Global Rapid Rugby: South China Tigers name team for first home game against Asia Pacific Dragons
- Tigers play their first game at Aberdeen Sports Ground on Sunday
- Face huge task against Singapore’s Dragons
China’s newest professional rugby club, the FWD South China Tigers, announced their side for the club’s first ever Global Rapid Rugby home game against Singapore’s Asia Pacific Dragons at Aberdeen Sports Ground on Sunday.
Facing a physical test in the Dragons, a squad comprised of current and ex-internationals from the Pacific Islands, coach Craig Hammond and the Tigers have responded by bringing in their own heavyweights.
“They are big. The team, the subs, everyone; they are big fellahs, which is a different challenge to what we normally play against. They have a lot of international players with high-level footy experience, while we haven’t played against many Pacific Island teams, so that’s another challenge,” Hammond said.
A Dragons squad that featured 11 internationals, largely drawn from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, with a sprinkling of Australian sevens players and ex-Super Rugby stars, lost 42-10 to Western Force in Perth in their season-opener last Friday.
The Tigers also dropped their opener to the Force, 45-22, making Sunday’s tie a must-win for Hammond’s side if they hope to stay in contention for the Asian Showcase Series crown and the A$50,000 prize on offer for the champions.