Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

‘Champions of Champions’ to become Rugby Sevens’ richest tournament.

China

Shanghai is set to play host to an all-star rugby sevens tournament in October of this year. The top eight teams from last season’s ‘World Rugby Sevens Series’, along with China, will battle it out for what has been described by World Rugby’s Brett Gosper as ‘the highest ever prize money we have seen in sevens’.

ADVERTISEMENT

What this amounts to remains to be seen, but with the Hong Kong Sevens previously awarding a $150k prize fund, this seems like the score to beat.

The competition will be a chance for the Chinese public to see some of the World’s best Sevens teams up close, including Fiji, New Zealand and England.  It’s also part of a larger project to generate 1 million new players over the next five years. China has roughly 2,000 players at the moment.

The prize fund will come from the $100m cash injection which Alisports announced earlier this year. Alisports vice president Wei Quanming is hoping the competition will raise awareness for the sport in China, whilst also helping to develop some home-grown stars.

“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.”

ADVERTISEMENT
Play Video

South Africa vs Black Ferns XV | Women's International | Full Match Replay

Play Video

England vs Spain | Women's International | Full Match Replay

Play Video

Classic Wallabies vs British & Irish Legends | Second Match | Full Match Replay

Play Video

Ireland vs Scotland | Women's International | Full Match Replay

Play Video

Should the Lions’ last-minute try have stood? | Whistle Watch

Play Video

Lions Share | Episode 6

Play Video

KOKO Show | July 29th | George Gregan Stops by to lift spirits after the MCG Madness

Play Video

Historic Lions Series win at the MCG | Ep 7: The Ultimate Test

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Long Reads

Comments on RugbyPass

TRENDING
TRENDING British & Irish Lions vs Wallabies takes: Worst team since 2005, no answer for Skelton Lions vs Wallabies takes: Worst since 2005