Last weekend, China booked their place at the Olympics.
Hosting the Asian qualifying tournament in the southern city of Guangzhou, the Chinese women amassed 213 points in five matches, while conceding just seven.
They defeated South Korea 49-0, Hong Kong 42-7 and Sri Lanka 55-0, before thumping Thailand 34-0 in the semi-finals and Hong Kong again in the final, 33-0.
This could be a huge development for the game. China’s involvement at next year’s Olympics in Tokyo will place rugby firmly on the map in the world’s most populous nation.
Also the second-largest economy, the nation brings unlimited potential to the sport in financial terms. Already a sponsorship offer has been made by multinational conglomerate Alibaba, reportedly worth $100m over ten years, though it fell through after the government made sweeping changes to administration last year.
According to World Rugby statistics, China has 35,000 registered players, which is more than some second-tier unions, despite equating to one of the lowest figures per capita among recognised playing nations. They are ranked 80th in the world in men’s XVs and 24th in women’s.
The women’s sevens team is coached by Sean Horan, who led New Zealand to silver at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. China failed to qualify for that event, but can now look forward to their chance in Tokyo.
Japan have already qualified for the Olympics as host nation. Hong Kong and Kazakhstan will receive a second chance at the global repechage tournament after finishing second and third, respectively.
The Asian men’s qualifiers take place in South Korea later this month.
Australia’s men qualified from the Oceania tournament in Fiji last weekend, defeating Samoa 19-12 in the decisive match. They also won the tournament with a 22-7 defeat of the host nation in the Cup final. The luckless Samoans will now return to the repechage tournament, where they were beaten by Spain in a tight final four years ago. Tonga will join them.
Elsewhere, Kenya’s men grabbed their spot, predictably enough, hammering Uganda 29-0 in the final of the African qualifiers in Brakpan. Uganda will be joined at the global repechage tournament by Zimbabwe, who beat Madagascar 24-7 in the third-place playoff.
Ten teams have now qualified for the men’s competition: Japan as hosts, defending champions Fiji, USA, New Zealand and South Africa via the World Series, as well as Great Britain, Argentina and Canada, who all came through their respective regional qualification tournaments.
New Zealand, USA, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Great Britain, Kenya, Japan and Fiji are confirmed for the 12-team women’s competition. The latter were runners-up to Australia in the weekend’s Oceania tournament.
Semi-finalists Papua New Guinea and Samoa will get a second chance at the global repechage tournament in Biarritz next June, joining Argentina, Colombia, Jamaica, Madagascar, Mexico, Russia, Tunisia and hosts France. Brazil, Chile, Ireland, Jamaica, Mexico and France are already confirmed for the men’s section.
Sevens will be played as an Olympic sport for the second time in Japan, having debuted at Rio. The tournament is expected to generate an estimated 30 million new fans worldwide when it is played at the Tokyo Stadium on July 31 and August.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
18th of July 2020 Georgia are off to South Africa to play a test. That certainly is great news! Begs the question, of course, why South Africa don't play regular tests with neighbors Namibia. They only beat them 57-3 at the World Cup. Not exactly a humiliation given they themselves once lost to New Zealand 57-0. In fact, make it an annual pre-season game and play it in Windhoek. Great way to blow out the cobwebs. It also begs the question why France and England can't get across to play a test in Tbilisi. They'd be sure to pack the stadium. Every tier 1 team should be ogliged to include at least one fixture against a tier 2 or 3 team on their annual schedules. For the meantime the gauntlet has been thrown down to NZ, Austrlia, England, France & co. From what I can see this will be SA's only test against a non-tier 1 side since the 2015 World Cup, apart from this year's RWC & warm-up against Japan. Outside of this years RWC, NZ, Australia, England & France have only played three second tier teams each since the 2015 RWC, all involving Japan and the Pacific Islands. France, of course, lost to Fiji and drew with Japan; both games at home! So this will be the first time one of the Big 5 plays a non-first tier team outside of Japan and the Islands in recent years. It's a mammoth task for Georgia, travelling to SA to take on the recently crowned World Champions, but a great opportunity to test themselves against the best, which is the only way they're going to improve.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
FT - Brazil 22-47 Barbarians. Tupis Tries:Daniel Lima, Luiz Vieira and Felipe Cunha Conv: Reeves (2) Pen: Reeves (1) Barbarians Tries: Havili (2), Cottrell (2), Ma'afu, Ezcurra e Vermaak Convs: Havili (3), Iglesias (2) e Best (1) Brasil: 15 Daniel Sancery, 14 Lorenzo Massari, 13 Felipe Sancery (c), 12 Moisés Duque, 11 Daniel "Maranhão" Lima, 10 Josh Reeves, 9 Lucas "Tanque" Duque, 8 André "Buda" Arruda, 7 Arthur Bergo, 6 Cléber "Gelado" Dias, 5 Luiz "Monstro" Vieira, 4 Matteo Dell'Acqua, 3 Joel Ramirez, 2 Wilton "Nelson" Rebolo, 1 Lucas Abud; Suplentes: 16 Yan Rosetti, 17 Matheus "Blade" Rocha, 18 Leonel Moreno, 19 Gabriel Paganini, 20 Matheus Cláudio, 21 Devon Muller, 22 Felipe Cunha, 23 Lucas "Zé" Tranquez; Barbarians: 15 David Havili (Nova Zelândia), 14 Bautista Ezcurra (Argentina), 13 Lukhanyo Am (África do Sul), 12 Billy Meakes (Austrália*), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Santiago Iglesias (Argentina), 9 Jano Vermaak (África do Sul), 8 Josh Strauss (Escócia), 7 Pete Samu (Austrália), 6 Angus Cottrell (Austrália*), 5 Luke Jones (Austrália), 4 Tyler Ardron (c) (Canadá), 3 Hencus Van Wyk (África do Sul*), 2 Andrew Makalio (Nova Zelândia*), Campese Ma'afu (Fiji); Suplentes: 16 Tendai Mtawarira (África do Sul), 17 Rory Best (Irlanda), 18 Wiehahn Herbst (África do Sul*), 19 Ben Landry (Estados Unidos), 20 Marco van Staden (África do Sul), 21 Joe Powell (Austrália), 22 Mathieu Bastareaud (França), 23 Dillyn Leyds (África do Sul);
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Apparently 10s is a thing in Hawaii. Samoa's Eels defeated Wellington's Petone in the final of an international tournament last weekend.
AllyOz
Roar Rookie
They have basketballers playing in the NBA. Amongst the 1.6 Billion population they will be able to identify the bigger bodies they need. The captain of the Chinese 15's played in 1st grade at Sunnybank in the late 90s early 00s and he (although a winger) wasn't particularly small. I am not saying they will be soon challenging the top 4 teams but they have the capacity to make inroads pretty quickly if they decide it is something they want to do. They could be in the mix for the 2031 world cup if they decide they wanted to.
From North
Roar Rookie
Krasny Yar began the restructuring of the composition. Two experienced players Artemiev and Gresev are gone. Two coaches Nikolaychuk and Alekseenko also left the club. They also returned the backs coach of the Tongan Siua Tuamalolo. But they need a cool head coach from the Southern Hemisphere. So that he prepares teams for the style of playing Rapid Rugby. Are there good coaches in Australia without a job now?
Bobwire
Guest
If The Party in China want rugby to “happen” — so shall it be.
piru
Roar Rookie
That's not how evolution works mate
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Distance isn't the big issue. It's the need to cross timezones. This could be alleivated by the use of mini tours. Two week blocks which wouldn't really impact viewership as games will be in manageable time zones.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
Apparently not. The Singapore Union and the AP Dragons have parted ways. And not amicably at all.
From North
Roar Rookie
According to new information, a direct flight from Krasnoyarsk to Hong Kong since 2020 will be 5-6 hours. Aeroflot launches several direct flights from Krasnoyarsk to Southeast Asia. Interestingly, Aeroflot is a sponsor of the Russian Rugby Union. Alternatively, you can offer them to become sponsors in GRR. They could advertise flights from Asia to Europe through the Krasnoyarsk airport.
In brief
Guest
Why are you kissing China’s behind and running down Russia? The flight from Perth to HK is 12 hours; the flight from Krasnoyarsk to HK is the same - 12 hours. So what’s your point? Why are you so against international rugby?
From North
Roar Rookie
Some rounds of the Russian championship in autumn-spring system will look something like this. When clubs from Krasnoyarsk, Kazan, Penza, Moscow will play part of their home matches in the empty stadiums of Sochi and Krasnodar.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Sure, they played in Krasnodar because Krasnoyarsk is under six feet of snow - as usual.
From North
Roar Rookie
But do you understand that Krasnodar, where the match was held, is even closer to England than to Krasnoyarsk? The Moscow lobby wants the Krasnoyarsk clubs even to play part of their home games in the Russian championship in cold weather in Krasnodar and Sochi. This is one of the reasons why they are better off playing Rapid Rugby.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Just watched the end of Enisei - Worcester in the Challenge Cup. The latter won 14-57. About 150 people in the stadium.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
I just heard Singapore will indeed be the sixth team. Just looking for confirmation. I suspect this will be very similar to the CANZ series that ran in opposition to the South Pacific Series back in the early 90s. It lasted just a few years but made its point and helped bring about Super Rugby. I am hopeful Rapid Rugby will help bring about something similar in the South East Asia-Oceania region. I'm a big fan of Russia and its rugby team, but their place is clearly in Europe.
From North
Roar Rookie
And I am sure that both Krasnoyarsk clubs have excellent chances to participate in Rapid Rugby from 2021 or 2022. It is these teams with DNA (history, traditions, fans and permanent line-up) that Mark Evans is looking for. :rugby:
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Well, what happens when and if it gets to that stage is another matter and purely conjecture. What is for certain next year is that will only be six teams and Singapore or Shanghai will be the sixth. Krasnoyarsk has no chance at this stage.
From North
Roar Rookie
It is clear that in 2020 there are no conferences. Only 6 teams. We are discussing the future format after the expansion of the tournament in 2021 or in 2022. When there are 10-12 teams, it is logical to divide them into two conferences in order to minimize transport costs.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
I just checked the schedule which was released this week, and it's a round robin. No conferences. Mashallah! :happy: :thumbup: