We are heartbroken to share the news that former Valley player Khrist Kopetzky has sadly passed away. Khrist was a fierce competitor on the field and contributed to a significant amount of Valley championship wins. He was a loyal team mate and friend to us all at Valley, and his presence will be sorely missed.

Our sincere condolences go out to Khrist's family and friends, and especially to his wife Paige and their son. Much love to you all from the Valley family. In memory of Khrist, we share this personal message from his former teammate and Valley Life member, Nick Hewson:

Dear Valley family,

I write this with a very heavy heart, Khrist (Kopet as we knew him) Kopetzky was a highly skilled, well-liked character. The ladies particularly admired Kopet’s great body as regular seen with his top off down at the Valley personal training or kicking a ball. The front rowers didn’t particularly like it when he was strolling around with his well-built muscley body.

He was a kind person and had great leadership, a professional in terms of practicing his skills to make himself better. He was with the Valley Fort coaching set up coaching the U19s. This was his first team he coached and he continued this role for several seasons along with being a teacher at FIS. He was admired as a role model and highly skilled coach.

He was part of Valley RFC’s first teams winning side 5 times in a row in the mid 2010’s He possessed a powerful pass and massive boot and was a very competitive scrum half who was always cheeky to the opposition (could kick goals from over 50m out). Kopet was a person who was a role model for younger French people in the club and was always welcoming and helping with skills of others before training.

His achievements before coming to Hong Kong was of the highest order being a former French International 7s player, and in Hong Kong along with his Valley RFC championship wins, he was part of the UBB Gavekal side who won the HKFC10’s competition back-to-back.

Sending love to everyone close to Khrist, Valley and the Valley Fort community, it’s a stark reminder that we have to keep checking on each other and what might seem to be okay on the outside may not be okay on the inside. I will be raising a glass to Khrist tonight, a very likeable gentleman, high class sportsman and a person held in high esteem by his peers.

May he Rest In Peace
Nick Hewson