Asia Pacific Dragons
The Asia Pacific Dragons, also known as APDs, is an invitational rugby union football team which was formed in 2011 as the Asia Pacific Barbarians. The team traditionally selects players from Asia and the Pacific Islands.[1]
The Asia Pacific Dragons, owned by French businessman Eric Series,[2] originally started playing 15-a-side rugby but expanded to play rugby sevens and rugby tens. The team, as the Asia Pacific Barbarians, won their first match in Hong Kong against an invitational World XV to claim the inaugural Chartis Cup in 2011, and successfully defended the cup in 2012 against the Saracens. The APD's also won the Hong Kong Football Club Tens in 2012 and the Singapore Cricket Club Sevens in 2013.
In 2014 the Asia Pacific Dragons competed in the World Club Tens.[3] The club also formed the basis of a bid to enter a Singapore-based team in the Super Rugby competition for 2016,[4] but the licence was awarded to the Japanese Rugby Union who formed the Sunwolves team.[4] In 2015 the Asia Pacific Dragons played the Western Force in a pre-season game.[5] Players such as Radike Samo have made appearances for the team.[1]
The team has adopted the name Africa Pacific Dragons when playing in the World Club 10s tournament.[6]
References
- 1 2 Asia Pacific Dragons 2014
- ↑ Robson, Toby (12 July 2014). "Strong backing for Singapore Super Rugby bid". Stuff. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- ↑ Teams World Club Tens
- 1 2 Linden, Julian (23 October 2014). "Rugby-Singapore bidding team concedes Japan will get new Super franchise". Reuters. Retrieved 25 April 2016.
- ↑ Force brings pre-season fixtures to Perth RugbyWA, 2015.
- ↑ "Injera, Amonde for World Club 10s in Mauritius". The Star, Kenya. Nairobi. 15 June 2016. Archived from the original on 18 June 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
External links
- "Official website", Asia Pacific Dragons, archived from the original on 16 December 2014