English rugby to air on Chinese TV

Chinese viewers will be able to watch English club rugby, complete with commentary in Mandarin, for the first time on Christmas Eve when the Leicester Tigers host the London-based Saracens on CCTV5+.

The game will be followed in future weeks by at least 25 other games from the Aviva Premiership and the semifinals and final of the competition.

Rugby is primarily played in former British colonies, as well as France, Italy, and Argentina, but it is growing elsewhere. Japan, in particular, has had recent international success, defeating several established rugby powers.