BEIJING (SCMP) - Alisports is going to invest $100 million over the next 10 years in an effort to popularize rugby in China, World Rugby announced on Wednesday.
The company – the sporting division of Alibaba – revealed its plans at a launch in Shanghai.
The cash will be used to set up the first professional leagues for men and women, and national sevens programmes.
And a massive mass participation programme will be launched in 10,000 universities and schools in an effort to attract one million new players over five years.
Development programmes aim to recruit and train 30,000 coaches and 15,000 match officials by 2020, while the firm will launch a nationwide marketing programme and broadcast rugby on its TV and digital channels.