2010 Asian Five Nations
The 2010 Asian Five Nations, known as the 2010 HSBC Asian 5 Nations due to its sponsorship by HSBC, was the third series of the Asian Five Nations, the flagship competition devised by the International Rugby Board (IRB) to develop rugby union in Asia. The top five teams took part in a round-robin competition held on five consecutive weekends between 24 April and 22 May 2010, with each match hosted by one of the participants. Four other divisions operating on a single-elimination basis are also took place, with a system of promotion and relegation between the four divisions and the main tournament.
The main tournament was contested by the Arabian Gulf, Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan and Korea. Japan maintained their unbeaten streak within the Asian Five Nations, winning the tournament for the third time in a row, with an average winning margin of over seventy points in their four games. As champions, they qualified for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. Kazakhstan, who placed second with two victories, qualified for the final place play-offs, where they were defeated by Uruguay. Hong Kong and the Arabian Gulf came third and fourth respectively, with two victories each, while Korea were relegated to Division One for the 2011 competition after failing to win a match.
In Division One, held in Singapore, Sri Lanka defeated Singapore to win promotion to the main tournament for the first time in 2011. Chinese Taipei was relegated to Division Two for the 2011 competition after losing to Malaysia, who placed third. In Division Two, held in New Delhi, India, the Philippines defeated India to win promotion to Division One in 2011, and maintain their unbeaten record within the tournament, while China were relegated to Division Three for the 2011 competition after losing to Thailand, who placed third. In Division Three, held in Jakarta, Indonesia, Iran defeated Pakistan to win promotion to Division Two for the 2011 competition, while Indonesia were defeated by Guam and relegated to Division Four for the 2011 competition. In Division Four, held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Jordan defeated Uzbekistan to win promotion to Division Three; as this is the lowest division, Mongolia, who lost to an Almaty Select XV that replaced Kyrgyzstan, who were unable to compete, were not relegated for 2011.
In addition, a regional tournament took place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, involving Cambodia, Brunei and Laos, with no promotion or relegation. The first Test match of the newly formed national teams Jordan and Lebanon also took place as part of the Asian Five Nations, with Lebanon achieving a 27–8 win.
This was the final international tournament for the Arabian Gulf team. The regional governing body for the sport, the Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union, will disband as part of a plan announced by the IRB in 2009, and its member nations formed their own governing bodies and national teams.
Top Five
Table
| Qualified for 2011 Rugby World Cup |
| Qualified at least for Final Place Play-off |
| Relegated to Division One for 2011 |
| Position |
Nation |
Games |
Points |
Table points |
| Played |
Won |
Drawn |
Lost |
For |
Against |
Difference |
Tries |
Bonus Points |
Points |
| 1 |
Japan |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
326 |
30 |
+296 |
50 |
4 |
24 |
| 2 |
Kazakhstan |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
94 |
173 |
−76 |
9 |
3 |
13 |
| 3 |
Hong Kong |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
65 |
133 |
−68 |
7 |
2 |
12 |
| 4 |
Arabian Gulf |
4 |
2 |
0 |
2 |
70 |
128 |
−61 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
| 5 |
South Korea |
4 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
65 |
156 |
−91 |
9 |
3 |
3 |
Scoring System
- Win – 5 Points
- Draw – 3 Points
- Loss – 0 Points
- Bonus points for scoring four tries or for losing by no more than 7 points.
Fixtures
| Home |
Score (Tries) |
Away |
Match Information |
| Date |
Venue |
| Hong Kong |
32–8 (4–1) |
South Korea |
24-Apr-2010 |
Hong Kong FC Stadium, Hong Kong |
| Kazakhstan |
43–28 (4–3) |
Arabian Gulf |
24-Apr-2010 |
National University Stadium, Almaty |
| Arabian Gulf |
16–9 (1–0) |
Hong Kong |
30-Apr-2010 |
Bahrain Sports Club, Manama, Bahrain |
| South Korea |
13–71 (1–11) |
Japan |
1-May-2010 |
Gyeongsang Rugby Stadium, Daegu |
| Japan |
60–5 (10–1) |
Arabian Gulf |
8-May-2010 |
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo |
| Hong Kong |
19–15 (2–0) |
Kazakhstan |
8-May-2010 |
Hong Kong FC Stadium, Hong Kong |
| Arabian Gulf |
21–19 (2–3) |
South Korea |
14-May-2010 |
The Sevens, Dubai, UAE |
| Kazakhstan |
7–101 (1–15) |
Japan |
15-May-2010 |
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo |
| Japan |
94–5 (14–1) |
Hong Kong |
22-May-2010 |
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo |
| South Korea |
25–32 (4–4) |
Kazakhstan |
22-May-2010 |
Incheon Munhak Stadium, Incheon |
NB:
- The Kazakhstan–Japan fixture was moved from Almaty to Tokyo.
- The Arabian Gulf–Korea match was the last Test for the Arabian Gulf team.
Division One
Division One is the second level of the ARFU. As the winner of Division One, Sri Lanka was promoted to 2011 HSBC Asian 5 Nations and the 4th place team, Chinese Taipei, was relegated to Division Two for 2011.[1]
Fixtures
Semi finals
Third v Fourth Final
Final
Division Two
Division Two is the third level of the ARFU. As the winner of Division Two, the Philippines was promoted to Division One for 2011 and the fourth-placed team, China, was relegated to Division Three for 2011.
Fixtures
Semi finals
Third v Fourth Final
| Home |
Score |
Away |
Match Information |
| Date |
Venue |
| China |
5–56 |
Thailand |
5-June-2010 |
Delhi University Rugby Stadium, India |
Final
| Home |
Score |
Away |
Match Information |
| Date |
Venue |
| India |
12–34 |
Philippines |
5-June-2010 |
Delhi University Rugby Stadium, India |
Division Three
Division Three is the fourth level of the ARFU. As the winner of Division Three, Iran was promoted to Division Two for 2011 and the fourth-placed team, Indonesia, was relegated to Division Four for 2011.
Fixtures
Semi finals
Third v Fourth Final
Final
Division Four
Division Four is the fifth level and new Tournament of the ARFU. The Division IV tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, but recent unrest forced the movement of the division to neighbouring Kazakhstan and the recent closure of the border between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan saw Kyrgyzstan unable to travel for the tournament. Kyrgyzstan were replaced by an assembled Almaty Select XV. As the winner of Division Four, Jordan was promoted to Division Three for 2011
Fixtures
Semi finals
Third v Fourth Final
| Home |
Score |
Away |
Match Information |
| Date |
Venue |
| Almaty Select XV |
38–21 |
Mongolia |
12-June-2010 |
Central Stadium, Almaty, Kazakhstan |
Final
Regional
Fixtures
Test Match
- First test match for both teams.
- Lebanon were recently admitted to the ARFU as an associate member (12/2009)
References
Division 1
External links
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