Asia Rugby Releases Partial 2025 15s Rugby International Fixtures Calendar

rugbyasia247 Posted On February 25, 2025

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Hong Kong China Men XV - Asia Rugby Men's Chamionship 2023

Asia Rugby has released the official 2025 competition calendar for 15s rugby international fixtures at the top level in the region for women and men. The tournaments and teams sprung no real surprises with the Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship (AREWC) taking place in May in Japan, and the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship (AREMC) played across June and July 2025.

Asia Rugby Competitions Committee Chairperson, Mr. Asanga Seneviratne said, “The 2025 season marks an exciting new chapter for Asia Rugby as we witness teams battling for the prestigious Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship. The winner will directly qualify for the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.”

Asia Rugby Emirates Women’s Championship (AREWC) 2025 – 15s Rugby International Fixtures

Photo Credit – HKCR – AREWC 2024 Japan vs Kazakhstan

The Women’s Championship will be held in Fukuoka, Japan as the hosts ramp up preparations for the Rugby World Cup 2025 and Hong Kong China and Kazakhstan will again contest the defending champions’ hold on the title.

The Japanese women have already announced camps and international fixtures for 2025, while HKCR will be announcing plans soon but has started advertising a Women’s 15s Head Coach role (Women’s Technical Rugby).

There are no permutations from this tournament as far as we know as there is no WXV in 2025 but teams will be competing to be Asia’s top women’s team and World Rugby ranking points are important for future World Rugby tournaments

May 15 2025: Japan vs Kazakhstan
May 20 2025: Kazakhstan vs Hong Kong China
May 25 2025: Hong Kong China vs Japan

Photo Credit – HKCR – AREWC 2024 HKCR vs Kazakhstan

Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship (AREMC) 2025

Asia Rugby Emirates Playoff Match – Malaysia vs Sri Lanka – 19 April 2025

As we have previously reported, this is a controversial match, it was widely reported by most media and World Rugby in 2024, that Malaysia by virtue of finishing bottom of the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship (AREMC) 2024 would be relegated and Sri Lanka by winning Division 1 would be promoted.

There has been a change of tune, and despite the Asia Rugby President saying via his social media this was always the plan, there are literally dozens of links online suggesting otherwise.

Regardless, the Malaysians, who have not won a game at the top level, will have to beat Sri Lanka on April 19 2025 at a venue that is still to be confirmed to keep their place in the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship (AREMC) 2025 which also serves as a Rugby World Cup 2027 qualification tournament.

Main AREMC 2025 Tournament Fixtures

Hong Kong China (defending champions), South Korea, and the UAE will definitely be competing in the AREMC 2025. South Korea have the most favourable draw, hosting both UAE (2024 runner-up) and Hong Kong China.

Hong Kong China will aim for their sixth consecutive title and a first-ever appearance at a Men’s Rugby World Cup – the Championship winner will secure their place at RWC 2027 in Australia and join Japan as the second Asian qualifier. The runner-up will continue their World Cup qualification journey, facing Africa 2 in July (date TBC), and if they win they will advance to the final qualification tournament in Q4 of 2025.

13 June 2025 – Malaysia or Sri Lanka vs South Korea – (venue TBC)
14 June 2024 – UAE vs HKCR – Dubai (likely to be The Sevens Stadium)
21 June 2024 – South Korea vs UAE – Incheon (likely to be Incheon Namdong Asiad Rugby Stadium)
22 June 2024 – HKCR vs Malaysia or Sri Lanka – Hong Kong (Possibly Kai Tak or HKFC)
4 July 2025 – Malaysia or Sri Lanka vs UAE – (venue TBC)
5 July 2025 – South Korea vs HKCR – Incheon (likely to be Incheon Namdong Asiad Rugby Stadium)

Asia Rugby Emirates Men's Championship (AREMC) 2025

Photo Credit – HKCR – AREMC 2024 HKCR vs UAE

Sevens Rugby Kicks Off In the Second Half of 2025

Asanga Seneviratne confirmed Asia Rugby are “preparing for an enhanced, inclusive, and dynamic Sevens season in 2025, with the format announcement coming soon.”

Asia Rugby said the goal is to provide “all 36 member unions opportunities to participate in international competitions. Asia Rugby is in discussions with World Rugby to launch a new Sevens Tournament structure, including an expanded Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series and a sub-regional Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Trophy, designed to reduce travel distances and boost participation.”

We have had several sources tell us that the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series will only consist of 2 legs but will be increased to 24 teams from 16 (12 women’s and 12 men’s) which we think is a terrible idea due to the inevitable mismatches, if true. We will wait and see.

How To Watch the Asia Rugby 2025 Tournaments?

Both the Emirates Women’s and Men’s 2025 Championship will be broadcast live on Asia Rugby’s social media platforms and RugbyPass.tv.

Asia Rugby Releases Partial 2025 15s Rugby International Fixtures Calendar

Other Asian Rugby Internationals

Not listed as part of the Asia Rugby calendar, we were told in Jakarta that the Indonesian Rugby Union is looking at putting together a 15s men’s team to start touring and playing competitive matches.

The Unions Cup will also likely feature Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines in 2025 with fixtures to be confirmed. Singapore Men won the inaugural Unions Cup 2024 which did not feature the Philippines.

We have also heard rumours that both the UAE and the Korean men will possibly have pre-AREMC 2025 international fixtures to prepare for the milestone tournament this year – to be confirmed.