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April 11, 2016

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World Rugby in China deal to boost sport

Source: Agencies | April 11, 2016, Monday | Print Edition

WORLD Rugby has penned a 10-year deal with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd to spark playing numbers and bring major events to the world’s most populous country.

The deal between the world governing body and Alisports will see Alibaba’s new sports division broadcast exclusive rugby content, create online rugby stores and invest in World Rugby’s grassroots program.

No financial terms were revealed for the deal unveiled yesterday at the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens tournament in China’s Hong Kong but was a further sign of the increased interest in the sport ahead of its return to the Olympics this year in Rio de Janeiro.

“With global participation having doubled to 7.7 million since rugby was re-admitted into the Olympic Games program in 2009, this deal will ensure an unprecedented platform for rugby to reach, engage and inspire new participants across China,” World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said in a statement.

World Rugby, which dubbed the deal “ground-breaking”, added it would work with Alisports to bring “major rugby events” to China within the next 10 years.

It marks a first rugby deal for Alisports, which was established last year and has already inked deals with European soccer giants Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, NBA basketball talisman Kobe Bryant and American football body, the NFL.

On the field, reigning world series champion Fiji underlined its Olympic credentials with a 21-7 victory over New Zealand to win the Hong Kong Sevens in convincing style.

Fiji, the form team at the Rio Olympics’ unofficial dress rehearsal, outscored New Zealand three tries to one to stretch its lead in the series standings. The victory will further raise hopes of Fiji’s first ever Olympic gold medals in August in Rio, where rugby will feature at the Summer Games for the first time in 92 years.

Earlier, South Africa claimed third place with a narrow 14-12 playoff win over Australia. England lifted the plate trophy with a 19-0 victory over the United States.

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