Taiwan rugby eyes return to glory days and challenging Asia’s elite with Unions Cup in Singapore next month
- Chinese Taipei were once consistently among the top four teams, but since 2008 have languished in lower echelons
- Officials hope new tournament, that includes hosts and Thailand, will boost programme and help them climb world rankings
The Chinese Taipei rugby team will make their first tentative steps towards rejoining the ranks of Asia’s top teams when they play in the newly launched Unions Cup in Singapore next month.
Taiwan were once consistently among the top four teams in Asia, along with Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong, but since 2008 have languished below the premier echelons of the Asian conference.
With an eye on returning to the team’s glory days – when they finished third in Asia in 1976, 1984 and 2000 – Chinese Taipei helped drive the nine-day round-robin series, which starts on June 28 and also includes the hosts and Thailand.
The annual competition, which will become a four-nation event next year with the addition of the Philippines, will be hosted by each union in rotation.
Jeffry Chang, president of the Chinese Taipei Rugby Union, said he hoped competing with the other countries would mean “the strength of Chinese Taipei 15-a-side rugby will be gradually improved”.
“After about 12 years of trough, Taiwan’s rugby is in a state of reconstruction,” Chang added. “We are doing our best to rebuild the spirit of rugby.”
