1
Yeah I think the Lions will be very competitive. Will be great if they are.
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
I thought I heard that word as well, but thought it was just my poor hearing.
China Lions beat the Manuma Samoa 42-14. Talking to Hodgo yesterday he seemed very impressed with the strength of the Lions predicting they will be in the top 2/3.
MEDIA RELEASE | China Lions ready to roar into competition
China Lions head coach Mike Rogers has selected a squad that has a blend of youth and enthusiasm mixed with power, speed and experience.
Global Rapid Rugby season one, officially kicks-off this weekend and Rogers says he is happy with the squad he has chosen for Rapid Rugby 2020.
“We have some really great talent in our squad and the side is looking forward to getting the season underway on a positive note.”
The Lions played a preseason warmup match against Manuma Samoa at Blake Park, in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand on Saturday, beating the visitors 42-14.
Rogers says the side is now looking forward to their season opener against the Fijian Latui at ANZ Stadium, Fiji at 6.15pm (local time).
“There are no easy games and it’s going to be a challenge but it’s an exciting one. It’s a little bit like Formula One Racing.
“To begin with it’s a technology race, then it becomes a team race. In our instance, it’s adapting to new rules and putting together a squad of players with the right skill-sets that will suit the modified rules.
“Then once the competition gets underway, it’s going to be a real race around figuring out how we do this.”
Lions’ captain Hugh Blake says the side is hungry and energised for their first hit up against Fijian Latui.
“You only do something for the first time once and the pressure is on us to show what the China Lions’ style of rugby is. You could say Rapid Rugby is the perfect canvas to show that.”
The fast-moving, high scoring, action-packed game that is ready to burst onto the world stage, has made Rogers look to some other senior players to help Blake mould his younger players into the international arena.
“We’ve got a little bit of a different approach for our leadership model. Currently, we have only four players, that is Hugh, Fa’asi Fuatai, Dan Hollinshead and Mathew Skipwith-Garland, but we also have a wisdom group and that comprises of Hoani Matenga, Dwayne Sweeny and Greg Pleasants-Tate,” the coach says.
“In our recruitment, we were really mindful of wanting to bring in guys who will really help the younger players along. They have played a lot of rugby in the Super Rugby level. Their job is around training, on and off-field leadership, being really calm and collected. To have these guys in our squad is really powerful.”
Rogers says he is also looking forward to the Chinese coaches and players joining the squad once the travel restrictions are lifted.
“Getting them into this environment it will be a great opportunity to expose Chinese players and coaches to this level of rugby, having them fully integrated into this environment will not only help these individuals but Chinese rugby as a whole.”
The China Lions is part of an innovative partnership between China Rugby Football Association and Bay of Plenty Rugby.
China Rugby Football Association’s, Director of the Multi-Ball Games Administrative Centre of the General Administration of Sport Yingbiao Chen says, the Chinese people enjoyed sport and there is a lot of opportunities for rugby to develop in the country because of the partnership.
“The joint venture will benefit both countries and I am confident the China Lions team will have a great season.”
Bay of Plenty Rugby chief executive Mike Rogers, (who shares the same name as the Lions’ coach) says seeing Rapid Rugby come to fruition is a satisfying feeling.
“We are really excited about the inaugural season of Global Rapid Rugby. We have assembled a strong team and expect the side to be competitive and play a dynamic brand of rugby.
“Our partnership with China Rugby Football Association is a long-term commitment to fostering rugby in China and we look forward to building a strong fan base in China over the coming seasons.”
How to watch China Lions games
For avid rugby fans who are wanting to watch all China Lions games, Rapidrugby.com will be the number one destination for Season One matches in 2020.
Worldwide digital provider Rugby Pass will also carry all 31 games live and on-demand through its free-to-view YouTube Channel in all regions (excluding New Zealand).
In China, you can watch for free on Rapidrugby.com or RugbyPass.com
In Australia, subscription streaming service Kayo Sports will broadcast all 31 matches live and on-demand in Australia. Subscription TV provider Fox Sports may broadcast some matches live and on replay
In Fiji, Fiji Broadcasting Corporation will broadcast games on free-to-air television
In New Zealand, Sky Sport TV will broadcast games on to paid subscribers
In Samoa, TV1 Samoa will broadcast games on free-to-air television
Home Game Tickets
New Zealand games
Online Prices:
Under 5’s: Free
Child: $5.00 (5-15 years)
Adult: $10.00 (16+)
*Booking fees apply
Gate Prices:
Under 5’s: Free
Child: $10.00 (5-15 years)
Adult: $15.00 (16+)
Tickets available from www.ticketmaster.co.nz from Friday 13 March.
Australia games
Details to be announced at a later date
China Lions
Forwards
Abraham Papali'i No 8 Bay of Plenty, NZ
Apitoni Toia Prop Bay of Plenty, NZ
Gao Yinghao Flanker Shandong, China
Greg Pleasants-Tate Hooker Southland, NZ
Haereiti Hetet LH Prop Waikato, NZ
Hoani Matenga Flanker Bay of Plenty, NZ
Hugh Blake Flanker Bay of Plenty, NZ
Iosefa Maloney-Fiaola Lock Bay of Plenty, NZ
Joe Johnston Flanker Bay of Plenty, NZ
Kohan Herbert Flanker Bay of Plenty, NZ
Li Haitao Lock Shandong, China
Liu Luda Flanker Shandong, China
Nic Souchon Hooker Bay of Plenty, NZ
Nico Aandewiel Prop Waikato, NZ
Ray Tatafu Lock Southland, NZ
Solomona Sakalia LH Prop Bay of Plenty, NZ
Stan van den Hoven Lock Bay of Plenty, NZ
Tevita Mafileo Prop Bay of Plenty, NZ
Tevita Sole Prop Bay of Plenty, NZ
Viliami Leo Tosi Prop Southland, NZ
Backs
Dan Changshun Wing Shandong, China
Dan Hollinshead 1st/2nd Five Bay of Plenty, NZ
Declan Barnett Wing Bay of Plenty, NZ
Dwayne Sweeney 1st/2nd Five Waikato, NZ
Fa'asiu Fuatai Wing Bay of Plenty, NZ
James Little Centre North Harbour, NZ
Leroy Carter Half Back Bay of Plenty, NZ
Liam Coombes-Fabling Fullback Waikato, NZ
Luke Campbell Half Back Bay of Plenty, NZ
Mathew Skipwith-Garland Centre Bay of Plenty, NZ
Pryor Collier Fullback Bay of Plenty, NZ
Solofa Silipa 1st/2nd Five Auckland, NZ
Te Aihe Toma Half Back Bay of Plenty, NZ
Tyler Campbell Wing Waikato, NZ
Management
Clayton McMillan Campaign Manager Bay of Plenty, NZ
Mike Rogers Head Coach Bay of Plenty, NZ
Marty Bourke Assistant Coach Bay of Plenty, NZ
Mike Delany Assistant Coach Bay of Plenty, NZ
Yu Xiaoxiang Assistant Coach Shandong, China
Wayne Brill Manager Bay of Plenty, NZ
Guan Yanbin Assistant Manager Shangxi, China
Thomas Stebbing Strength & Conditioning Bay of Plenty NZ
Scott Joblin Asst Strength & Conditioning Bay of Plenty, NZ
Andrew Tai Kie Doctor Bay of Plenty, NZ
Can anyone PM me a discount code for ticketmaster?
OK, I was just looking at ticket sales for the match. A rough count of the available seats (yeah by looking at the seating chart for the ones that showed) it looks like, of the reserved seats there are only about 400 available.
Lots of General admission blocks, so I don't think that means much, but if ticketed seats are that popular, we might get a pretty good turnout.
C'mon the
https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/s...ATv33gcSaZo2Vo
Great preview of GRR in the Newcastle Herarld.