Alibaba’s sports division to pump US$100 million into rugby

[olivier Profile]

This was a big news story when it broke.

Have there been any visible signs of the investment in China?

We will see it very soon with youth teams results.

[Neptune Profile]

There is a difference in saying and doing. This could just be a pledge which will be implemented 10+ years ahead

[Armchair Fan Profile]

A few Chinese teams have been playing recently in several Sevens European tournaments.

[victorsra Profile Website]

https://www.asiarugby.com/2017/06/27/ru ... get-rugby/

https://www.asiarugby.com/2017/05/31/china-gir/

https://www.asiarugby.com/2017/05/31/china-gir/

[NedRugby Profile]

Shandong province sent a men's team and a women's team to the Amsterdam 7s this year. The women looked very good and won the tournament, beating Wales in the final. I didn't see the men play, but they beat Irish Wolfhounds on day 1 and went out to Susie's exiles (the eventual winners) in the later stages.

[Armchair Fan Profile]

They intend to host the richest 7s tournament in the world next October: http://www.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-seve ... 00-million

Aaaaaand...

“Our main focus is still to develop home-grown stars.”

The ultimate goal for China is to host a Rugby World Cup and plans are in place to launch a professional 15-a-side league featuring foreign players as soon as next year.

While China has less than 2,000 rugby players, Wei believes the sport will catch on and knows it is important to capitalise on the interest created by the 2019 World Cup and the 2020 Olympics, both to be held in Japan.
World Rugby chief outlines how China plans to become a global force in the sport ‘in a hurry’ after US$100 million cash injection

“People are still unfamiliar with the sport,” he said. “For example, they have a hard time telling the difference between American Football and rugby.

“The two terms shares the same translation in Chinese. They are both gan lan qiu.”

[amz Profile]

I believe it when I'll see it.

[victorsra Profile Website]

Well, the first step be to play the Asian Championship this year!

[Armchair Fan Profile]

I don't know. It would make sense under Chinese mentality that they keep developing without playing official tournaments yet, only to make a return to world stage at a decent level.

[Working Class Rugger Profile]

Apparently top 8 teams in the world will be running around in Shanghai in Oct.

http://m.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens ... 00-million

[thatrugbyguy Profile]

Chinese pro league by next year? Wow.

[Working Class Rugger Profile]

Chinese pro league by next year? Wow.

If so they'd better get cracking. I've even suggested over on G&GR that we should be looking to get on board early via 7s.

I reckon there's potential for a Asia-Pacific franchise 7s league. Start with say 8-12 franchises. Our 5, the Sunwolves, Hong Kong and maybe Singapore plus four mainland Chinese franchises.

Either run it two pools of 6 with each team hosting or as one big circuit with again each team hosting.

[Bogdan_DC Profile]

If they want to be no1 power in the world they need to be cultural&sport also. So they start with intensive Olympics programs. After this Chinese government set another trend for private companies with serious reduction of taxes for those who invest in cultural activities and sports. Just like everywhere in the world most of them throw millions in football and Chinese ligue become the new Mecca in football right now with huge salaries buying footbal stars from everywhere (anyway the government wasn't that happy with this also and they put a limit o foreign players ad their salaries). Ali Baba owner is a smart guy by default and probably said, if i must invest a lot of money for my tax deduction at least put it in a great sport .So expect to see Chinese serious involved in a lot of cultural&sport areas.

[Neptune Profile]

Just came across this
http://ragahouse.com/news/item/china-to ... tournament

[rey200 Profile]

well, throwing money at people doesn't make it a success. That's my statement on Chinese football.
I also disagree on the notion of "they will show themselves when they can deliver". We are talking here - over and over actually - that T2/3 need tests against stronger opposition, but when the Chinese try to set up their program on their own, you think it's gonna to succeed... do I need to point at the double standard here? If they want to be competitive , they have to play outside their sandbox

[Bogdan_DC Profile]

Chinese are very results implicated . When they will see they have no results will start doing it like normal people .

[amz Profile]

Chinese are very results implicated . When they will see they have no results will start doing it like normal people .

I think they'll focus mainly on Sevens as it doesn't have the complexity of XV and time to get results is shorter.

[Bogdan_DC Profile]

Chinese are very results implicated . When they will see they have no results will start doing it like normal people .

I think they'll focus mainly on Sevens as it doesn't have the complexity of XV and time to get results is shorter.

Yes and Sevens is also Olympic sport.

[victorsra Profile Website]

I must say I really enjoyed the idea of the Champions of Champions Cup. It gives some meaning for the mid-table teams in the World Sevens Series. World Rugby should make such a tournament official indeed, always opening the sevens season in October, between the end of the Rugby Championship and the kickoff of the November tests.

[4N Profile]

Apparently top 8 teams in the world will be running around in Shanghai in Oct.

http://m.scmp.com/sport/rugby/hk-sevens ... 00-million

Confirmation of sorts from USA coach Mike Friday
http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2017 ... pions.html

[thatrugbyguy Profile]

well, throwing money at people doesn't make it a success. That's my statement on Chinese football.
I also disagree on the notion of "they will show themselves when they can deliver". We are talking here - over and over actually - that T2/3 need tests against stronger opposition, but when the Chinese try to set up their program on their own, you think it's gonna to succeed... do I need to point at the double standard here? If they want to be competitive , they have to play outside their sandbox

I agree, simply throwing money at the game isn't going to equal success. They need match practice. They have to start beating the likes of Hong Kong first before they can seriously be considered for bigger test matches.

[4N Profile]

We are hearing that exciting news soon TBA re China Rugby Football Association (CRFA)

https://mobile.twitter.com/talkin_cafl/ ... 5421276160

[jservuk Profile]

I was recently in Beijing for work for a week.

Whilst there I kept my eye open for a sporting activities on my travels around Beijing.

I didn't do any touristing, my focus was work so I was you could say in a more pure native setting.

I saw many traces of the football virus (kids playing, big poster ads featuring Bekham, Messi).

At the media exhibition nearby anything sports media related focused on football, tennis, athletics.

In downtown Beijing outside one of the posh hotels there was a five-a-side 3g pitch.

On one of the days though this was taken over by an American Football crowd practicing some basic drills with some local Chinese kids.

I didn't get a chance to chat to them to find out who they were.etc.

I didn't see anything Rugby related, not even a shirt - a lot of work for Mr Ali Baba to do still.

I think Hong Kong is a better bet than mainland.

[NaBUru38 Profile]

China is huge. Even if only a 5% of the population becomes aware of rugby, it's still a 70 million people market.

[sk 88 Profile Website]

CCTV5+ agree to broadcast Premiership Rugby in China on free to air TV.

https://www.sportbusiness.com/sport-new ... ights-deal

Good news I feel.