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China has ambitions to host the Rugby World Cup, the sport's CEO told AFP on Sunday as he unveiled an Alibaba tie-up aimed at transforming the game in the world's most populous nation.
Under the new deal, Alibaba's sports division Alisports will support a revamp of China's grassroots rugby and competitions, and increase the sport's visibility through its Internet platforms.
World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper said a Chinese stop on the sevens world series was now a possibility -- as was staging the sport's pinnacle competition, the Rugby World Cup.
"I think one day, for sure," he told AFP after signing the deal at the Hong Kong Sevens, when asked about the chances of China holding the World Cup.
"We can't put a date on that but I think if over the next 10 years, the development programmes from grassroots through to pathways for players into the Olympics and into top 15s teams, and some big events in China... inspire the young kids and so on, there's absolutely no reason why China wouldn't host one day a Rugby World Cup.
"I know they have that ambition, and it's a good ambition to have."
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/china-wants-host-world-cup-075804388.html
Under the new deal, Alibaba's sports division Alisports will support a revamp of China's grassroots rugby and competitions, and increase the sport's visibility through its Internet platforms.
World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper said a Chinese stop on the sevens world series was now a possibility -- as was staging the sport's pinnacle competition, the Rugby World Cup.
"I think one day, for sure," he told AFP after signing the deal at the Hong Kong Sevens, when asked about the chances of China holding the World Cup.
"We can't put a date on that but I think if over the next 10 years, the development programmes from grassroots through to pathways for players into the Olympics and into top 15s teams, and some big events in China... inspire the young kids and so on, there's absolutely no reason why China wouldn't host one day a Rugby World Cup.
"I know they have that ambition, and it's a good ambition to have."
https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/china-wants-host-world-cup-075804388.html