The Force’s season effectively takes part in two components, the first being an Asian Showcase Series including the South China Tigers and Asia Pacific Dragons in a home and away format. The Dragons will play out of Singapore and the Tigers from Hong Kong.
Following that, the Force will move into a Pacific Showcase Series with the Fijian Latui and Kagifa Samoa. Fiji’s home games will be in Fiji, while Samoa will play theirs at Navigation Home Stadium in Auckland, and at Ballymore in Brisbane, while Samoa’s home venue is being constructed.
The series are book-ended by more boutique games with the Force to host a “World XV” coached by Robbie Deans featuring the likes of Digby Ioane and Andy Ellis on 22 March. Then, on the day before the Wallabies and All Blacks & Wallaroos and Black Ferns double header in Perth on 10 August, the Force have scheduled a “Bledisloe Showcase” with details still to come.
Winners of the Asia and the Pacific series will access an $50,000 (AUD) prize purse to assist local community rugby programs.
Rapid Rugby has partnered with global broadcast company Input Media to produce a live turnkey production, while negotiations are continuing with leading Asia Pacific TV networks and online broadcasters to televise games and highlights.
Draw:
