World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper said that Alisports investment "to boost the sport in the mainland may spark similar interest in other potential markets," according to Nazvi Careem of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. World Rugby said that the deal with Alisports to grow the game in China can be the "standard-bearer for other countries that want to boost rugby development," although it will be difficult to match the "significant" amount of money that Alibaba’s sports arm is pumping into the program. Gosper said, "I think it is the role model for other countries who may want to do the same thing. But not every country has investors that are interested in associating itself with the real values of rugby straight away. We are hoping that this would be an example so that others will take note and say, this is a great thing for our company and for our country." The agreement means Alisports "will become an official partner of World Rugby." The company -- a subsidiary of the Alibaba Group, which owns the South China Morning Post -- "will gain broadcast rights for rugby events, develop grassroots and junior programmes for Chinese players, set up a league competition and stage major international tournaments." Gosper said that while World Rugby works to promote the game across the globe, "the deal with Alisports is the biggest development programme the body has undertaken." Gosper: "We are not in any dialogue as significant as this in any other market. But I certainly feel that the awareness of such a deal may trigger some thinking in other parts of the world" (SCMP, 4/11).
