AP, PERTH, AustraliaGlobal Rapid Rugby is to begin in March next year with a 10-round competition featuring teams from Fiji, Samoa, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Australia, and would conclude with a US$1 million final in Perth in June. Five of the six teams are set, with the Fijian Latui, Manuma Samoa, South China Tigers and Malaysia Valke joining Western Force and a yet-to-be finalized Asia-based team. The new league was designed to expand rugby’s appeal, Global Rapid Rugby CEO Mark Evans said. The rules are based on traditional 15-a-side rugby, but encourage attacking, running styles and discourage kicks for touch. “In particular, providing Fiji and Samoa with access to a full-scale, international competition is an enormous result for the sport worldwide.

Source: Taipei Times November 14, 2019 16:01 UTC