The Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy 2024 will be held in Kathmandu Nepal at the Dasharath Stadium from October 4-5, 2024 with 15 men’s and 8 women’s teams set to be involved. The planned Asia Rugby Sevens Emirates Challenge seemingly has been scrapped.
Updated 3rd October 2024 (pools & squads)
The national representative team sevens rugby tournament is organised by Asia Rugby under the management of the Nepal Rugby Association (NPA). Nepal Rugby Association put out a press release (since removed) referring to the ARST on September 18 2024 but there was no mention of the Asia Rugby Sevens Challenge 2024 which is meant to be taking place the same weekend at the same venue and serve as the third tier of Sevens in the region behind the Trophy and ARSS.
Asia Rugby confirmed on 24 September 2024 that the tournament will feature 14 men’s teams and 8 women’s teams and that the originally planned Asia Rugby Sevens Emirates Challenge has been dropped.
Asia Rugby said, “The decision to merge the tournaments was made due to a few teams withdrawing and to foster a more competitive environment. This change ensures that every participating team has an equal shot at securing promotion to the Emirates Sevens Series. The men’s competition, originally set for 12 teams, now includes 14.”
Nepal Rugby Association previously hosted the Asia Rugby U-18 Sevens in 2022 and the Asia Rugby U-20 Sevens in 2023 and the NPA said they “believe this paves the way for even bigger international competitions in the future.”
The NPA (in the PR that has since been taken down) had added that more than 450 players and officials from across Asia will participate in the tournament and the estimated budget for the competition is around 2.8 crore Nepali rupees (approximately US $200,000).
Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy 2024 – Which Teams Are Confirmed?
The Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy (ARST) 2024 features both men’s and women’s teams. Initially, Asia Rugby said the tournament would feature 12 men’s teams and 8 women’s teams and the winners of the tournament will earn promotion to the Asia Rugby Sevens Series for 2025.
In the latest NPA release, they confirmed there would be 17 countries – with 14 men’s teams and 8 women’s teams vying for the title and qualification to the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2025 and Asia Rugby confirmed the following teams are participating.
Women’s Teams Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy 2024
- Guam
- India
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Nepal
- Philippines
- Sri Lanka
- Uzbekistan
Womens Pools AREST 2024
Pool E
- Philippines
- Guam
- Uzbekistan
- Nepal
Pool F
- India
- Iran
- Indonesia
- Sri Lanka
Men’s Teams Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy 2024
- Afghanistan
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Chinese Taipei
- India
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Philippines
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Sri Lanka
- Uzbekistan
Men’s Pools ARETS 2024
(Unconfirmed)
Pool A
- Phillipines
- Pakistan
- Jordan
Pool B
- Bahrain
- Uzbekistan
- Nepal
Pool C
- Kazakhstan
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Sri Lanka
Pool D
- Afghanistan
- India
- Bangladesh
- Chinese Taipei
Asia Rugby Sevens Challenge 2024 – Cancelled
The Asia Rugby Sevens Challenge 2024 was due to be played for the first time alongside the ARST in Kathmandu in the first week of October 2024 with both men’s and women’s teams but was dropped in 2024.
Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy 2024 Coaches
- Chiharu Nakamura, the former captain of the Japan Sakura 7s who played at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games was recently in Nepal to help the teams prepare for the ARST (Asia Rugby Trophy Series)
- Fiji Sevens legend Waisale Serevi has taken over the mantle of the India Women’s and Men’s Sevens teams as coach and was with the women’s team in Japan in September for a camp to help them prepare. The Men’s team was in camp in Thailand.
- In May 2024, Nepal Rugby Association appointed Mr Murray Paul Sturt as the Head Coach – the coach formerly was in charge of the NZ Maoris U18s but former Qatar Rugby Head Coach – Fred Moe – was announced to have joined in August 2024.
- The Philippines Women’s Head Coach is Samantha Scott, who is based in Hong Kong and the COO of Valley RFC.
- The Philippines Men’s Head Coach, Darryl Suasua, is a former Black Ferns 7s Coach.
Asia Rugby also confirmed that Men’s Rugby Sevens will feature for the first time in the 2025 South Asian Federation (SAF) Games, while Thailand we know is hosting the SEA Games 2025 and it is more than likely we will see Sevens for women and men.
Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy 2024 Teams
We will update these if and when the respective unions release more information – so keep checking back!
Nepal Women’s and Men’s Sevens Squad – ARST 2024
Qatar Men’s Sevens Squad – ARST 2024
Sri Lanka Men’s Sevens Squad – ARST 2024
The team selected consists of consists of 5 players from Kandy Sports Club, 4 from Police Sports Club, 2 from Army Sports Club and a player each from Havelocks, CH & FC, Air Force and Isipathana College.
Tarinda Ratwatte, Srinath Sooriabandara, Kavindu Perera, Heshan Jansen, Dilan Ekanayake (KSC), Akash Madushanka, Sachith Silva, Yomal Thilakarathne, Hirantha Perera (PSC), Sudaraka Dikkubura, Ashan Bandara (ASC), Dinupa Seneviratne (HSC), Janidu Dilshan (CH & FC), Dharshana Dabare (Air Force SC), Shahid Zumri (IC)
Afghanistan Men’s Sevens Squad – ARST 2024
Bangladesh Men’s Sevens Squad – ARST 2024
Philippines Women’s & Men’s Sevens Squad – ARST 2024
You can find out more about the PRFU Asia Rugby Trophy 7s selections here.
Women’s 7s Team
Coach – Samantha Scott
India Women’s & Men’s Sevens Squad – ARST 2024
How To Watch The Asia Rugby Emirates Trophy Sevens 2024
You can watch the two days live on Asia Rugby’s YouTube and Facebook channels.
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