Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2024 & Bangkok 7s Results

The Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2024 concluded at the Boonyachinda Stadium in Bangkok on 10 November and the Japanese women and Hong China men won the final leg. The results also meant that the HKCR men went through the series undefeated to be crowned Asian champions while the Chinese women (who lost to Japan in the final) had done enough to be also crowned Series Champions.

The main other outcomes of note were that Thailand women (3rd in the Bangkok and 4th in the Series) and Hong Kong China women (4th in Bangkok and 3rd in the Series) had qualified for the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025, and will be joined by the Hong Kong China men and Japanese men (Aeries runner up & runner-up in Bangkok).

At the other end of the log, it was the final matches that determined the teams who were relegated to the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy 2025, with both Singapore women and men dropping down. The Philippines women and men will replace them in the top tier next year.

Photo Credit: Asia Rugby – Japan Women – Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series Bangkok 7s 2024 champions

Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series Bangkok 7s 2024 Results

The Hong Kong China men were in pole position as they had won both legs in Korea and China, but they had internally set a target of 15 wins from 15 – which was ambitious. Truth be told, even with 4 new caps in the squad in Bangkok they were supreme and far too good for the opposition, with Japan proving their toughest opponent in the final.

Jevon Groves, Hong Kong China Mens 7s Head Coach said, “What is more pleasing for us, and we love to win tournaments, but we have used 21 players across the three legs and we have new caps this tournament so we are building the strength of depth which is important. We are pleased with the performances from everyone and the boys adapted really well.

It is 15 from 15 wins – we nearly did this last time but we set a new record for being undefeated which is great and the performances were excellent.”

Photo Credit: Asia Rugby – Korea & China Men – Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series Bangkok 7s 2024

The Japanese men improved as the Series went on, and considering how late Phil Greening, their new coach, joined the setup they will surely continue to improve. The Japanese crunch match was their semifinal against the Koreans, as they had to win to pip the Chinese who had already been beaten by Hong Kong China. They made easy work of the Koreans – a team that was again sorely disappointing (they lost by 43-0 to China and 50-0 to Hong Kong China in Bangkok).

Elsewhere, the UAE had their best weekend of the three legs, and the side included players who had played a XVs test match only a few days before against Zimbabwe. The Malaysians had a good tournament and will be happy with a 5th place in the Series overall – they also nearly beat the Koreans.

Photo Credit – Asia Rugby – Japan men – Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series Bangkok 7s 2024 runners-up

The Thai men, strongly supported by a good home crowd, did enough to stay up after being promoted last season and beat Singapore with a late try and a solitary point to condemn the Singapore men to last place (they finished 8th in every leg)

The Chinese women had also won both legs coming into the final round and fielded a development team as the start of the SVNS Series is only a few weeks away in Dubai. They were troubled by the Hong Kong China and Thailand women and did beat both – they showed enough class to reach a final against Japan which confirmed they had won the Series.

In the final itself, it was the Sakura 7s who were triumphant, and the team looked much better thanks to the return of four Olympians. They were worthy champions in Bangkok and runners-up in the Series but we get the feeling this new side will have a tough SVNS campaign.

The Hong Kong China women were disappointed with the final few games in which they lost to Japan, China and Thailand, but they had an excellent opening day and reaching the Challener was a big goal.

Photo Credit – Asia Rugby – HKCR & Thailand Women – Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series Bangkok 7s 2024

Andy Vilk, Hong Kong China Women’s 7s Head Coach said “It was a positive weekend and although it was disappointing to lose some of the games on Sunday, we came here to confirm the Challenger qualification. We wanted to play our brand of sevens and those last three games were challenging and were needed to see where we are. We have to use this to drive us to help us get to where we want to with the Challenger in a few months.”

The Thailand women will also be satisfied with beating HKCR to third at home and having qualified for the Challenger Series, although they remain a few steps behind China and Japan.

The Kazakhstan women finished 5th in every leg and overall in the Series, They had a lot of new players but they are well off the pace of the top four sides, which will be disappointing for a fully professional program.

Malaysia and UAE will overall be satisfied with staying in the top flight in Asia, while the Singapore women will be heartbroken with relegation; the three sides were separated by a series point from each other on the final standings.

Photo Credit: Asia Rugby – Singapore & Kazakhstan Women – Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series Bangkok 7s 2024

Women’s Results

• Cup Final Japan 26-5 China
• 3/4th Thailand 24-5 HKCR
• Plate final (5/6th) Kazakhstan 41-0 Malaysia
• 7/8th UAE 24-0 Singapore

The full list of results from Bangkok can be seen here for the women.

Final Standings Bangkok 7s 2024

Men

1. Hong Kong China
2. Japan
3. China
4. Korea
5. Malaysia
6. UAE
7. Thailand
8. Singapore

Photo Credit – Asia Rugby – Malaysia & Singapore Men – Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series Bangkok 7s 2024

Women

1. Japan
2. China
3. Hong Kong China
4. Thailand
5. Kazakhstan
6. Malaysia
7. UAE
8. Singapore

Photo Credit – Rugby Photo Thailand – UAE Women – Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series Bangkok 7s 2024

Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2024 Overall Standings

You can also read our review in collaboration with Hong Kong China Rugby here which includes more quotes from players and staff.

Men

1. 1. Hong Kong China (Qualified for World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025)
   2. Japan (Qualified for World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025)
   3. China
   4. Korea
   5. Malaysia
   6. UAE
   7. Thailand
   8. Singapore (Relegated to Asia Rugby Emirates Trophy Sevens 2025)

Points	Korea	China	Thailand	Final Standings
12	HKCR	HKCR	HKCR	HKCR 36
10	China	Japan	Japan	Japan 28
8	Japan	China	China	China 26
7	Korea	Korea	Korea	Korea 21
5	Thailand	Malaysia	UAE	Malaysia 13
4	Malaysia	UAE	Malaysia	UAE 11
2	UAE	Thailand	Thailand	Thailand 9
1	Singapore	Singapore	Singapore	Singapore 3

Women

Photo Credit – Asia Rugby – China Women – Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2024 champions

1. China
2. Japan
3. Hong Kong China (Qualified for World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025)
4. Thailand (Qualified for World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025)
5. Kazakhstan
6. Malaysia
7. UAE
8. Singapore (Relegated to Asia Rugby Emirates Trophy Sevens 2025)

Sevens Rugby News

• China Women Dominate Home Leg & HKCR Men Repeat Cup Success at Asia Rugby Sevens Emirates Sevens Series 2024.
• China Women and Hong Kong China Men Claim First Leg of ARSS 2024.
• HSBC SVNS 2025 Final Schedule Confirmed.
• Kai Tak Stadium Confirmed As Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2025 Venue.