Topic
Organised by the Asian Rugby Football Union, now known as Asia Rugby, the 2014 A5N was the top tier of international rugby in the region and featured the five best national teams playing a round-robin tournament in April and May. In addition to the Top Five competition, which determined Asia's champions and was won by Japan in 2014, 20 other teams competed in four lower divisions.
Gareth Baber’s men will face formidable hosts in conditions replicating World Series event
Japan coach Eddie Jones pledged that the Asian champions would hit peak form at next year's World Cup as they bid for a 10th successive win when they take on Italy on Saturday.
Ex-England captain Steve Borthwick has said he is looking forward to working with former Wallaby boss Eddie Jones on a full-time basis when he becomes the forwards coach of Japan following his retirement.
Andy Hall will take over as head coach of Hong Kong as they chart new waters and play in their first-ever World Cup repêchage match against Uruguay in August.
Former England skipper Steve Borthwick’s appointment as Japan’s new forwards coach will give the Asian champions a huge boost at next year’s Rugby World Cup, head coach Eddie Jones said on Tuesday.
View highlights and interviews from Japan’s 49-8 Asian Five Nations victory over Hong Kong on Sunday at the National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo. The win for Asia’s number one team also earned them the region’s only automatic berth for next year’s World Cup in England. Hong Kong will now go into the RWC qualification repêchage in Uruguay.
Hong Kong can take heart from a courageous defensive performance against Japan as they face a long and hard repêchage road to the 2015 World Cup, after the Brave Blossoms claimed the one automatic berth for Asia with a 49-8 win at the National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on Sunday.
Nick Hewson's unblemished run as captain of Hong Kong is in danger of coming to an end on Sunday in Tokyo unless his side can "express themselves and not worry too much about what Japan will do" in the finale to the Asian Five Nations.
Bad hamstrings and knowing each other's sleeping patterns have helped forge one of the best midfield combinations for Hong Kong in many years, but Jake Phelps and Lloyd Jones admit the real test will come on Sunday when they face Japan in the winners-take-all Asian Five Nations finale in Tokyo.
South Korea defeated the Philippines 52-22 on Saturday to take third place in the 2014 Asian Five Nations and secure the final spot in next year’s revamped Top Three competition.
Departing head coach Leigh Jones admitted on Wednesday that Hong Kong face an enormous task to defeat Japan and book the direct berth to the 2015 Rugby World Cup for Asia, but maintained an upset was possible.
Trevor Gregory says he would not have allowed national team coach to stand down and expects the Welshman to show new bosses what he is bringing to the table when Hong Kong face Japan on Sunday.
Watch highlights from Japan’s 62-5 triumph over Korea on Saturday at Munhak Stadium in Incheon. The win moves the Brave Blossoms to the top of the Asian Five Nations Top Five standings, level with Hong Kong but with a superior points difference. Next Sunday in Tokyo, the two will battle for automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup.
Japan got serious in the Asian Five Nations on Saturday, crushing Korea 62-5 in Incheon to ensure the last game of any sport to be played at Tokyo’s National Stadium – next weekend when they host Hong Kong – will have plenty riding on it.
Hong Kong will have everything to play for when they take on Japan in the Asian Five Nations finale in Tokyo on May 25, with top official Dai Rees harbouring hopes of an upset.
View highlights from Hong Kong’s history making 39-6 triumph over South Korea at Hong Kong Football Club on Saturday, when the hosts kept their 2015 Rugby World Cup dreams alive with a strong defensive effort that saw them regain top spot in the Asian Five Nations standings.
Hong Kong kept their 2015 Rugby World Cup dream alive after they demolished South Korea 39-6 with a powerful performance built around a strong defensive effort at Hong Kong Football Club on Saturday.
Nick Hewson and his brave band of brothers will have to rethink their summer plans after Hong Kong kept their 2015 World Cup qualifying dream alive and booked a spot in the first stage of a repêchage away to Uruguay in August.
South Korea coach Jung Sam-young has made only three changes to his squad ahead of Saturday’s crucial Asian Five Nations match against Hong Kong.
Hong Kong will need to overcome a mental mountain against South Korea if they are to seal their World Cup repêchage spot on Saturday, says No 8 Pale Tauti.
Head coach Leigh Jones has made three changes for what he says is the “most important 15s game” Hong Kong has ever faced – against South Korea in the Asian Five Nations on Saturday.
Watch highlights from Hong Kong’s 41-10 defeat of Sri Lanka in the second round of the 2014 Asian Five Nations in Colombo on Saturday (May 3). Hong Kong outclassed their hosts, but despite running in six tries in the match their performance was described as “patchy”.
