Triple double completed for Japan in Colombo

Japan Asian Sevens Champions. The third and final round of the Asia Rugby Sevens Series in Sri Lanka was won by Japan, who beat Hong Kong 19-5 for a third successive time in a Cup final.

Having lost to Hong Kong in the gold medal final at the Asian Games Japan have bounced back to lift all three Cup titles on offer celebrating a successful series in Sri Lanka.

Kosuke Hashino scored twice in the final and captain Kameli Soejima once again stepped up in the big match as he added Japan’s second try having just conceded to Max Denmark.

“It feels good, this has been a great opportunity for the boys, we got carried away a little but we stuck to our game plan in the end.

“A platform has been set with the world series and it’s positive to look at that. But we know we can keep improving and will need to step up again.”

With Japan having qualified for the World Rugby Sevens Series the overall standings leave Hong Kong second and they book their place at the World Rugby Sevens Series qualifier in Hong Kong next year.

Paul John’s Hong Kong, who won gold at the recent Asian Games, also ensured they took the Asian representative spot for the Singapore round of the World Rugby series too by finishing second overall.

Elsewhere the Philippines finished third to take the second spot at the World Rugby Sevens Series qualifier having defeated hosts Sri Lanka 19-7 in a winner-takes-all encounter.

China won the Plate after beating Malaysia 24-21 despite a hat-trick from Amalul Hazim Nasarrudin.

In the semi finals Kaemli Soejima and Dai Ozawa scored a brace each in Japan’s win over hosts Sri Lanka before Raef Morrison, who scored four tries in one match on day one, added his fifth of the tournament to break a 12-12 deadlock with the final play of the match.

RESULTS

Cup Final
Japan 19-5 Hong Kong

Third-place play-off
Sri Lanka 7-19 Philippines

Plate final
China 24-21 Malaysia

7th place play-off
Korea 15-5 Chinese Taipei

Cup semi-finals
Japan 34-12 Sri Lanka
Hong Kong 19-12 Philippines

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Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2018

Fixtures and Results >>Men #AR7s
Hong Kong 2018 Korea 2018 Sri Lanka 2018