Asian Five Nations

Infobox sports league
logo=
current_season=2008 Asian Five Nations
caption=
sport=Rugby union
founded=2008
teams=5
country=flagicon|Arabian Gulf Arabian Gulf ru|HKG ru|JPN ru|KAZ ru|KOR
champion=The Asian Five Nations (referred to as HSBC Asian 5 Nations for sponsorship reasons) is an annual international rugby union competition held between five Asian sides: Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Arabian Gulf. The teams play a round-robin competition held on five consecutive weekends throughout April and May. The first competition is to be held in 2008.

Background

The Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) tournament is the pinnacle of four newly formed tiers of elite competition across all 25 Asian Rugby Unions with promotion and relegation opportunities between divisions for all participating teams.

On February 21, 2008, the International Rugby Board (IRB) confirmed the introduction of this major international Tournament to the Rugby calendar in April. The IRB-supported competition, which will involve Japan, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Korea and the Arabian Gulf, will play an important role in the ongoing development of the Game across the Region.

The IRB is committed to increasing global playing standards and the Tournament, which has received funding in the form of a US$500,000 IRB grant, represents the pinnacle of a complete restructuring of competition structures in Asia by the Region’s governing body, the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU).

The Tournament is considered vital for the development and expansion of Rugby throughout Asia and will give our elite players the chance to perform in front of a significantly expanded TV audience, whilst providing a platform for development at all other levels.

The Asian Five Nations Tournament is the pinnacle of four newly formed tiers of elite competition across all 25 Asian Rugby Unions with promotion and relegation opportunities between divisions for all participating teams. The last placed team in the Asian Five Nations in 2008 will be relegated to the 2009 Division One competition and the top team in Division One will gain promotion to the Asian Five Nations. The promotion and relegation policy will also be in effect for the Division One and Division Two competitions, guaranteeing an opportunity for all Unions to advance on the world stage.

This year’s Division One competition will be played amongst China, Chinese Taipei, Singapore and Sri Lanka. The Division Two competition will be contested by India, Malaysia, Pakistan and Thailand. Four regional competitions will also be played in 2008. The first is in in Indonesia and features Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos; the second Tournament will be held in Guam between Brunei, Guam and the Philippines; the third Tournament is in Qatar and features Qatar, Mongolia and Macau ; Kyrgyzstan hosts the final regional competition with Iran, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Selected matches will also double as Rugby World Cup 2011 qualifiers.

Champions

ponsorship

The ARFU has secured a significant title sponsorship deal with HSBC for the Tournament, which underlines the increasing appetite for the Game in Asia. Enhanced television deals for the Asian market was a feature of record Rugby World Cup broadcast coverage and comprehensive coverage of the Asian Five Nations on television will ensure continued widespread exposure across Asia and into IRB targeted growth markets such as China and India.

ee also

*2008 Asian Five Nations

External links

* [http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/09/16/spo03.asp]
* [http://sundaytimes.lk/070610/Sports/sp206.html First Proposal]
* [http://www.irb.com/newsmedia/mediazone/pressrelease/newsid=2022343.html#inaugural+asian+five+nations+kick IRB Press Release]