Emblem | Plum blossom | |
---|---|---|
Union | Chinese Rugby Football Association | |
Head coach | Chenglong Liu | |
| ||
World Rugby ranking | ||
Current | 82 (as of 14 January 2023) | |
First international | ||
Singapore 33–3 China (1 November 1997) | ||
Biggest win | ||
China 74–17 India (26 June 2019) | ||
Biggest defeat | ||
South Korea 100–3 China (9 September 2006) |
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.
China play their home games in shirts of amber and red with the Chinese flag in the right chest and the away strip is a red shirt with amber sleeves, the red flag is not so clear but still on the away strip being the same colour as the shirt. [1]
The national side is ranked 82nd in the world. [2]
China played its first international in 1997 against Singapore. [3]
China attempted to qualify for the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia, taking part in the Asia qualifying tournaments. They started in Pool C of Round 1, playing matches against Sri Lanka and Kazakhstan. Played in April, China lost 9-7 to Sri Lanka, and then defeated Kazakhstan 57-15. They finished at the top of the final standings due to a better points difference, and advanced to Round 2. However, they were knocked out in Round 2, losing both their fixtures against Hong Kong and Chinese Taipei.
China participated in qualifying competitions for the 2007 Rugby World Cup as well. They started in Division 2 of Round 1, contesting matches against the Arabian Gulf rugby union team and Chinese Taipei. China defeated Chinese Taipei 22-19 in their first game, but lost against the Arabian Gulf team, seeing them finish second, and moving into Division 2 of Round 2. However, China lost both their fixtures in Round 2 against Hong Kong and Sri Lanka. China was slated to participate in qualifying for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. However, they were forced to drop out due to visa complications.
China's national sevens team regularly participates in legs of the annual sevens tour, appearing consistently in the Hong Kong tournament. China has traditionally fared quite well, with recent results including a bowl victory in 2007 and a win over Scotland in the 2008 pool stage.
World Cup record | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Qualification status | ||||||
1987 | Not invited | ||||||
1991 | did not enter | ||||||
1995 | did not enter | ||||||
1999 | did not enter | ||||||
2003 | did not qualify | ||||||
2007 | did not qualify | ||||||
2011 | did not qualify | ||||||
2015 | did not qualify | ||||||
2019 | did not enter | ||||||
2023 | did not enter |
Against | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | % Won |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arabian Gulf | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
Brunei | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
Chinese Taipei | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% |
Guam | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 50% |
Hong Kong | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 20% |
India | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 75% |
Indonesia | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 80% |
Iran | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
Kazakhstan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
Pakistan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100% |
Malaysia | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 40% |
Qatar | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
Singapore | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 60% |
South Korea | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
Sri Lanka | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 16.67% |
Thailand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 66.67% |
Total | 48 | 24 | 22 | 2 | 50% |
Squad to 2019 Asia Rugby Championship [4]
Player | Position | Club |
---|---|---|
Wang Shixue | Hooker | |
Fu Chunyu | Hooker | |
Chen Yongqiang (c) | Prop | |
Wang Kai | Prop | |
Li Jialin | Prop | |
Zhang Chao | Prop | |
Lu Xiaotang | Lock | |
Yang Kai | Lock | |
Fan Xiaolong | Lock | |
Tian Xun | Flanker | |
Lu Yingli | Flanker | |
Liu Zhonglei | Flanker | |
Jovilisi Sadau | Number 8 | Chongqing Rangers |
Bai Xiangzheng | Scrum-half | |
Yang Siyuan | Scrum-half | |
Ratu Totivi Dakainiviti Ralulu | Fly-half | Chongqing Rangers |
Liu Xiaohui | Fly-half | |
Matthew Neil Holding | Centre | Shanghai Rugby Football Club |
Ronnie Gardiner | Centre | |
Tong Mingqi | Centre | Chongqing Rangers |
Zhou Cong | Wing | |
Liu Junkui | Wing | South China Tigers |
Ma Chong | Fullback | South China Tigers |
In qualification for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, thirteen Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) nations compete for one full place, and one repechage place. No Asian teams qualified for the quarter-finals in 2003, so none qualify automatically in 2007. Only Japan has been to the World Cup, participating in all five RWCs to date, with only one win in 1991 (England) against Zimbabwe, 52–8. Asia 1 will go into Group B with Australia, Wales, Fiji and Canada.
The Hong Kong national rugby union team, nicknamed the Dragons, has made the qualifying rounds of the Rugby World Cup. Rugby union in Hong Kong is administered by the Hong Kong Rugby Union since 1952, and successfully competes annually in the Asia Rugby Championship.
The Sri Lanka national rugby union team, known as the Tuskers, represents Sri Lanka in men's international rugby union. The team has yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup. They have the longest tradition of organised club rugby in Asia, dating back to 1879, which was just 8 years after the founding of the world's first rugby union in England. They regularly compete in the Asian Five Nations tournament and are currently in Division I. In the 2010 tournament, they made it to the finals beating Chinese Taipei 37 to 7.
The Chinese Taipei national rugby union team represents the Republic of China (Taiwan) in international rugby union. Chinese Taipei have yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup, but have attempted to qualify since Wales 1999.
The Singapore national rugby union team has yet to make its debut at the Rugby World Cup, though since the 1995 Rugby World Cup, Singapore have been participating in qualification competitions.
The Thailand national rugby union team has not played at the Rugby World Cup, but have been playing in qualifying tournaments since the 1999 Rugby World Cup in Wales.
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