ulous nation a global force in the game.World Rugby announced Wednesday that Alisports, the sports arm of e-commerce company Alibaba, will provide funding for their Get Into Rug

Former Kent captain Rob Key has announced his retirement from all forms of cricket with immediate effect.Key, 36, spent his entire career with Kent, making his debut in 1998 and no-one has scored more runs than him at Canterbury.He scored 19,419 first-class runs, with the highlight a brilliant 221 for England against the West Indies at Lords in 2004. He compiled 54 centuries and 74 half-centuries and played 15 Tests, five one-day internationals and one T20 match for England. Key said: By mutual agreement the club and I have come to an agreement after a long and enjoyable career to call it a day. Its time for the younger players to have their chance and it doesnt feel right for me to stand in their way anymore. Key celebrates after reaching his century against the West Indies at Lords I would like to say a massive thank you to all who have supported me throughout my career. It has been a great honour to represent Kent. I dont know what the future holds but I look forward to what the next chapter has in store.Key was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2005 before being appointed club captain the following year.He was captain of Kent for nine years before stepping down in 2015 - the longest reign since the great Colin Cowdreys 15-year spell in the role from 1957 to 1971. Key (R) and Ryan McLaren (L) celebrate winning the Twenty20 Cup final in 2007 Kent chairman George Kennedy said: Rob has been an outstanding servant of Kent and England throughout his career. He is a club man and selfless captain whose records will stand as testament to his ability with the bat. Perhaps more importantly his leadership and loyalty to Kent in some turbulent times has helped lead the club to a much stronger place. The current crop of exciting talent has learned much from his time at the helm.A Kent side without Rob at the top of the order will look very odd and everyone at the club wishes him all the best for the future.Key admitted that retirement had been on his mind during the early part of 2016, telling Sky Sports News HQ: Ive thought about it for the past two months. When you start thinking about retiring and worrying about the future, its time to stop. England opener Jason Roy runs Rob Key through his warm-up drills and how he plays the pull stroke and straight drive Asked what he would miss playing professional cricket, Key added: Every retired player Ive spoken to says the thing they missed the most was the dressing room.Being in the dressing room, the fun. Ill miss batting but I wont miss the fielding. I feel privileged to have played for England and made my debut with Steve Harmison who became one of my best mates, Andrew Flintoff, as well.It was a good team, with Michael Vaughan as captain, just before they won the Ashes in 2005. So it was a great privilege to play in that era of cricket.Flintoff said: He had a great brain and could have captained England as well. But hell look back on his career and be very proud.Whatever he does next hell be successful and I think retirement will suit him: Not having to do pre-season training, not having to do warm-ups and not having to stand in the field which has bored him endlessly!But he did love batting and thats one thing he will miss.Also See:County ins and outsCC Division One previewCC Division Two previewPundits county picksAir Max 270 Mens Cheap . Its sharpness matched my mind. This was no night to go to sleep. Nike Air Max 270 Discount . He said Tuesday thats a big reason why he is now the new coach of the Tennessee Titans. Whisenhunt said he hit it off quickly with Ruston Webster when interviewing for the job Friday night. http://www.max270cheap.com/ . With Parker having a quiet game for once, Nicolas Batum and Boris Diaw provided the scoring as France won its first major basketball title by beating Lithuania 80-66 on Sunday. It was a victory that ended a decade of frustration for Parker and a talented French generation, which lost the final against Spain two years ago and took bronze in 2005. Nike Air Max 270 Triple White Womens . PETERSBURG, Fla. Air Max 270 Off White For Sale . Irving scored 23 points, Tristan Thompson had 20 points and 10 rebounds and the Cavaliers beat the Denver Nuggets 117-109 on Friday night.Chinese rugby is set to receive $100 million in investment over the next 10 years in an effort to make the worlds most populous nation a global force in the game.World Rugby announced Wednesday that Alisports, the sports arm of e-commerce company Alibaba, will provide funding for their Get Into Rugby project, which they hope will grow the sport in China.The strategy aims to attract and retain one million new players over the next five years, as well as the establishment of mens and womens professional leagues plus a national sevens programme.Rugbys world governing body hopes the programme will be integrated at 10,000 universities and schools across 20 provinces, as well as the training of 30,000 coaches and 15,000 match officials within the next four years.World Rugbys strategic mission is to grow the global rugby family.dddddddddddd China is central to that mission, World Rugby chief executive Brett Gosper said in Shanghai.We are confident that we can build a strong and sustainable platform from which to ensure that China is in the best-possible position to become a major force on the international stage.Alisports chief executive Zhang Dazhong added: Rugby is a great Olympic team sport with strong values, which is why we are so excited about its undoubted potential in China.With the support of World Rugby and a strong strategic plan, we believe that rugby in China will take off as an attractive, inclusive mass-participation sport of sportsmanship and character. 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