2007 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification

In qualification for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, thirteen Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) nations compete for one full place, and one repechage place (Repechage 2, against Oceania 3). No Asian teams qualified for the quarter finals in 2003, so none qualify automatically in 2007. Only Japan has been to the World Cup, participating in all five RWCs to date, with only one win in 1991 (England) against Zimbabwe, 52-8. Asia 1 will go into Group B with Australia, Wales, Fiji and Canada.

Qualification process

Initial pools were based on results from 2003-04 ARFU Rugby Union Series as given below, and was part of 2005 ARFU Asian Rugby Series

Division 1 (2005) Division 2 (2005) Division 3 Pool A (2005) Division 3 Pool B (2005)
1st Division 1 (2004) 3rd Division 1 (2004) 3rd Division 2 (2004) 2nd Division 3 (2004)
2nd Division 1 (2004) 2nd Division 2 (2004) 1st Division 4 (2004) 3rd Division 3 (2004)
1st Division 2 (2004) 1st Division 3 (2004) 2nd Division 4 (2004) 3rd Division 4 (2004)
Guam

Thus initial division allocations for 2005 were:

Division 1:  Japan,  South Korea,  Hong Kong.

Division 2:  Chinese Taipei,  China, Arabian Gulf.

Division 3A:  Singapore,  Sri Lanka,  Thailand.

Division 3B:  Kazakhstan,  Malaysia,  India,  Guam.

Round 1a

Division 1 play off for placings, all three teams going into Round 2, along with the winner and runner up of Division 2. The winners of Divisions 3A and 3B go into Round 1b.

Round 1b

The winners of Divisions 3A and 3B playoff (home and away) for the final place in Round 2.

Round 2

The round was part of 2006 ARFU Asian Rugby Series (first and second divion).

The top two teams from Division 1 and the winner of Division 2 form the new Division 1 (2006). Third place from Division 1, the runner up of Division 2, and the playoff winner from Round 1b form the new Division 2 (2006). The winner and runner up of Division 1 (2006), and the winner of Division 2 (2006), go through to Round 3.

Round 3

The three qualifiers from the previous round form a new Division 1. The winner goes to World Cup 2007 as Asia 1. The runner up plays off against Oceania 3 for Repechage 2.

Round 1a – 2005

Home OR Away basis.

Pool A (Division 1 2005)

All three teams go through to Round 2 - the winner and runner up into Division 1 (2006), third place into Division 2 (2006). Final Standings

Pos. Team P W D Lost For Ag. Diff. Points Notes
1 Japan220014134+1074
2 South Korea21018753+342
3 Hong Kong20026147-1410
7 May 2005
Japan  91 - 3  Hong Kong

15 May 2005
South Korea  31 - 50  Japan

22 May 2005
Hong Kong  3 - 56  South Korea

Pool B (Division 2 2005)

The top two teams go through to Round 2, the winner (Arabian Gulf) into Division 1 (2006), the runner up (China) into Division 2 (2006).

Pos. Team P W D Lost For Ag. Diff. Points Notes
1Arabian Gulf22005448+64 promoted to second round
2 China21014443+12 promoted to second round
3 Chinese Taipei20024552-70
30 April 2005
China  22 - 19  Chinese Taipei

20 May 2005
Arabian Gulf 30 - 26  Chinese Taipei

11 November 2005
Arabian Gulf 24 - 22  China

Division 3 Pool A (2005)

Sri Lanka qualifies for home and away playoff (Round 1b) against winner of Division 3 Pool B (Kazakhstan).

Pos. Team P W D Lost For Ag. Diff. Points Notes
1 Sri Lanka22008255+274 promoted for play off
2 Singapore21016461+32
3 Thailand20026595-300
4 June 2005
Thailand  38 - 48  Sri Lanka

11 June 2005
Singapore  47 - 27  Thailand

25 June 2005
Sri Lanka  34 - 17  Singapore

Division 3 Pool B (2005)

Kazakhstan qualifies for home and away playoff (Round 1b) against winner Division 3 Pool A (Sri Lanka).

Pos. Team P W D Lost For Ag. Diff. Points Notes
1 Kazakhstan330013531+1046 promoted to play off
2 India32017856+224
3 Malaysia310260111-512
4 Guam300329104-750
4 June 2005
India  22 - 36  Kazakhstan

8 June 2005
Kazakhstan  48 - 3  Malaysia

11 June 2005
India  48 - 12  Malaysia

18 June 2005
Guam  8 - 8  India
Guam

22 June 2005
Kazakhstan  51 - 6  Guam
Alma Ata

26 June 2005
Malaysia  45 - 15  Guam

Round 1b – October 2005

Pos. Team P W D Lost For Ag. Diff. Points Notes
1 Sri Lanka22004337+62 promoted to second round
2 Kazakhstan20023743-62
25 October 2005
Kazakhstan  25-19  Sri Lanka

12 November 2005
Sri Lanka  24 - 12  Kazakhstan

Round 2 – April – May 2006

Home OR Away basis. Top two teams from Division 1 of 2006 ARFU Asian Rugby Series (Japan, Korea) and top team from Division 2 (Hong Kong) go through to round 3.

Division 1 (2006)

Pos. Team P W D Lost For Ag. Diff. Points Notes
1 Japan220013223+1094 Qualified to round 3
2 South Korea21013455-212 Qualified to round 3
3Arabian Gulf200214102-880
16 April 2006
Japan  82 - 9 Arabian Gulf
report

23 April 2006
Japan  50 - 14  South Korea
report

5 May 2006
Arabian Gulf 5 - 20  South Korea
report

Division 2 (2006)

Pos. Team P W D Lost For Ag. Diff. Points Notes
1 Hong Kong22006521+444 Qualified to round 3
2 Sri Lanka21014442+22
3 China2002753-460
29 April 2006
Sri Lanka  30 - 0  China

14 May 2006
Hong Kong  42 - 14  Sri Lanka

21 May 2006
China  7 - 23  Hong Kong

Round 3 – 18–25 November 2006, Hong Kong

All games in Hong Kong. Winner (Japan) qualifies directly to RWC 2007 as Asia 1. Runner up (Korea) advances to Repechage round as Asia 2, to play Tonga for Repechage 2. The series was originally scheduled to be played in Sri Lanka. However, security considerations prompted the series to be moved to Hong Kong.[1][2]

Pos. Team P W D Lost For Ag. Diff. Points Notes
1 Japan22001063+1034 Qualified to 2007 Rugby World Cup
2 South Korea21012359-362 Qualified to RWC Qualif. repechage
3 Hong Kong2002875-670
19 November 2006
Japan  52 - 3  Hong Kong

22 November 2006
South Korea  23 - 5  Hong Kong

25 November 2006
Japan  54 - 0  South Korea

Notes

  1. "Rugby World Cup Qualifiers, Asian Rugby tourney cancelled". oneindia news. 15 November 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  2. "Disappointed rugby fans will have to wait". Si Lanka Sunday itines. 5 November 2006. Retrieved 29 July 2013.

External links

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