China's rising rugby player, flier (7)
I believe the answer is:
lapwing
'flier' is the definition.
(type of bird)
'china's rising rugby player' is the wordplay.
'china' becomes 'pal' (china plate is Cockney rhyming slang for mate).
'rising' says the letters should be written backwards (going up in a down clue).
'rugby player' becomes 'wing' (type of rugby player).
'pal' reversed gives 'lap'.
'lap'+'wing'='LAPWING'
(Other definitions for lapwing that I've seen before include "Large plover with a loud call -- peewit" , "wader" , "Plover, pewit" , "high-flier" , "Flier" .)