Chinese rugby players were in Tauranga yesterday eyeing up potential training facilities.

The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union has offered a partnership with the Chinese Rugby Football Association.

If the deal goes ahead, it could see more teams training here in Tauranga.

Chinese Rugby Football Association secretary and team manager Jack Lau says yesterday's visit was the first time the team has been to the Bay of Plenty.

'I think it's very important for the youth teams because it is the first visit to NZ.”

Jack says their government has a good relationship with the NZ government and the All Blacks have a 'very big brand in the world”.

'NZ has a lot of advantage, as you have a sevens tournament every winter. So I think for us, we want to attend a lot of tournaments in NZ.

'I don't think any other countries have tournaments like NZ.”

The Chinese team is in the middle of preparing for the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

'So especially in sevens, we want at least get the women's team getting to Tokyo. Because Japan is the host, they don't need to attend qualify.”

The BOPRU already has a partnership with Japan, Colombia and the US, and this is the first time a partnership has been offered to China.

BOPRU CEO Mike Rogers says yesterday was the first opportunity to host the team and hopefully grow a partnership from there.

'It brings in some good economic benefit, not just for rugby but also for accommodation providers and the education sector.

'We see it as a way of driving economic development in Tauranga.”

Finance Minister Steven Joyce was also on hand to welcome the Chinese team to Tauranga.

He thinks the partnership will be a good collaboration between all those involved.

Chinese Rugby Football Association secretary Jack Lau and team leader and project manager Han Yu present Stephen Joyce with gifts from their association.

The Chinese Men's 15s National Youth Rugby team and Stephen Joyce.

Shun Zhang, Qingxiang Zhao, Hao Zhang with the Minister yesterday.