2015 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification

In the Asian Region for 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifying, Japan took the sole qualification spot, Asia 1 by winning Round 3: 2014 Asian Five Nations, while second placed Hong Kong qualified for the repechage playoff.

The qualification process included the top four levels of the Asian Five Nations tournaments, beginning in 2012.

Format

Asia provided one direct qualifier for the 2015 Rugby World Cup (Asia 1), and one repechage play-off position. The Asian qualification process used the Asian Five Nations, using the top three divisions in the second tier of Asian teams, and the top tier competition Asian Five Nations.

The 2012 Asian Five Nations Divisions 1 through Division 3 were the first stage of qualifying. The winners of Divisions 2 and 3, Thailand and India, faced each other for the right to be promoted to Division 1 in 2013, Thailand winning. The last place team in Division 1, Singapore, was relegated to Division 2. As only teams in the top tier Asian Five Nations and Division 1 in 2013 could qualify for the top tier in 2014, all the remaining teams were therefore eliminated.

The second phase included the top tier of the 2013 Asian Five Nations, as well as Division 1. The winner of Division 1, Sri Lanka, earned promotion to the top tier for 2014, which served as the qualification final. United Arab Emirates finished in last place in the top tier, thus earning them relegation and elimination from the qualification process.

The final phase was the top tier of the 2014 Asian Five Nations. Japan won, thus qualifying for Pool B of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, along with Samoa, Scotland, South Africa, and USA. Hong Kong finished in second place to qualify for the repechage playoff against Uruguay.

Entrants

The 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifying teams that competed for the 2015 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification. (World rankings, shown in brackets, are those immediately prior to first Asia qualification match on 30 May 2012)

Qualified nations

2012

2012 Asian Five Nations Division 3

The winner, India, advanced to the Division 2/3 playoff match against Thailand for the right to compete in 2013 Asian Five Nations Division 1.

Semi-finals Final
May 30, 2012
  Guam  38  
  Indonesia  17  
 
June 1, 2012
      Guam  16
    India  18
Third place play-off
May 30, 2012 June 1, 2012
  India  34   Indonesia  13
  Pakistan  5     Pakistan  7

2012 Asian Five Nations Division 2

The winners, Thailand, advanced to the Division 2/3 playoff match against India for the right to compete in 2013 Asian Five Nations Division 1.

Semi-finals Final
May 31, 2012
  Thailand  37  
  Iran  17  
 
June 2, 2012
      Thailand  22
    Malaysia  19
Third place play-off
May 31, 2012 June 2, 2012
  Malaysia  89   Iran  52
  China  0     China  3

Division 2/3 Promotion

Thailand defeated India for promotion to the 2013 Asian Five Nations Division 1 and to remain in contention for Rugby World Cup qualifying. Thailand therefore advanced in and India was eliminated from the Rugby World Cup Qualification process.

14 July 2012
16:00 TST (UTC+07)
Thailand  42–19  India
Match stats

2012 Asian Five Nations Division 1

The top three teams remained in 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifying, with Philippines advancing to the 2013 Asian Five Nations, and Sri Lanka and Chinese Taipei advancing to the 2013 Asian Five Nations Division 1. The last placed team, Singapore, was eliminated from 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifying.

All the games were played in Manila, Philippines at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.[1]

Advances to Round 2
Position Nation Games Points Bonus
points		 Total
points
Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Difference
1 Philippines 33009950+49318
2 Sri Lanka 32018946+43212
3 Chinese Taipei 310269101-3216
4 Singapore 300361121-6011
Points were awarded to the teams as follows:
Win - 5 points
Draw - 3 points
4 or more tries - 1 point
Loss within 7 points - 1 point
Loss greater than 7 points - 0 points

2013

2013 Asian Five Nations Division 1

The tournament was played in Sri Lanka from 31 March to 6 April 2013.[2] The winner of this division and this stage of qualification, Sri Lanka, earned promotion to the main division for 2014, which will be the final stage of Asian Rugby World Cup qualifying. The remaining three teams were eliminated from World Cup qualifying.

Advances to Round 3
Position Nation Games Points Bonus
points		 Total
points
Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Difference
1 Sri Lanka 330013333+100318
2 Kazakhstan 31027092-2216
3 Chinese Taipei 310270104–3416
4 Thailand 310263107–4405
Points were awarded to the teams as follows:
Win - 5 points
Draw - 3 points
4 or more tries - 1 point
Loss within 7 points - 1 point
Loss greater than 7 points - 0 points

2013 Asian Five Nations

The top four teams advanced to the final stage of Rugby World Cup qualifying, while the last placed team, United Arab Emirates, was relegated to Division 1 and eliminated from qualifying for the Rugby World Cup.

Advances to Round 3
Position Nation Games Points Bonus
points		 Total
points
Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Difference
1 Japan 44003168+308424
2 South Korea 4301185115+70318
3 Hong Kong 4202134108+26212
4 Philippines 410363250–18716
5 United Arab Emirates 400428245–21700
Points were awarded to the teams as follows:
Win - 5 points
Draw - 3 points
4 or more tries - 1 point
Loss within 7 points - 1 point
Loss greater than 7 points - 0 points

2014 Asian Five Nations

The winner the 2014 Asian Five Nations tournament, Japan, qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup as Asia 1 in Pool B. The runner-up in the tournament, Hong Kong, advanced to the repechage playoffs to play Uruguay.

Qualified for 2015 Rugby World Cup
Qualified for Repechage
Position Nation Games Points Bonus
points		 Total
points
Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Difference
1 Japan 440034233+309424
2 Hong Kong 430119665+131318
3 South Korea 4202122126-4212
4 Philippines 410358284–22616
5 Sri Lanka 400448258–21011
Points were awarded to the teams as follows:
Win - 5 points
Draw - 3 points
4 or more tries - 1 point
Loss within 7 points - 1 point
Loss greater than 7 points - 0 points

References

  1. ↑ HSBC Asian Five Nations 2012 Schedule
  2. ↑ Rugby World Cup 2015 Qualifying Asia

External links

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