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HANGZHOU FAMILY<br />
INTRODUCING<br />
THE HANGZHOU<br />
HARLEQUINS<br />
By Lawrie Keen<br />
The <strong>Hangzhou</strong> Harlequins Rugby<br />
Club is the infamous social rugby<br />
team of Zhejiang's capital. The<br />
club consists of old rugby players<br />
missing home, new recruits looking for<br />
that next challenge and anyone else<br />
who enjoys the fun side of life. The<br />
club was founded back in 2006 by<br />
a group of expats with a passion for<br />
the sport and were looking to throw<br />
the 'egg' around on a small grass field<br />
outside of a factory. The club grows<br />
stronger each year with each new<br />
face that injects energy into the team.<br />
Although rugby is normally considered<br />
a 'manly' sport, back in 2018 we<br />
officially started a women's rugby<br />
team, aptly named the 'Harlequeens'<br />
for their royal grace on the field.<br />
The Club participates in the Eastern<br />
conference of a country-wide league<br />
system separated by region. The team’s<br />
main rivals include Shanghai and<br />
Nanjing, with matches being played<br />
throughout the year at home and<br />
away locations. Rugby has a handful<br />
of variations from the fast-paced<br />
seven-a-side version, to the traditional<br />
15-a-side Rugby Union which draws<br />
the largest crowds. The Harlequins<br />
take part in both the traditional<br />
15s format and in a rare amateur<br />
10-a-side format that is popular in<br />
Asia. The 10s version is popular for its<br />
slower pace and social atmosphere,<br />
perfect for players with beer-bellies.<br />
Rugby has always been a minor<br />
sport across the Middle Kingdom.<br />
However, recent pushes from Sports<br />
Universities and the introduction of<br />
Rugby Sevens into the Olympics has<br />
meant that our sport is finally being<br />
noticed. Leagues have been set up<br />
and funding allocated from big names<br />
such as <strong>Hangzhou</strong>'s very own Alibaba.<br />
The Chinese National Team is making<br />
massive strides and has become a top<br />
contender in Asia as well as abroad.<br />
The Chinese Women's 7s team has<br />
been a leading example of this, even<br />
developing to become a threat to<br />
traditional rugby playing countries like<br />
New Zealand and South Africa. This<br />
September and <strong>October</strong> is the first time<br />
the Rugby World Cup has been hosted<br />
in an Asian Nation, over in Japan.<br />
One of the cornerstones of rugby is<br />
its reliance on community. This means<br />
events have an array of local foods,<br />
social groups and youth teams to<br />
show their skills and talents. Our Club<br />
has always been a major supporter<br />
of youth rugby and has aspirations to<br />
create a place where children can learn<br />
and develop new skills while playing<br />
sport. The <strong>Hangzhou</strong> Touch-Rugby<br />
League has been a huge contributor to<br />
this and is a great way for beginners<br />
to get into the sport without the hits<br />
and bruises. We welcome anyone from<br />
any background, as long as they have<br />
the passion for a new (or old) sport<br />
and are looking to make plenty of new<br />
friends in this great city. Come be part<br />
of our community, meet new friends,<br />
have great chances to travel around<br />
China and get fit! See you on the pitch!<br />
To know more<br />
about the <strong>Hangzhou</strong><br />
Harlequins, scan<br />
Lawrie’s WeChat using<br />
the QR Code.<br />
48 redstarhangzhou.com
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