China to provide back-up players
A shadow China team drawn from players from the PLA and the Chinese Agricultural University will provide injury back-up for all 24 teams at the World Cup.
'They will be the 25th team at the World Cup. We decided that this reserve squad would only comprise of players from the [university] and the PLA as that will be fair to all teams across the board,' said Alan Payne, Hong Kong Rugby Football Union executive director.
All 24 teams at the World Cup can draw players from this reserve pool in case of injury. Once a reserve has been picked, he cannot play for another country. All players will be from the mainland except for one Hong Kong Chinese - Valley flanker Andy Yuen.
The move is also seen as a way to help boost the Chinese Rugby Football Union and also to promote the interest of the World Cup in China, who in 1997 joined the International Rugby Board as an associate member. 'Even though China didn't qualify for the World Cup, their players will now have the opportunity to play at the World Cup. We are always looking at ways of helping the China Rugby Union and we hope this will be a boost to them,' Payne said.
When the SAR hosted the World Cup for the first time in 1997, the Hong Kong union fielded a 25th team.
