Global Rapid Rugby set kick off in March

Global Rapid Rugby set kick off in March

Global Rapid Rugby’s inaugural home-and-away season will feature six teams, 10 rounds, 31 games including a one-off Final and $AU 1 Million in prize money.

Five of the teams that will fight for the Global Rapid Rugby Season 1 title in 2020 were unveiled today and represent the traditional powers of Australasia, the untapped potential of Asia and the passion and pride of the Pacific Islands.

Fast-paced and explosive by name and nature, the competition will begin on Friday, March 13 and reach a crescendo when the top two teams go head-to-head in the Grand Final in Perth, Australia, on June 5 or 6.


The Teams:

Western Force was Global Rapid Rugby’s premier Showcase Series team and won Australia’s National Rugby Championship earlier this month


Fijian Latui will take its amazing mix of flair and strength to all parts of the rugby-mad island nation, and be just as tough to beat on foreign shores

Manuma Samoa is an exciting, home-grown squad capable of anything, particularly on a redeveloped home stadium in Apia

South China Tigers from Hong Kong is sure to build on this year’s Global Rapid Rugby Asian Showcase and reach their powerful potential in 2020

Malaysia Valke, based in Kuala Lumpur, comprises some of both South Africa’s and Malaysia’s best domestic talent and a strong hunger to succeed

Negotiations are nearing completion with a sixth team to be based in Asia


Unveiling the format for Season 1, Global Rapid Rugby CEO, Mark Evans, described the combination of teams as a perfect blend for a competition designed to expand rugby’s appeal to new and old fans alike.

“We are thrilled to be able to inject the excitement and energy of Rapid Rugby’s first home-and-away competition into these territories within the Asia Pacific region in 2020,” Evans said.

“The evolution from a Showcase Series to a Home-And-Away Season will multiply the success we enjoyed this year in many ways.

“In particular, providing Fiji and Samoa with access to a full-scale, international competition is an enormous result for the sport worldwide.”

Three games each round will be staged across Friday, Saturday and Sundays. Final date, time and venue details are yet to be finalised, however a round-by-round draw released today includes a number of marquee matches.

Three games will be staged each round from March 13, with the Force opening the season at home against Valke before travelling for games in Samoa and Fiji.

 
 

Global Rapid Rugby chief executive Mark Evans said the new league was designed to expand rugby’s appeal.

The rules are based on traditional 15-a-side rugby but encourage attacking, running styles and discourage kicks for touch.

There’s bonus points for a so-called “Power Try” when the attacking movement starts from inside a team’s defensive quarter.

Lineout throws for most kicks that go into touch will be taken from where the kicker’s position was, so the emphasis will be on keeping the ball in play.

The game has been cut by 10 minutes, with 35-minute halves, and rolling substitutions can be made to keep the play flowing.



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