China Lions

The China Lions is a professional rugby union team that competes in Global Rapid Rugby across the Asia-Pacific region.[1] The team was formed in 2020 as a joint venture between the China Rugby Football Association and New Zealand's Bay of Plenty Rugby Union.[2][3]

China Lions
UnionChina Rugby Football Association           
Bay of Plenty Rugby Union
Ground(s)(34,000) International Stadium, Rotorua
(20,000) Owen Delany Park, Taupo
(16,500) Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
Coach(es)Mike Rogers 
Captain(s)Hugh Blake
League(s)Global Rapid Rugby

Home field

For their first season in 2020 the Lions intended to host three of their home games in China at Shanghai and two in New Zealand at the Rotorua International Stadium.[4][5] However, due to health concerns relating to the coronavirus pandemic, the matches originally planned for China were moved to Australia and New Zealand.[6] Two of the games were scheduled at Coopers Stadium in Adelaide, and one at Owen Delany Park in Taupo.[7]

Squad

The inaugural Lions squad is predominantly made up of New Zealand players [2] but also includes members of the China national team and players with test caps for other nations.

China Lions – 2020 Global Rapid Rugby [upper-alpha 1]
Hooker
Prop
Lock
  • Li Haitao
  • Iosefa Maloney-Fiaola
  • Ray Tatafu
  • Stan van den Hoven
Backrow
Halfback
Five-eighth
Centre
  • Joe Johnston
  • James Little
  • Mathew Skipwith-Garland
Wing
  • Declan Barnett
  • Tyler Campbell
  • Dan Changshun
  • Fa'asiu Fuatai
Fullback
  • Pryor Collier
  • Liam Coombes-Fabling
Notes:
  1. The initial 35-man squad was named in March 2020.[8]
Bold denotes player is internationally capped. (c) Denotes team captain. 1 denotes marquee player.

Honours

Head coaches

  • Mike Rogers  (2020–present) [8]

Captains

See also

References
  1. "China Lions confirmed as the 6th GRR team". Rugby Asia 24/7. 31 January 2020. Archived from the original on 11 March 2020.
  2. Savory, Logan (10 March 2020). "Southland Stags to run with China Lions in Global Rapid Rugby competition". Stuff. Archived from the original on 11 March 2020.
  3. "China Lions complete six-team line-up for Global Rapid Rugby". The Australian. 31 January 2020.
  4. Chadwick, Justin (25 February 2020). "Global Rapid Rugby won't travel to China". Yahoo. Archived from the original on 25 February 2020.
  5. "China Lions rapid rugby team formed with help of BoP union". Otago Daily Times. 1 February 2020.
  6. "All systems go for Global Rapid Rugby". Rapid Rugby. 25 February 2020. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020.
  7. "Season One". amazon.aws. Rapid Rugby. 28 February 2020. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020.
  8. "China Lions ready to roar into competition". China Lions Rugby (Press release). 11 March 2020. Archived from the original on 12 March 2020.
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