On June 11th, 2016, the U22 National Touch Rugby Championship took place on the campus of China Agriculture University in Beijing. Shantou University represented by STU Phoenix participated in and finished runner-up in the Cup Final.

There were 10 teams competing in the U22 group this year, coming from different universities, including South China Agriculture University, Zhejiang University, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing University of Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, and China Agriculture University. STU Phoenix won Beijing University of Technology by 3:2 and China Agriculture University Engineering College team by 1:0 in the preliminary round and topped their group. After these narrow victories, STU Phoenix turned on the heat and won China Agriculture University west campus team by 7:0, and subsequently Beijing Technology and Business University by 6:1. STU Phoenix won 4 games in a row, bringing them to the Cup Final. In the finals, after an intense competition with the defending champions, South China Agriculture University team, STU Phoenix finished runner-up.

With the strong support from Li Ka Shing Foundation and guidance from our coach, Dennis Lee, STU Touch Rugby teams participated in several competitions over the past three years. The level of competition increased with each tournament but STU Touch Rugby teams kept pace and trained diligently to bring out their best. STU Phoenix participated in the Shenzhen tournament in 2014 for the first time and won the Bowl Champion. In 2015, two representing teams from STU took part in the Shenzhen tournament again and swept the Cup champion and runner-up placings. This year STU Phoenix won its first national prize at the 2016 U22 National Touch Rugby Championship, finishing runner-up in the Cup Final.

Written by Ru Shuting

                                    Translated by Meng Yajie (Sarah)