Japan book Sevens World Cup jaunt
Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:19
Japan secured qualification for next year's Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai after both their men and women's teams won their respective Asian Sevens titles in Hong Kong on Sunday.
Japan's men booked their place at next year's World Cup alongside runners-up Hong Kong and the Arabian Gulf, who were pre-qualified as hosts in the 24-team draw.
In the women's competition Thailand were the surprise package, upsetting favourites Kazakhstan before losing to the Japanese in the final to qualify along with third-placed China, who also beat Kazakhstan.
Dubai 2009 marks the first ever Women’s Rugby World Cup Sevens and nine teams were competing for the three slots open to Asian teams next March.
Kazakhstan and China were expected to meet in the final but instead Japan and Thailand upset the formbook, Japan edging Kazakhstan 5-0 in their semi and Thailand beating China 14-7 in an equally tough last four match.
Japan won a tight women's final 17-12 and in the crucial play-off for the third qualifying spot China beat Kazakhstan 17-5 to join Japan and Thailand in the 16-team draw.
Japan's men are the only Asian team to have qualified for every Rugby World Cup and every Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament since the inception of these global rugby events in 1987 and 1993.
Full Asian Sevens results:
Day One
Men's competition:
China 33-7 Guam
Japan 41-0 Thailand
Korea 33-7 Singapore
Hong Kong 52-0 India
Malaysia 38-5 Guam
Kazakhstan 0-24 Thailand
Chinese Taipei 38-5 Singapore
Sri Lanka 49-7 India
China 19-12 Malaysia
Japan 31-0 Kazakhstan
Korea 7-21 Chinese Taipei
Hong Kong 31-7 Sri Lanka
Women's competition:
Japan 27-0 Chinese Taipei
China 40-0 Sri Lanka
Kazakhstan 20-0 Singapore
Thailand
24-5 Chinese Taipei
Arabian Gulf 27-17 Sri Lanka
Hong Kong 12-5 Singapore
Japan 10-12 Thailand
China 52-7 Arabian Gulf
Kazakhstan 10-5 Hong Kong
Day Two
Men's competition:
Kazakhstan 0-29 Guam
Singapore 36-0 India
Thailand 0-36 Malaysia
Korea 28-19 Sri Lanka
Japan 24-0 China
Chinese Taipei 0-26 Hong Kong
Kazakhstan 40-7 India
Guam 17-7 Singapore
Thailand 29-22 Sri Lanka
Malaysia 12-28 Korea
China 38-5 Chinese Taipei
Japan 12-10 Hong Kong
Women's competition:
Sri Lanka 41-0 HK Womens Ba Bas
Arabian Gulf 17-7 Singapore
Hong Kong 31-0 Chinese Taipei
Kazakhstan 0-5 Japan
Thailand 14-7 China
Sri Lanka 47-0 HKRFU Chairman's Select
Singapore 29-5 Chinese Taipei
Arabian Gulf 0-12 Hong Kong
Kazakhstan 5-17 China
Japan 17-12 Thailand
