In the middle of the Rugby World Cup, Beijing rugby teams are preparing their own local tournaments. Whilst still on the periphery of the Chinese sports scene, interest in rugby is gaining momentum thanks to university training centres.

"There are no opportunities for rugby in China. You can't make any money from it." Chen has resigned himself: he will never be a professional rugby player. But this 27 year-old Chinese salesman keeps playing every day and practicing with fervor twice a week with the Beijing team ‘Brothers'.

He never misses friendly or competitive matches. He was there on Saturday September 22^nd, the day of the Beijing Cup first friendly match.  The Brothers were playing against the local team the Aardvarks at the Chaoyang Sports Center.

The match today is on a pitch encompassed by pebbles and poplars, and a bamboo fence.  The players are mainly from Britain, Oceania and the Pacific Islands, and supporters of all ages are gathered around a welcoming BBQ before the kick off. There, no fuss whatsoever: we using our fingers, we drink straight from the bottle. Socks aren't always worn, and jerseys are not matching.

Never mind. "Rugby is a good way for us to meet friends and to relax on Saturday afternoons," says Kevin Sela, a Fijian student at the University of Agriculture in Beijing, and the captain of the Brothers team. These laid back matches also serve another purpose. China is giving us so much, so we want to pay her back by helping to promote rugby," explains the Aardvarks' captain, Dave Trethewey. 

Gao, a 26 year-old Chinese real estate agent who started playing rugby six years ago as a semi-professional while he was studying Law at the University of Agriculture, shares this wish. "In rugby, you can use every part of your body. I also like the fact that you have to use your brains as well," he confesses. "Chinese don't like sports with heavy physical contact," Gao adds to explain the Chinese lack of interest in the sport. Add to that that matches are not shown on Chinese TV, and that newspapers hardly mention it. Rugby is definitely not mainstream.   

An Uphill Struggle

Nevertheless, over the past few years, rugby has starting to become more popular in Beijing, mainly thanks to expat communities and live broadcasting, although late at night, of the Rugby World Cup.

Some university training centers, such the University of Agriculture welcome everyone, Chinese or foreigner, interested in playing rugby.

It's thanks to this university that the Chinese players on the field that day discovered and now play rugby. "I brought them all," boasts Chen. Most of the players from the China national team also come from this school.   

Not as disorganised as they might at first seem, the Brothers also have an interpreter, who happens to be Chen's girlfriend. This young Chinese woman is in charge of communication, coordination between all the team members, and to translate the rugby rules and subtleties of the game. On top of this, she gives away brochures and flyers during the matches, talks to the media and tries to promote rugby sports events.