1st Global Rapid Rugby Showcase games revealed
Global Rapid Rugby, via the Australian newspaper The West, has confirmed the first game of the GRR Showcase Series for 2019 will feature the Western Force vs an invitational World XV. GRR has also since announced the full schedule of the 2019 Showcase Series which will include an Asia Series and a Pacific Series.
The initial article said that the 1st game will take place on Friday, March 22 at HBF Park in Perth. The World XV team will be coached by Robbie Deans and includes a number of high profile players and World Cup winners. Some of the key names mentioned are Digby Ioane, Wyatt Crockett, Andy Ellis, and Corey Flynn. The sole Asian representative is Japanese fly-half Kosei Ono, who was part of the 2015 World Cup 34-32 win over South Africa. Other players from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, Japan, and Tonga will also be represented in the side, claims the article.
Global Rapid Rugby 2019 Showcase Series (update)
Global Rapid Rugby has since released a press release to confirm the following:
Asia Showcase Series 2019
The Asia Showcase Series will begin on March 29 and end on 12th May 2019.
- South China Tigers – Hong Kong (Aberdeen Sports Park)
- Asia Pacific Dragons – Singapore (Queenstown Stadium)
- Western Force – Perth, Australia (HBF Park)
Pacific Showcase Series 2019
The Pacific Showcase Series will be played from May 18th to 21st June 2019.
- Western Force – Perth, Australia ((HBF Park)
- Fijian Latui – (Churchill Park, Fiji)
- Kagifa Samoa – Queensland (Ballymore, Brisbane) and Auckland (Navigation Homes Stadium)
Teams will play at least two matches in their home market. Although GRR said that “construction work on Samoa’s main stadium means its ‘home’ games will be played in Queensland and Auckland.”
Winners of the Asia and the Pacific series will access an AUD50,000 prize purse to assist local community rugby programs.
GRR broadcast rights
Rapid Rugby has confirmed it has partnered with global broadcast company Input Media to produce a live turnkey production. Although the organisers have said negotiations are ongoing with other leading Asia Pacific TV networks and online broadcasters to televise games and highlights.
The Global Rapid Rugby season has been postponed to 2020 but 2019 should see a number of Showcase games take place. Teams from Asian should include Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. We have all the information about Global Rapid Rugby here.
RugbyAsia247 will keep tabs on any more games confirmed (UPDATED).