2019 Global Rapid Rugby season


The 2019 Global Rapid Rugby season was a showcase series for seven rugby union teams played in locations across the Asia-Pacific region. Global Rapid Rugby originally planned a full home and away tournament followed by finals, with eight teams competing in 2019. The competition launch was postponed by a year, however, due to the short time frame following World Rugby approval in November 2018. A scaled-down showcase series of fourteen matches was arranged instead.

Teams

Seven teams played in the Rapid Rugby Showcase in 2019:
TeamHead coachCaptainStadiumCapacity
Asia Pacific DragonsRyan MartinStacey IliQueenstown Stadium3,800
Fijian LatuiSenirusi SeruvakulaMosese VokaChurchill Park9,500
Kagifa SamoaDarryl SuasuaLeon FukofukaPukekohe Stadium12,000
Kagifa SamoaDarryl SuasuaLeon FukofukaBallymore18,000
South China TigersCraig HammondJames Cunningham
Liam Slatem
Aberdeen Stadium9,000
Valke MalaysiaJP ImmelmanShane KirkwoodHBF Park20,500
Western ForceTim SampsonIan PriorHBF Park20,500
World XVRobbie DeansAndy EllisHBF Park20,500

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Standings

A modified version of the standard Rugby union bonus points system was used, with bonus points awarded for:
Four points were awarded for a win and none for a loss; two points were awarded to each team for a match ending in a draw.

Showcase Series

Showcase opener

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Asia Showcase

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Asia Rd 1

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Asia Rd 2

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Asia Rd 3

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Asia Rd 4

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Asia Rd 5

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Asia Rd 6

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Pacific Showcase

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Pac Rd 1

Pac Rd 2

Pac Rd 3

Pac Rd 4

Pac Rd 5

Pac Rd 6

Bledisloe Showcase

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Other matches

Media coverage

Rapid Rugby had live broadcast television coverage in 18 countries across Asia and Oceania in 2019. Live streaming and video on demand services reached additional viewers within some Asia-Pacific countries, while Rapid Rugby's own website provided live streams and highlight packages to other regions worldwide.
Nine of the fourteen matches of 2019 showcase series were televised. Fox Sports in Australia and related companies Star Sports and Fox Sports Asia provided the live coverage.
National broadcaster SBS showed all nine of these matches live on free-to-air television across Australia via its SBS Viceland channel and also streamed through SBS on Demand. Other Rapid Rugby media partners included Kayo Sports in Australia, Sky Sport in New Zealand and Fiji TV.
CountryBroadcasterType of service

Star SportsPay television
  • Fox Sports AsiaPay television
    Fox SportsPay television
    Kayo SportsSubscription streamingVideo on demand
    SBS VicelandFree-to-air television
    SBS on Demand
    Free streaming
    Sky SportPay television
    Fiji TVFree-to-air television
    Local channelTBC
    Fox SportsPay television

    Various local channelsTBC
    All other locationsFree streaming
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