A promotional company is looking to capitalize on the 2019 Rugby World Cup to be played in Japan, while a Taiwanese rugby enthusiast insists Taiwan needs to systematize to allow the game to expand in the nation.
The Asian-Rugby.tv Web site covers activities run by 28 rugby unions in Asia, including the Chinese Taipei Rugby Football Union (CTRFU), which is the name used by the governing body in Taiwan.
Lomu Yeh, who manages rugby tournaments for the Taiwan Rugby Union (TRU) — a grassroots organizer — said it is important for local teams to have the chance to play in regular seasons if Taiwan is to compete internationally and host major events.
Photo: AP
“Given that the CTRFU does not stage a regular local rugby season, it needs to ask someone to organize and promote rugby,” Yeh said.
Yeh said he has spoken with the Web site management and plans to have live footage from next month’s TRU Taiwan 10s competition broadcast on the free-to-air Asian-Rugby.tv site if possible.
Launched in June last year, the rugby-promoting Web site, which plans a move to Singapore next year, accepts content from rugby organizers covering events in Asia.
“It is a huge project and will bring a lot of people onto our platform. For the 2019 World Cup we have several plans that we are discussing with organizations to find out exactly what will be possible for Asian-Rugby.tv,” the site owners said by e-mail.
“Before 2019, we will have a lot of different operations, especially for the Sevens [World Series events in Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore],” they said.
Yeh said that hosting a leg of the Sevens World Series was a goal for Taiwan to achieve, but organizers should first look to stage a local sevens series.
“I am planning a local sevens series next year,” Yeh said. “Of course, if the ARFU [Asian Sevens Series organizers the Asian Rugby Football Union] want to talk about that, I would be glad to help.”
The main objectives of the Asian-Rugby.tv project are to increase rugby exposure, expand the rugby community in Asia and encourage media coverage, the Web site said.
The Web site said it is focused on the 2019 World Cup.
“The 2019 World Cup and rugby development in Asia represent a unique opportunity to transpose rugby values within commercial relations, as well as set up and develop strong partnerships with local and international companies,” the Web site said.
The Taiwan 10s, to be played at Taoyuan Stadium on June 6 and June 7, has 12 teams confirmed, with a further four places still open, but registration is to close this week.
For more information on the 10s, e-mail lomu@twrugby.com.
To see Asian rugby content, visit www.asian-rugby.tv. Registration is free and the site is running a contest where the winners get a trip for two to the inaugural Singapore Sevens World Series event next year.
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