that you can look back happy or sad, good or bad.

What advice would you give to anyone considering joining the Piratas?
The advice that i can give is don’t hesitate to try if we can do it, you guys can do it too. Don’t be afraid to try, you have nothing to lose if you try, what matters is that you tried.

 

How long have you been with the team?
I have been with the Piratas for 5 years

What motivated you to join the Piratas and start playing rugby?
I wanted to boost my strength and endurance through running as well as meeting friends and as a stress reliever.

How has playing rugby with the Piratas impacted your life?
I’m always happy and gain my endurance, strength and confidence.

What’s been your favorite moment or memory from training or matches with the team?
I enjoy running and learning the moves. I am also more focused and happy and positive with my friends

What advice would you give to anyone considering joining the Piratas?
Keep working on your goals and keep doing what you love to do.

 

How long have you been with the team?
I have been with the Piratas for 4 years

What motivated you to join the Piratas and start playing rugby?
It motivated my endurance, skills and to know the strategies in playing rugby.

How has playing rugby with the Piratas impacted your life?
Playing rugby has impacted my personal life so much, it really helps me to build my confidence and to be physically fit and emotionally strong 💪

What’s been your favorite moment or memory from training or matches with the team?
Some of my favorite moments or memories with team is after training and after the match, we are united as ONE.. Building relationships like a brothers/sisters.

What advice would you give to anyone considering joining the Piratas?
The advice that I can give to the new players is that you have that willingness to learn the skills, strategies and of course listen to Coach Grant all the time (Focus is the key) 🤗

 

How long have you been with the team?
I have been with the Piratas for 3 months

What motivated you to join the Piratas and start playing rugby?
I’m motivated to join the team by the challenge of competing and the opportunity to be a part of a group.

How has playing rugby with the Piratas impacted your life?
Playing rugby has a good impact improving my physical health, work with the team, and confidence.

What’s been your favorite moment or memory from training or matches with the team?
My favorite moment from training was when I scored a try.

What advice would you give to anyone considering joining the Piratas?
My advice I can give to anyone considering  joining the Piratas is focus and maintain a positive attitude, work hard, and learn from your mistakes.