Rugby union in China
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
in China
is a growing sport. However, it is still not overly popular. China became affiliated to the International Rugby Board
in 1997 and as of September 3rd, 2011, is currently ranked 61st in the world. The national team
has yet to qualify for a Rugby World Cup
.
, where many of these could be found, and there was also a significant presence in Hong Kong
, due to the strong connections with the British Commonwealth. The Shanghai club folded in 1952, and the surplus funds were presented to the English RFU
for a "Royal Retiring Room", at Twickenham
near London
.
For a period, rugby was banned in the PRC, with the national Sports Council stating that "the meeting of sullied bodies in physical contact cannot be approved."
In post-Cultural Revolution
days, the relative strength of rugby in Hong Kong
has helped reintroduce the sport into the PRC, and the head of the HKRFU
George Simkin introduced a development programme there.
Chinese delegates were amongst those who went to the centenary congress of the International Rugby Football Board
in 1986.
Rugby re-emerged in the PRC in 1990, with a club forming at the Beijing Agricultural University (now merged into China Agricultural University
) at Beijing
. A professor there, Chao Xihuang was introduced to the sport by a Japanese businessman, and set up a couple of sides.
The growth of the sport has been massive. For example, in 1991, there were a mere 30 registered players in China. By 1996, there were over a thousand instructors alone.
Today, one segment of Chinese society where rugby is particularly popular is the military. Rugby is an official sport of the People's Liberation Army
, with the PLA Sports Institute participating in the highly-competitive Hong Kong
leagues.
Notable Chinese rugby players include Zhang Zhiqiang
("Johnny Zhang"), who had a stint with the famous Leicester Tigers
club in England, and promising young speedster Li Yang, who boasts a time of 10.6 seconds in the 100-metre sprint.
In June 2006, a delegation from Leicester rugby club led by Martin Johnson went on a week-long visit to China to promote the game.
competition contested by national teams from Canada
, Japan
, Romania
and the United States
. It was previously known as the Super Powers Cup.
The Super Powers Cup was first launched in 2003. It was planned that China
, Japan, Russia
and the United States would play each other once. However, because of the SARS outbreak the Chinese team were forced to withdraw. Russia won the inaugural competition, defeating the USA 30-21 in Krasnoyarsk
, Russia
. For the 2004 competition Canada replaced China.
, where arguably the most successful sevens
tournament is held. The national team of Hong Kong
also participates in the Asian Five Nations
. However, Rugby union has a much smaller presence in Macau
.
and souring of relations with the mainland has meant it was effectively cut off.
Nonetheless, Taiwan, playing as Chinese Taipei, has a very successful rugby sevens
side, and it is no. 4 in East Asia, after Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
is a growing sport. However, it is still not overly popular. China became affiliated to the International Rugby Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
in 1997 and as of September 3rd, 2011, is currently ranked 61st in the world. The national team
China national rugby union team
The China national rugby union team represents the People's Republic of China in international rugby union. China have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup, but attempted to qualify in both 2003 and 2007.They are currently ranked 66th in the world....
has yet to qualify for a Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
.
History
Early rugby union in China was often played by expatriates of various rugby playing nations, and colonials. For example, there was a rugby club in ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, where many of these could be found, and there was also a significant presence in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, due to the strong connections with the British Commonwealth. The Shanghai club folded in 1952, and the surplus funds were presented to the English RFU
Rugby Football Union
The Rugby Football Union was founded in 1871 as the governing body for the sport of rugby union, and performed as the international governing body prior to the formation of the International Rugby Board in 1886...
for a "Royal Retiring Room", at Twickenham
Twickenham
Twickenham is a large suburban town southwest of central London. It is the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and one of the locally important district centres identified in the London Plan...
near London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
For a period, rugby was banned in the PRC, with the national Sports Council stating that "the meeting of sullied bodies in physical contact cannot be approved."
In post-Cultural Revolution
Cultural Revolution
The Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, commonly known as the Cultural Revolution , was a socio-political movement that took place in the People's Republic of China from 1966 through 1976...
days, the relative strength of rugby in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
has helped reintroduce the sport into the PRC, and the head of the HKRFU
Hong Kong Rugby Football Union
Hong Kong Rugby Football Union is the governing body for rugby union in Hong Kong. It was founded in 1953 and became affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1988. They organise the annual Hong Kong Sevens tournament....
George Simkin introduced a development programme there.
Chinese delegates were amongst those who went to the centenary congress of the International Rugby Football Board
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
in 1986.
Rugby re-emerged in the PRC in 1990, with a club forming at the Beijing Agricultural University (now merged into China Agricultural University
China Agricultural University
China Agricultural University is a university in Beijing, People's Republic of China specializing in agriculture, biology, engineering, veterinary medicine, economics, management, humanities and social science. It was formed in 1995 through the merger of the Beijing Agricultural University and...
) at Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
. A professor there, Chao Xihuang was introduced to the sport by a Japanese businessman, and set up a couple of sides.
The growth of the sport has been massive. For example, in 1991, there were a mere 30 registered players in China. By 1996, there were over a thousand instructors alone.
Today, one segment of Chinese society where rugby is particularly popular is the military. Rugby is an official sport of the People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army
The People's Liberation Army is the unified military organization of all land, sea, strategic missile and air forces of the People's Republic of China. The PLA was established on August 1, 1927 — celebrated annually as "PLA Day" — as the military arm of the Communist Party of China...
, with the PLA Sports Institute participating in the highly-competitive Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
leagues.
Notable Chinese rugby players include Zhang Zhiqiang
Zhang Zhiqiang
Zhang Zhiqiang is a Chinese Rugby union player who plays at the fly-half position.Zhiqiang is considered the greatest Chinese Rugby player of all-time. He plays for the China Agricultural University club in Beijing, and prior to this, he had a stint with the Leicester Tigers during the 2003-04...
("Johnny Zhang"), who had a stint with the famous Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
club in England, and promising young speedster Li Yang, who boasts a time of 10.6 seconds in the 100-metre sprint.
In June 2006, a delegation from Leicester rugby club led by Martin Johnson went on a week-long visit to China to promote the game.
Super Cup
The Super Cup was an annual international rugby unionRugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
competition contested by national teams from Canada
Canada national rugby union team
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and black. Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and seven tier two nations, the...
, Japan
Japan national rugby union team
The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...
, Romania
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
and the United States
United States national rugby union team
USA Rugby's men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in the sport of rugby union. The Eagles are currently ranked 17th by the IRB World Rankings. Their highest ranking was from November 2, 2006 – September 10, 2007 at the 14th position...
. It was previously known as the Super Powers Cup.
The Super Powers Cup was first launched in 2003. It was planned that China
China national rugby union team
The China national rugby union team represents the People's Republic of China in international rugby union. China have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup, but attempted to qualify in both 2003 and 2007.They are currently ranked 66th in the world....
, Japan, Russia
Russia national rugby union team
The Russian National Rugby Union Team, is the national team representing Russia at the sport of rugby union.Rugby union in Russia is administered by the Rugby Union of Russia . The RUR is the official successor union of the Soviet Union and the combined CIS team which played in the early 1990s...
and the United States would play each other once. However, because of the SARS outbreak the Chinese team were forced to withdraw. Russia won the inaugural competition, defeating the USA 30-21 in Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk
Krasnoyarsk is a city and the administrative center of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, located on the Yenisei River. It is the third largest city in Siberia, with the population of 973,891. Krasnoyarsk is an important junction of the Trans-Siberian Railway and one of Russia's largest producers of...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. For the 2004 competition Canada replaced China.
Hong Kong and Macau
Rugby union has an uninterrupted history in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, where arguably the most successful sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
tournament is held. The national team of Hong Kong
Hong Kong national rugby union team
The Hong Kong national rugby union team is a third tier rugby union side. Hong Kong first played in 1969 and since then have always been in the group of the best Asian teams. Their team is made mostly from British origin players, with some natives from Hong Kong. They have yet to qualify for the...
also participates in the Asian Five Nations
Asian Five Nations
The Asian Five Nations, known as the HSBC Asian 5 Nations due to its sponsorship by HSBC, is an annual international rugby union competition held between the top five Asian national rugby sides...
. However, Rugby union has a much smaller presence in Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
.
Taiwan
Rugby union has an unbroken history in Taiwan, but the Chinese Civil WarChinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was a civil war fought between the Kuomintang , the governing party of the Republic of China, and the Communist Party of China , for the control of China which eventually led to China's division into two Chinas, Republic of China and People's Republic of...
and souring of relations with the mainland has meant it was effectively cut off.
Nonetheless, Taiwan, playing as Chinese Taipei, has a very successful rugby sevens
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
side, and it is no. 4 in East Asia, after Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong.