Dialog Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2021

Asia Rugby held the pool draw for the Dialog Asia Rugby Sevens Series in October 2021 for the Women and Men. The tournament has added significance as it will determine the Asia Rugby champion, the qualifiers for the Rugby World Cup 7s in South Africa in 2022, as well as ranking for the Asia Games in 2022.

The Asia Rugby tournament will feature the top 8 women’s and men teams who will play the one-off series in Dubai from 19th – 20th November 2021 at Dubai Sports City.

Fans will be able to watch the Dialog Asia Rugby Sevens Series live as Asia Rugby will live stream the entire tournament on its Facebook page and Youtube channel.

New title sponsor – Dialog Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2021

Dialog Axiata PLC, has been confirmed as the title sponsor for the Dialog Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2021. Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai said, “I’m proud that after nearly 7 years with no substantial partner today we celebrate this groundbreaking partnership agreement that will only be the beginning of a long term strategic partnership.”

In addition, the governing body of rugby in the region and the commercial sponsor aims to “activate various programs that will have a positive impact amongst the under-privileged population across different territories in Asia aiming at embrace the slogan of Asia Rugby”, reported Asia Rugby.

Dialog Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2021 Pools

The draw for the Asia Rugby Sevens Series took place at the Dubai Sports Council on Tuesday, 26th October 2021, in the presence of Qais Al Dhalai, Chairman of Asia Rugby and the Arab Rugby Federation; Khalid Al Awar, Director of Dubai Sports Council’s Sports Events Department; Trevor Gregory, Member of the Executive Committee of Asia Rugby; Mohamed Sultan Al Zaabi, Secretary-General of UAE Rugby Federation; and Apollo Perelini, UAE rugby team coach.

Photo Credit: Asia Rugby – The draw took place at Dubai Sports Council

UAE coach Perelini is a former dual-code international rugby union and rugby league player from New Zealand and told Gulf News: “It is a very exciting draw, I am very excited because I was always hoping to be in the same pool as Japan. I think it is a great challenge for us as a country and as a team to be in the same group as one of the best.”

Former England 7s star Ben Gollings was recently unveiled as the Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) Consultant Director of Rugby Sevens as the Asian nation prepares for the Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2021.

Robbie McRobbie, the HKRU CEO also told us in 2021 that he was confident of the men’s and women’s teams qualifying for the Rugby World Cup Sevens from this tournament: “We are the reigning men’s Asia Games gold medalists and we are proud of that. The women came second in the repechage qualifying for the Olympics.

So I am pretty bullish, and I think we have learned from disappointments and we will be in a good position for the Asia Sevens Series and I’d like to think both the men and women will be in Cape Town for the RWC in 2022.”

Photo Credit: Asia Rugby – The Men’s Sevens teams

Men’s Pools

Pool A

• South Korea
• Hong Kong
• Philippines
• Malaysia

Pool B

• UAE
• Japan
• Sri Lanka
• China

Image Credit: Asia Rugby

Women’s Pools

Pool A

• Japan
• Kazakhstan
• Thailand
• Philippines

Pool B

• China
• Hong Kong
• Sri Lanka
• Malaysia

Image Credit: Asia Rugby

Tournament Format

Asanga Seneviratne Chairperson of Asia Rugby Competitions Committee said: “The qualifier is played only once every four years. So, it’s a big event for us.

The top eight Asian men’s and women’s teams will all be competing in Dubai Sports City to give us the top two finalists who will rub shoulders with the best in the world in Cape Town, South Africa next year at the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022. We have full faith in the city of Dubai to deliver another spectacular event.”

• Each team will play a total of three matches in the round-robin format before entering the knock-out stage.
• The top two finalists, men’s and women’s draws, will qualify for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022.

Asia Rugby 2021

• Malaysia Rugby Union appoints Rodney So’oialo 15s Head Coach.
• HKRU name Simon Armor Interim Coach For 2021.
• Hong Kong Rugby Union – Leaner and Meaner?
• Rugby India’s Path to Professionalism