The sevens rugby season has started in a number of countries across Asia recently. The timing also coincides with the national team and national age group 7s rugby teams preparing for upcoming national championships and Olympic qualifications. We review all of the national team sevens tournaments in Asia coming up in 2019.
7s Olympic Qualifications – Tokyo 2020
The XXXII Olympics will be held in Tokyo, Japan in 2020 with the men’s 7s rugby competition due to take place from July 27-29th 2020 while the women’s 7s rugby competition will run from July 30th-August 1st at the Ajinomoto (Tokyo) Stadium.
Japan as a host nation will automatically have its men’s and women’s teams participate so these qualifying tournaments are the only way for another Asian team to grab its place at the Olympics next year. Hong Kong and China will be the favourites for both the men and women.
In the 2018 Asia games, Korea picked up Bronze for the men while Kazakhstan took Bronze for the ladies so both will also be contenders.
Women’s 7s
- Venue: Guangzhou, China
- Date: 9-10 November 2019
Men’s 7s
- Venue: Incheon, Korea
- Date: 23-24 November 2019
Southeast Asia Games 7s rugby – Women and Men
Philippines 2019 SEA Games
The last SEA Games was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2017. There were 6 men’s teams and 5 women’s 7s rugby teams who competed. Malaysia won the Men’s Gold, beating Singapore in the final, while Thailand won the Ladies 7s Gold medal.
The tournament this year is in the Philippines and the home nation will fancy its chances at medals after missing out in 2017. The Philippines men’s team also had a decent Hong Kong Sevens in 2019.
Women’s 7s SEA Games 2017 results
- Gold: Thailand
- Silver: Singapore
- Bronze: Thailand
Men’s 7s SEA Games 2017 results
- Gold: Thailand
- Silver: Singapore
- Bronze: Malaysia
- Venue: Manila, Philippines
- Date: 6-8 December 2019
Asia Rugby Sevens Series – Women and Men
The Asia Rugby Sevens Series is the premier sevens tournament in Asia. The Sevens Series is key as its a pathway to qualification for the World Rugby’s men and women’s Series as well as the Olympic Games. The Sevens Rugby Series features the top eight seeded teams in Asia for the men and women.
Japan’s men and women won the 7s Series in 2018. The men were recently relegated from the HSBC World Series.
- Men’s Teams: Japan, Sri Lanka, China, UAE, Hong Kong, Philippines, South Korea, Chinese Taipei
- Women’s Teams: Japan, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, China, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Singapore
Round #1
- Venue: Incheon, South Korea
- Date: 31 August – 1 September 2019
Round #2
- Venue: Huizhou, China
- Date: 14-15 September 2019
Round #3
- Venue: Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Date: 28-29 September 2019
Asia 7s Trophy – Women and Men
The Asia 7s Trophy is the second division of the sevens nations in Asia. The winners of the women’s and men’s Trophy do however qualify to play in the main Asia Rugby Sevens Series.
In 2018 Brunei hosted the ladies leg which featured 10 teams; Brunei, Guam, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Uzbekistan. Brunei Women’s Rugby made their international debut at the Asia Rugby Women’s Seven Trophy last year. Malaysia won the tournament.
The men’s tournament was played in Singapore and featured 13 teams. The United Arab Emirates were the champions in 2018, beating Singapore in the final.
- Venue: Jakarta, Indonesia
- Date: 10-11 August 2019
Asia Rugby Under 18 Boys Sevens
In 2018, 7 countries competed: China, Hong Kong, Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Uzbekistan and Qatar. Malaysia topped the pool in 2018 however in the recent Asia Schools Under Under 18 tournament, Hong Kong were crowned the champions.
5 national teams are set to take part in 2019.
- Teams participating: Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Korea, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China
- Venue: Kunming, China
- Date: 17-18 August 2019
Asia Rugby Under 18 Girls Sevens
India hosted the Asia Rugby U18 Girls tournament in 2018 and it included 12 teams. China were the champions last year, beating Hong Kong in the final. This year the venue is due to be in Lahore, Pakistan.
- Venue: Lahore, Pakistan*
- Date: 21-22 September 2019
(*Updated August 2019, previously Asia Rugby listed this as taking place in India from 29 November – 1 December)
Asia Rugby U20s 7s – Women and Men
Men’s Under 20s
The Under 20s men 7s rugby has been dominated by Hong Kong who has won for the past 5 years, including lifting the Cup at home in 2018. There are 8 U 20 men’s teams taking part in 2019.
- Teams participating: Chinese Taipei (Taiwan), Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong, Laos, Singapore, Uzbekistan
Women’s Under 20s
The Hong Kong’s Women’s U20s reached their first-ever Asia Rugby U20s Sevens cup final in 2018 in HK but were beaten by China 33-0 who are the defending champions.
- Teams participating: Hong Kong, Laos PDR, India, Thailand, Singapore
- Venue: Vientiane, Lao PDR
- Date: 24-25 August 2019
(Asia Sevens tournaments dates and venues based on information available from Asian Rugby Unions and Asia Rugby)
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