Mondo Rugby Presidente Bernard Lapasset, sinistra e Alisports CEO Zhang Dazhong pongono in occasione di una conferenza stampa per la cooperazione tra Alisports e Giornate mondiali
World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset, left, and Alisports CEO Zhang Dazhong pose at a press conference for the cooperation between Alisports and World Rugby in Hong Kong, China, 10 April 2016. World Rugby have penned a 10-year deal with Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group Holding Ltd to spark playing numbers and bring major events to the world's most populous country. The deal between the world governing body and Alisports will see Alibaba's new sports division broadcast exclusive rugby content, create online rugby stores and invest in World Rugby's grassroots programme. No financial terms were revealed for the deal unveiled on Sunday (10 April 2016) at the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens tournament but was a further sign of the increased interest in the sport ahead of its return to the Olympics later this year in Rio de Janeiro. "With global participation having doubled to 7.7 million since rugby was re-admitted into the Olympic Games programme in 2009, this deal will ensure an unprecedented platform for rugby to reach, engage and inspire new participants across China, " World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said in a statement. World Rugby, who dubbed the deal "ground-breaking", added they would work with Alisports to bring "major rugby events" to China within the next 10 years.
