Rugby organizers in Taiwan hope that a tournament in Singapore next week would be the catalyst to boost the sport in the nation.
However, with a team of mostly university students up against more experienced players from their two opponents, Taiwan face a stern challenge at the first edition of the Unions Cup.
Taiwan coach Huang Chi-hsang at a training session at the University of Taipei yesterday said that the other two teams — Singapore and Thailand — can draw on a wider pool of players, including those with overseas experience.
Photo: Grant Dexter, Taipei Times
Taiwan captain Chien Tzu-fan is one of the older hands on the team at 29.
He said that the two-match trip would be a good opportunity to take away a young team to gain experience.
While the Unions Cup is not on the pathway to the Rugby World Cup, Taiwan’s Test side have had some success in Asian competitions, ranking as high as third in 2000.
Photo: Grant Dexter, Taipei Times
However, they have since fallen to 66th in the global rankings out of 113 teams.
They have not entered the qualifying process for the World Cup since the tournaments leading up to the 2015 finals. Taiwan advanced from the 2012 Asian Five Nations Division 1 alongside the Philippines and Sri Lanka to reach the 2013 Asian Five Nations Division 1, but placed third as Sri Lanka advanced. Japan ultimately won the Asian qualifying spot in the then-20-team tournament in England, where they created one of the biggest upsets in sporting history by beating now-world No. 1 South Africa 34-32.
Japan — ranked 12th in the world — have automatic entry to the finals in Australia in 2027, which World Rugby in October last year said would be expanded to 24 teams.
Photo: Grant Dexter, Taipei Times
“If we are to become a truly global sport, we must create greater relevance, opportunity and competitiveness to attract new fans and grow value,” World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont said at the time the new format was announced.
Last year’s Rugby World Cup “demonstrated the passion and potential that lies beyond the top 10 or 12 nations, if we think big and think inclusive,” Beaumont said. “It is not acceptable to accept the status quo. Not acceptable to do nothing.”
Jeffry Chang, president of Taiwan’s national rugby association, said he hoped the competition in Singapore would improve the game at home.
“After about 12 years of trough, Taiwan’s rugby is in a state of reconstruction,” Chang told the South China Morning Post on May 10. “We are doing our best to rebuild the spirit of rugby.”
Singapore Rugby Union president Sunny Seah told the newspaper that Taiwanese officials were keen to drive the Unions Cup, because although they belong to the North Asia zone with Japan, Hong Kong (24th in the world) and South Korea (33rd), they felt that those teams had progressed well beyond Taiwan.
Their opponents next week are Singapore (55th) and Thailand (79th).
The Unions Cup, which is to start on Saturday, is being set up as an annual event, with plans to include the Philippines (40th) next year.
The four unions last month signed a memorandum of understanding for management of the annual tournament.
Malaysia (56th) are also looking to join.
“We want to improve the rugby between these Asia rugby nations in the 15-a-side game,” Chang told rugbyasia247.com at the signing ceremony in Singapore. “This agreement will look to improve East and Southeast Asia rugby to be stronger and better. Currently, most competitions are held in central or middle Asia, so this will allow for more game time.”
“We want to unite our regions and we need to improve and grow together, so I appreciate everyone coming together to help start this initiative,” he added.
Hosting rights are to rotate between the participating nations, with Taipei in line for the role next year.
Taiwan’s first game is against Thailand at 5pm on Tuesday next week. At 7pm on Friday next week, they face the hosts, who are to start the tournament on Saturday against Thailand at 5pm.
All of the games are to be played at Jurong West Stadium, with the Singapore Rugby YouTube channel to broadcast them.
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