THE Hong Kong Rugby Football Union are going all out in their bid to set up a rugby union in Guangzhou before the end of this year.
It is a race against time and Taiwanese entrepreneurs. Local rugby officials are mainly worried about the lure of the mighty dollar, flouted by Taiwanese businessmen, who are promising sums in the region of US$1,000 to the Chinese for every rugby team formed.
Apparently this is their way of attracting business and raking in contracts. Win friends on the field and this in turn can influence, and make life easy for oneself, on the business front.
The wily Taiwanese businessmen have earmarked rugby as the game through which they can spread their influence. Other sports in China - like soccer and badminton - are too organised and structured. This makes it hard for them to move in.
The Taiwanese business ethic has nothing to do with the Taiwanese Rugby Union. These are all private individuals, cashing in on the emerging mainland markets and low labour costs.
Last week, the territory's development brigade, led by HKRFU technical director George Simpkin paid a quick visit to Guangzhou. They came back convinced that a Union should be established soon, if Taiwan's influence was to be halted.
''We hope to get the Union going by September. It is definitely going ahead,'' said Simpkin, soon after returning from Guangzhou.
