'Chinese rugby'? It's more than that

"For the past 20 years, the rules developed and the team improved. What has not changed is we still get together for the sport," Zhang said, adding half of his players are 30-something veteran or retired CAU rugby players who sacrifice their spare time for training.

Captain Chen Changping, a Man ethnic, 39, joined the team in 2002 when he was playing rugby in CAU. Having taken part in all the past four games with a first place finish in 2011, he wants the sport to grow in popularity.

"We have no games to play most of the time. Training for the national games every four years is not enough to pass on the sport," Chen said.

Chen said they are considering offering Huapao classes at CAU and even in primary and middle schools. "It should be for daily physical education instead of only for competition."

Now with some young players recruited from Beijing Sports University, the team comprises members of the Man, Hui, Zhuang, Uygur ethnic groups, as well as Han. "Veterans have become friends. We and Guangxi are old foes and we invited each other for friendlies," said Zhang.