Asia launches Rugby Sevens Series

The probability of rugby sevens being included in the Olympic program has prompted the development of a new series in Asia.

The International Rugby Board (IRB), which recently awarded the 15-a-side World Cup to Japan for 2019, has approved an Asian sevens tournament.

Beginning in Shanghai the six-event series will run until the end of November with rounds in the Philippines, Brunei, Borneo, Iran and Sri Lanka involving national teams including China, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.

As IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset explains "with rugby sevens and golf recommended by the International Olympic Committee Executive Board for inclusion in the 2016 Olympic Games, the establishment of an Asian Sevens Series is another massive boost for a sport that truly enjoys universal appeal for men and women."

A final decision to include rugby sevens in the Olympics will have a huge impact on the enthusiasts who have run the sport in China for the last twenty years.

Such is China's obsession with Olympic success that a vote from the IOC to add sevens to the schedule for the 2016 Games would transform the 'olive ball game', as it is known in China.

Rugby would immediately attract central government funding and, more importantly, become a sport at China's quadrennial National Games, which in turn could lead to the establishment of teams in most of the country's 31 provinces and regions.

Currently, the China Agricultural University is the heart and soul of Chinese rugby. The University launched mainland China's first rugby team after a professor returned from studying in Japan in 1989.

For coach Zheng Hongjun the popularity of the sport could grow if they get the right Olympic decision.

As Zheng explained, "if rugby manages to get into the Olympics there will inevitably be a great development in China.

"The state will pay more attention to it so rugby can enjoy a quick expansion all over the country as the sports schools' provincial teams will be launched one after another.

"And we will eventually see professional players being produced by the state sports structure."

China joined the International Rugby Board in 1996 and played their first test against Singapore the following year, but in recent years they have been focusing almost exclusively on sevens.

Zheng added "'it's less expensive, more fitting with Chinese people's speed, mobility and relatively smaller body size and, significantly, it's an Asian Games event."

China won a bronze medal when sevens made its Asian Games debut in 2007.