Ali Baba to invest $100m to grow Rugby in China.

[WorkingClassRugger]

A few months ago it was announced that Ali Sports the sports division of retail giant Ali Baba would invest in Rugby in a landmark agreement. The original announcement suggested it would be $10m a year over 10 years. Not so. It will in fact be $10m for 10 years. They have the lofty ambition of reaching 1m players in that time.

http://app.scmp.com/scmp/mobile/index.html#/article/2040194/desktop

 

[Brumby Runner]

A few months ago it was announced that Ali Sports the sports division of retail giant Ali Baba. The original announcement suggested it would be $10m a year over 10 years. Not so. It will in fact be $10m for 10 years. They have the lofty ambition of reaching 1m players in that time.

http://app.scmp.com/scmp/mobile/index.html#/article/2040194/desktop

What exactly is the difference? Is the second amount the total ($10m) over the whole of the ten years? Not $10m for each of the ten years?

 

[RugbyReg]

Not $10m over 10 years. $10M every year for 10 years. Papworth must be furious.


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[WorkingClassRugger]

What exactly is the difference? Is the second amount the total ($10m) over the whole of the ten years? Not $10m for each of the ten years?

Originally it was suggested it would be $1m a year for 10 years totalling $10m as a whole. Turns out it will be $10m a year for the same 10 year period. Totalling $100m. I should state that it's USD.

If I were SANZAAR I'd be talking to Alisports about getting Super Rugby on their services. Hell, the ARU should be try to get the NRC broadcast there.

 

[p.Tah]

Not $10m over 10 years. $10M every year for 10 years. Papworth must be furious.

There is a large Chinese population in the Eastwood region so it may work out

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Several years back, I think I read somewhere that the People's Army in China had adopted Rugby as one of their Official Sports.

At last count the Chinese Army was around 1m strong to the nearest 100,000 soldiers. If only a small % of the Army play rugby, that would still be an impressive number of players.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Several years back, I think I read somewhere that the People's Army in China had adopted Rugby as one of their Official Sports.

At last count the Chinese Army was around 1m strong to the nearest 100,000 soldiers. If only a small % of the Army play rugby, that would still be an impressive number of players.

According to the article they are looking to launch programmes in over 10,000 schools and Universities nationwide. They only need to get an average 100 kids a school to get on board and they'll get it.

 

[Strewthcobber]

Should get the ARU's participation counters out there and they'll crack one million by next Tuesday.

 

[Highlander35]

China is one that could be tier 2 very quickly if they put their minds to it IMO.

Then at that point you'd be looking at an Asian Super Rugby Conference (if it still exists of course).

 

[Rugbynutter39]

A few months ago it was announced that Ali Sports the sports division of retail giant Ali Baba would invest in Rugby in a landmark agreement. The original announcement suggested it would be $10m a year over 10 years. Not so. It will in fact be $10m for 10 years. They have the lofty ambition of reaching 1m players in that time.

http://app.scmp.com/scmp/mobile/index.html#/article/2040194/desktop

Interesting - expansion of rugby in china - did not see that coming. Now learnt by reading article there are 76,000 players in china for rugby, 40% increase.

Never even knew rugby played in china - anyone with spare $100m wanting to do the same for rugby in oz?


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[Strewthcobber]

Will be interesting to see how they go - there aren't too many examples of countries pushing up through the ranks, so would be good to see it happen

Long road though...........

Article from 2000
China's Military Leads Big Push for Rugby Glory

Li Gaochao, the secretary general of the Chinese Rugby Union, said: "This year, we are very happy because our national team can compete with second-rank Asian countries. In five years, we hope to compete with Japan and Korea. In 10 years, we hope to play in the World Cup."

 

[Rugbynutter39]

Will be interesting to see how they go - there aren't too many examples of countries pushing up through the ranks, so would be good to see it happen

Long road though.....

Article from 2000
China's Military Leads Big Push for Rugby Glory

Well USA become more competitive in 7's, as have other countries like Samoa and Kenya.

But yes in 15's different story.


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[WorkingClassRugger]

Will be interesting to see how they go - there aren't too many examples of countries pushing up through the ranks, so would be good to see it happen

Long road though.....

Article from 2000
China's Military Leads Big Push for Rugby Glory

The difference now is the level of resources afforded to the game.

 

[WorkingClassRugger]

Well USA become more competitive in 7's, as have other countries like Samoa and Kenya.

But yes in 15's different story.


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It's ambitious that's for sure. Which personally, I quite like.

 

[wamberal]

Several years back, I think I read somewhere that the People's Army in China had adopted Rugby as one of their Official Sports.

At last count the Chinese Army was around 1m strong to the nearest 100,000 soldiers. If only a small % of the Army play rugby, that would still be an impressive number of players.

Hugh,


I moved to Hong Kong in the mid seventies to work. Back then, China was still, comparatively, a backwater. It was virtually closed to tourism and foreign commerce. A lot has changed since then.


One thing that has not changed is that a lot of people still look at China and assume that, because the population is huge, commercial success is almost guaranteed. "We only have to sell one pair of shoes to 1% of the population". I would love a quid for every time I have heard or read something along those lines.


Unfortunately it does not work like that. The vast majority of foreign ventures fail.


Maybe rugby will succeed as a professional sport. But it it does it will not be because of the numbers. Look at New Zealand.

 

[Omar Comin']

Great news, hopefully it catches on. A China vs Japan rivalry in rugby would be pretty cool.

Also, if a long term plan for Australian rugby and SANZAAR is to grow through Asia then it's probably also about time the ARU followed the lead of the NZRU and made a greater attempt to popularise the game among Asian Australians.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Several years back, I think I read somewhere that the People's Army in China had adopted Rugby as one of their Official Sports.

At last count the Chinese Army was around 1m strong to the nearest 100,000 soldiers. If only a small % of the Army play rugby, that would still be an impressive number of players.

Just hope they realise they are only allowed to have 15 players on their side and not 140.

 

[emuarse]

Its enough to make a Mungo cry:

http://www.foxsports.com.au/rugby/c...t/news-story/a8bcc61271887aab776bfa8877b6e976

I notice the AFL are staging a game in China next year. Those blokes are desperate to get international recognition for their sport.

 

[TOCC]

AFL have already had a few chomps at breaking into the Chinese market with no success, whilst the AFL has a brilliant domestic strategy, they have been unable to transfer this to international markets.

 

[Scrubber2050]

Reds need to sign a Chinese player, any player

Stick him on the wing for 5 minutes each week - marketing masterstroke - you heard it here first