Asian qualifying matches
Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:42
The Asian Rugby Football Union announced on Wednesday the matches for the Asian 5 Nations Series, which doubles as a qualifier for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. These matches are the culmination of a three-year, 32-match qualifying process.
At the launch in Hong Kong were, among others, famous England wing Rory Underwood, former Scotland coach Frank Hadden and Nobby Mashimo, chairman of the Japan RFU and Asian RFU delegate to the International Rugby Board council.
The five countries are Arabian Gulf, Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan and Korea. They wilAl compete in a single round robin over five weeks. The matches will be played on five consecutive weekends from 24 April top 22 May 2010. The winner will qualify directly for New Zealand in 2011 while the team coming second will have another chance through répechage, playing against Uruguay in July.
The first Asian country to form a national body was Ceylon, now Sri Lanka, back in 1879. The Asian RFU was founded in 1969 and now has 28 members - Arabian Gulf, China, Chinese Taipei, Guam, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand who are full members of the IRB, and Cambodia, Indonesia, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Mongolia, Uzbekistan Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates
Fixtures
24 April 2010
Hong Kong vs Korea at Hong Kong Football Club, Hong Kong
Kazakhstan vs Arabian Gulf at National University Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan
30 April 2010
Arabian Gulf vs Hong Kong at Bahrain Sports Club, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
1 May
Korea vs Japan at Gyeongsang Rugby Stadium, Gyeongsang, Korea
8 May
Hong Kong vs Kazakhstan at Hong Kong Football Club, Hong Kong
Japan vs Arabian Gulf at Prince
Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
14 May
Arabian Gulf vs Korea at The Sevens, Dubai, UAE
15 May
Japan vs Kazakhstan at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
22 May
Japan vs Hong Kong at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, Tokyo, Japan
Korea vs Kazakhstan at Munhak Stadium, Incheon, KoreaAsian Rugby Football Union
Other Competitions
Division I
14 April:
Chinese Taipei vs Sri Lanka at Yio Chu Kang Stadium, Singapore
Singapore vs Malaysia at Yio Chu Kang Stadium Singapore
17 April:
Final round at Yio Chu Kang Stadium, Singapore
Division II
2
June:
China vs India at Delhi University Rugby Stadium, New Delhi, India
Thailand vs Philippines at Delhi University Rugby Stadium, New Delhi, India
5 June:
Final round at Delhi University Rugby Stadium, New Delhi, India
Division III
9 June:
Guam vs Iran at UPH Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
Pakistan vs Indonesia at UPH Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
12 June:
Final round at UPH Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia
Division IV
9 June:
Uzbekistan vs Jordan at Central Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan vs Mongolia at Central Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
12 June:
Final round at Central Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
Cambodia Regional Tournament
23 June:
Laos vs Qatar at National Sports Complex, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Cambodia vs Brunei at National Sports Complex, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
26 June:
Final round at National Sports Complex, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Other Matches
14 May
Lebanon vs Jordan at The Sevens, Dubai, UAE
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