ARFU

Japan was crowned the deserved champion of the new format for the 2015 Asian Rugby Championship. They were undefeated in their matches against South Korea and Hong Kong and the tournament provided valuable match practice in their build-up to the Rugby World Cup later in the autumn.

Japan comfortably beat South Korea 66-10 in the 4th round of the Asian Rugby Championships in Fukuoka, and stamped their authority on the tournament for 2015.

In the 3rd round of the Asian Rugby Championship Japan comfortably beat Hong Kong 41-O at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground, in Tokyo on Saturday May 2. For Japan, it was another bonus point victory by scoring seven tries.

Hong Kong lost their opening match of the Asia Rugby Championship against South Korea, 26-33 on Saturday April 25, in front of a subdued Hong Kong crowd, even the Dragon mascot had a quiet game around the terraces! This was the second match of the top tier games in Asia: Korea lost to Japan 30-56, in the opening game last week in South Korea. This season, the elite division is only three teams, playing home and away. A home defeat for Hong Kong is a tough start to the competition. Victory for Korea away from home, against Hong Kong, is a very satisfying result.

The RS Hong Kong Asian Sevens tournament was played at the Hong Kong Football Club on Aug 23 and 24 with 12 men’s teams and 8 women’s teams taking part. This was the first round of a 3-round series (two for women). The second round for men’s teams takes place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Sept 6-7 and the third round will be in Shanghai, China on Oct 18-19.

HONG KONG—Twelve Men’s teams and 12-Women’s teams gather at the Hong Kong Football Club this coming weekend Saturday Aug 23 and Sunday Aug 24 for the first leg of the ARFU Asian Rugby 7’s Series 2014.