China national rugby union team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see China women's national rugby union team.

China

Emblem	Plum blossom
Union	Chinese Rugby Football Association
Head coach	Chenglong Liu
First colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	81 (as of 4 November 2024)
Lowest	82 (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]

History

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.

Record

World Cup

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

Overall

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

Squad to 2019 Asia Rugby Championship ^[4]

• Head coach: Chenglong Liu

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

See also

• 2003 Rugby World Cup - Asia qualification
• 2007 Rugby World Cup - Asia qualification
• 2011 Rugby World Cup - Asia qualification

References

1. "Buy China Rugby Shirts & Jerseys". www.rugby15.co.uk. Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
2. "Men's Rankings - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Archived from the original on 2019-08-18. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
3. O'Brien, Tom Mackenzie and Chris (20 June 2006). "China a dragon in the making". Archived from the original on 15 November 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2018– via www.telegraph.co.uk.
4. "Asia Rugby Championship Div 3ES 2019". Asia Rugby.

External links

• China Rugby Union Official Site
• China at the IRB Official Site
• China Archived 2020-06-15 at the Wayback Machine on rugbydata.com