World Rugby Chair Bernard Lapasset's internationalist approach has made him "one of the most pivotal figures in the development of the sport," according to Leisha Chi of the BBC. Since taking office in '95, he has "guided rugby" from the amateur to professional leagues, brought nations like Argentina and the U.S. into the fold and "generated record-breaking growth culminating in last year's World Cup." He is now "making a final, ambitious play for Asia before relinquishing his role in May." Lapasset said, "We are not just a sport for Europe and the southern hemisphere. Asia is the future for the game. I am sure it will be the future of the game." Nothing "illustrates this more" than the deal he signed this month with Alibaba Chair Jack Ma. The multi-million dollar development and sponsorship agreement "aims to expand rugby in China at both the grassroots and professional levels" over the next 10 years. Lapasset said, "When we open the market in China, it will open the market in all of Asia. Development is different in every region. We have to adapt the solutions to the different cultures that we have in front of us." Rugby Sevens, the short-form of the game being included at the Rio Olympics, "is a huge part of his strategy." Former Australian rugby captain Stirling Mortlock calls it a "great vehicle" for developing countries to accelerate their rugby programs. Mortlock said, "In Asia there is so much potential and we're only seeing the start of it. You don't need massive behemoth forwards and a huge amount of players." He added that "it's an easy way for females to get involved as well as males." But "can rugby really pick up in Asia?" The business and investment community "increasingly seems to be saying yes." HSBC has sponsored the World Rugby Sevens series since '11 and "recently renewed the contract for another four years." HSBC Global Head of Sponsorships & Events Giles Morgan said, "We want to associate with fast-growing sports in emerging markets that cater to both men and women yet allow us to be quite dominant." New Zealander and Coliseum Sports Media Group CEO Tim Martin has based his business in China and is "also betting big on the oval ball game." He has invested millions to buy the regional rights to the Super Rugby tournament and has "launched a digital streaming platform called RugbyPass." Martin: "I'm committed. Right now it is the most exciting sport in Asia in terms of its commercial development potential" (BBC, 4/18).
