Hong Kong Football Club’s Rugby Section has appointed Hannah Edwards as Director of Rugby Operations. She has already begun in the role, stepping up from Head of Women’s Rugby, a position she has held since August 2024.
Edwards now leads rugby operations across the whole section, from the performance programmes through to the community teams, across men’s and women’s rugby and the youth section.
In taking the role she becomes the first woman to lead rugby at HKFC, and one of very few women leading a club rugby operation anywhere in Asia. It is a natural step for a section that has spent recent years investing seriously in the women’s and girls’ game, and one the Club is proud to be taking.
She succeeds Andrew Durutalo, who has decided to step down to pursue other endeavours. Durutalo joined the Club in July 2025 and the Rugby Section thanks him for his contribution.
Edwards previously spent more than a decade with England Rugby, developing coaching content for the National Coach Development team and supporting England Rugby’s girls’ talent pathway with the England U18s. As a player she made 175 appearances for Wasps in the English Premiership across fourteen years and represented England at U20 level.
At HKFC she has led and developed the Club’s women’s programme, working as Head Coach of HKFC Natixis Ice, the Club’s senior women’s Premiership side, while also serving as Director of Youth Rugby.
With this transition, Charli Jacoby has been appointed Head of Women’s Performance. Jacoby joined the programme as forwards coach and is also currently working with The Hong Kong National Women’s Squad. A separate announcement will follow.
Edwards takes on the role in a demanding season. More than 20 HKFC players will be missing from club competition for periods of the coming year as they prepare with Hong Kong China for the 2027 Rugby World Cup and the challenge for Olympic Sevens qualification. Supporting the men’s elite programme through that stretch is among her first priorities, and a challenge the Club is proud to face.