Asia Rugby Announces Pools and Schedule for Asia Rugby Sevens Series in Korea

Asia Rugby has unveiled the pools and schedule for the first leg of the 2024 Asia Rugby Sevens Series, promising an exhilarating start to the season.

Returning to a three-leg format this year, the Asia Rugby Sevens Series will feature the top eight men’s and women’s teams competing not only for the title of Asia’s champions but also for coveted spots in the Challenger Series, providing a pathway to the HSBC SVNS Series.

With China and Japan already qualified for the HSBC SVNS, the race is on for a potential third Asian women’s team to secure qualification.

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The tournament kicks off on Saturday, September 7th, at the Namdong Incheon Asiad Rugby Stadium in Incheon, Korea, with pool games. The knockout stages will follow on Sunday, September 8th, with the finals scheduled to begin at 5:50 PM local time.

This year’s series features Asia’s top eight men’s and women’s teams, with the United Arab Emirates women’s team and Thailand men’s team joining after their victories at the 2023 Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy in Qatar. The 2024 Series will include teams from Japan, Hong Kong China, China, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Thailand, Korea (men), and Kazakhstan (women).

The pools are determined by last year’s final standings. In the men’s competition, last year’s series winner, Japan, leads Pool A, joined by China, Malaysia, and newly promoted Thailand. Pool B features Asian Games gold medalists and last year’s runner-up, Hong Kong China, competing against the 2023 Asia Rugby Sevens Series bronze medalists UAE, along with host Korea and Singapore.

In the women’s competition, last year’s series winner, Japan, heads Pool C, joined by the rapidly improving Thailand, Kazakhstan, and newly promoted UAE. Pool D is led by China, who, despite finishing as runners-up last year, triumphed in the Challenger Series, qualifying for the Olympics and achieving a historic 6th place finish, the highest ever for an Asian team. They will compete against Hong Kong China, Singapore, and Malaysia.

The action starts at 10:00 AM local time at the Incheon Namdong Rugby Stadium, with China’s men’s team taking on Malaysia. All three rounds of pool games will be completed on Saturday, setting the stage for the semi-finals on Sunday.

In line with Asia Rugby’s commitment to gender equality, the women’s final will be the concluding match on Sunday. This initiative aligns with Asia Rugby’s 2021 decision to alternate the scheduling of the women’s final as the last game of the event every other year, ensuring greater visibility and recognition for women’s rugby in the region.

Asia Rugby President Qais Al Dhalai commented, “As we embark on the 24th edition of the Asia Rugby Sevens Series, it is with great pride and excitement that we return to Korea for the opening round at the Namdong Incheon Asiad Rugby Stadium. This marks the seventh time since 2016 that Korea has hosted one of our series legs, and the stadium, which also hosted the 2014 Asian Games, has truly become a home for Asia Rugby.”

With the success of past tournaments in Korea and Thailand, these locations have become regular fixtures on the Sevens Series calendar and are confirmed hosts for both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. China, a key player in the series, will host the second round on September 21-22 at the Hangzhou Normal University, a venue that successfully hosted the 2022 Asian Games.

Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2024 Schedule:

Korea: September 7-8, Incheon Asiad Rugby Stadium, Incheon.

China: September 21-22, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou.

Thailand: November 9-10, The Royal Thai Air Force Stadium, Bangkok.

A Spectacular Season for Rugby Fans

The 2024 sevens season offers rugby fans an incredible opportunity to explore spectacular destinations across Asia. Beyond the thrilling matches, fans can immerse themselves in the rich cultures, cuisines, and hospitality of the host nations. For those unable to travel, every moment of the action will be live-streamed on the Asia Rugby Facebook and YouTube channels, ensuring rugby enthusiasts worldwide can join in the excitement.

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