2019 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification

Qualifying for the 2019 Rugby World Cup for Asia Rugby will begin in May 2016 and end in April 2018, where the winner of the qualification process will advance to an inter-continental play-off series against the winner of Round 3 of the Oceania qualification process in June 2018.

Format

The Asia Rugby Championship, governed by Asia Rugby, will be the regional qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup 2019, with Divisions 2, 1 and the Top 3 being involved in the process. The teams competing in the 2016 Divisions 1 and 2 will act as Round 1, with the winner of Division 2 being promoted to Division 1, for the second regional qualification round in 2017. While the teams competing in Division 1, will be contesting against each other to earn the right to remain in Division 1 for the second regional qualification round, with the team placed bottom being eliminated from Rugby World Cup contention.

2017 saw Divisions 1 and the top 3 act as Round 2, with the winner of Division 1 advancing to the Top 3 Challenge play-off against the loser of Top 3 tournament. The winner of that play-off will progress to the third and final round of Asian qualification.

In 2018, the winner of the 2018 Asian Rugby Championship (excluding Japan - not listed in qualification process), will advance to a inter-continental play-off series for repechage berth.

Entrants

Ten teams will compete for the 2019 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification. Shown in parentheses are the teams world rankings prior to the first Asian qualification match on 8 May 2016.

Nation Rank
(5 March 2016) 		Begins play Qualifying status
 Guam 64 18 May 2016 Eliminated by Thailand on 18 May 2016
 Hong Kong 25 TBA 2017
 Japan 10 N/A Qualified as hosts of the World Cup
 Kazakhstan 42 8 May 2016 Withdrew from World Cup contention on 10 April 2016
 Malaysia 60 8 May 2016
 Philippines 49 8 May 2016
 Singapore 59 8 May 2016 Eliminated by finishing last in Round 1B on 14 May 2016
 South Korea 26 TBA 2017
 Sri Lanka 37 8 May 2016
 Thailand 76 18 May 2016 Eliminated by UAE on 21 May 2016
 United Arab Emirates 83 18 May 2016
 Uzbekistan 87 18 May 2016 Eliminated by UAE on 18 May 2016

Round 1

The first round consisted of ten matches between 8 teams. The winner of the Asian Rugby Championship Division 2 (Round 1A), advanced to the second round and was promoted to division 1 for 2017, while the top three teams in division 1 (Round 1B), remained in the division advancing into the second round.

On 10 April 2015, Kazakhstan who were meant to compete in the 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 (Round 1B) withdrew from the competition and Rugby World Cup contention. Singapore were therefore promoted up to Division 1 and Thailand replaced Singapore in Division 2.[1]

Round 1A: 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division 2

The 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division 2 tournament was contested by four teams in a knockout format. The tournament was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Semi-finals Final
18 May 2016 – Tashkent
  Thailand  25  
  Guam  16  
 
21 May 2016 – Tashkent
      Thailand  18
    United Arab Emirates  70
Third place play-off
18 May 2016 – Tashkent 21 May 2016 – Tashkent
  United Arab Emirates  65   Guam  23
  Uzbekistan  13     Uzbekistan  22

Round 1B: 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division 1

The 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 tournament was contested by four teams in a round robin format. The tournament was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Eliminated from RWC qualification
Pos Nation Games Points Bonus
points		 Total
points
Played Won Lost Drawn For Against Difference
1 Malaysia 32019245+47311
2 Sri Lanka 32017580–519
3 Philippines 31026063–337
4 Singapore 31025897–3904
Points were awarded to the teams as follows:
Win - 4 points
Draw - 3 points
4 or more tries - 1 point
Loss within 7 points - 1 point
Loss greater than 7 points - 0 points

Round 2

Round 2A: 2017 Asian Rugby Championship Division 1

Teams:

Round 2B: 2017 Asian Rugby Championship

Teams:

Round 2 Final

Teams and fixture to be decided.

Round 3

Teams and fixtures to be decided.

References

  1. ↑ "Kazakhstan woes improve UAE promotion chances in Asia Rugby Championship". 10 April 2016. Retrieved 12 May 2016.
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