Andrew Forrest created Global Rapid Rugby after his Western Force team was culled from Super Rugby.GETTY IMAGES
The South China Tigers, a team comprising players from Hong Kong’s Elite Rugby Program, agreed to compete in Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest’s newly-created Global Rapid Rugby series, according to Patrick Blennerhassett of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. Formerly called World Series Rugby during its trial season earlier this year, the new series was created after Forrest’s Western Force team was booted from the Australian Super Rugby Conference in '17. Forrest, valued at about $3.3B, "would not divulge how much money he has spent, or is prepared to spend, to make the series work." He said, "When we broke into the global iron ore industry, it took seven or eight years to get a solid return. And we invested very heavily and we had a long-term vision and we stuck to it heavily. We didn’t let the availability of capital get in the way, we were always able to get capital for a fantastic vision and that’s what will happen here." Global Rapid Rugby's '19 season will start in late February with eight teams playing for A$1M ($730,000) in prize money. Hong Kong Rugby Union CEO Robbie McRobbie said that the games "would most likely take place at Aberdeen Sports Grounds" until the Siu Sai Wan Stadium is potentially available (SCMP, 11/15).
