The China Lions are a professional rugby union team that was formed in 2020 to compete in the Global Rapid Rugby competition across the Asia-Pacific region. It is a joint venture between the China Rugby Football Association and New Zealand's Bay of Plenty Rugby Union.
History 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. Due to health concerns relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the Lions only played one match in the schedule, a 29–22 away win over the Fijian Latui in Suva.
Records
Head coaches Mike Rogers (2020)
Captains Hugh Blake (2020)
Squads China Lions – 2020 Global Rapid Rugby
Greg Pleasants-Tate Nic Souchon
Nico Aandewiel Haereiti Hetet Tevita Mafileo Solomona Sakalia Tevita Sole Apitoni Toia Pasilio Tosi
Li Haitao Iosefa Maloney-Fiaola Ray Tatafu Stan van den Hoven
Hugh Blake (c) Kohan Herbert Joe Johnston Liu Luda Hoani Matenga Abraham Papali'i Gao Yinghao
Luke Campbell Leroy Carter Te Aihe Toma
Dan Hollinshead Solofa Silipa Dwayne Sweeney
Joe Johnston James Little Mathew Skipwith-Garland
Declan Barnett Tyler Campbell Dan Changshun Fa'asiu Fuatai
Pryor Collier Liam Coombes-Fabling
Notes:
Bold denotes player is internationally capped.
See also Rugby union in China
References
External links China Lions