TOPIC

Asian Five Nations 2014

Asian Five Nations 2014
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.
Sevens coach Gareth Baber took his 15-strong squad to Canada on Thursday. Photo: Nora Tam/SCMP

Hong Kong sevens squad to sharpen up in Canada

Sevens head coach Gareth Baber is hoping an intense training camp in Canada will sharpen the Hong Kong men’s squad’s killer instincts ahead of the Asian Games in Incheon in September.

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Japan aiming to peak at World Cup

Hong Kong International Test Rugby

Coach’s Corner | Ready to wave my own wand

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Boots and all | Key to RWC play-off ‘lies with possession’

A few eyebrows were raised when Uruguay was frequently mentioned in the run-up to last Sunday’s Asian Five Nations game against Japan, with some asking why Hong Kong were looking ahead to the repêchage when they still had to play the Asian champions for the automatic berth at the 2015 World Cup.

Alex McQueen demonstrates Hong Kong’s strength in defence as he tackles Japan captain Michael Leitch in Tokyo, but it was their lack of possession that proved too costly for the visitors. Photo: Reuters
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Steve Borthwick eager to keep up with Joneses in Japan

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.

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Andy Hall handed key role for crunch game in Uruguay

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.

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New forwards coach Borthwick a massive boost for Japan, says Eddie Jones

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.

Newly appointed Japan forwards coach Steve Borthwick tries to break away with the ball for Saracens against Toulon during Saturday’s European Cup final. Photo: AFP
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Video: Japan 49-8 Hong Kong

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.

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Brave Hong Kong fail to stop Japan from taking Asia’s place at RWC

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.

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Unbeaten skipper Hewson out to upset Japan and earn World Cup spot

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.

Hong Kong captain Nick Hewson and his men will face Japan in a pivotal clash in Tokyo on Sunday. Photo: Felix Wong
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When close friends make midfield magic

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.

Lloyd Jones hones his game during a Hong Kong national squad training session at King's Park. Photos: Felix Wong/SCMP

Korea overpower Volcanoes to secure final spot in 2015 Top Three

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.

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‘Realistic’ Leigh Jones says Hong Kong face tough task against Japan

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.

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Boots and all | Jones to say sayonara but leaves Hong Kong on a high

How I would love to be a fly on the wall in the Hong Kong dressing room before they run out against Japan in Tokyo on Sunday in what is arguably the biggest game of their lives.

All eyes will be on the National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on Sunday as Hong Kong, under the guidance of departing coach Leigh Jones, attempt to halt Japan’s A5N juggernaut. Photo: Jonathan Wong/HKRFU
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Hong Kong chief stands by Leigh Jones before coach jumps ship

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.

Leigh Jones will join Eddie Jones in the coaching set-up with Japan. Photo: Nora Tam
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Japan in a class of their own, says Hong Kong coach

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Video: South Korea 5-62 Japan

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.

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Japan set the stage for spectacular RWC qualifier finale against Hong Kong

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.

Japan winger Akihito Yamada dives over for one of four tries he scored in Incheon as the visitors romped to a 62-5 victory over Korea. Photo: Kenji Demura/RJP
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Man in the middle | When the call comes, refs must be at top of their game

This weekend I will be in South Korea officiating the Asian Five Nations game between Korea and Japan and now the number two spot has been claimed by Hong Kong, I expect Korea will want to put in a better performance in front of their home crowd in Incheon.

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Coach’s Corner | Hong Kong passed ‘chemistry test’ with flying colours

Sometimes as a coach, you know even before taking the field that you have a special group. It’s not something that is easy to measure or articulate, you just know. And it probably has more to do with chemistry than ability.

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Boots and all | A touch of garlic might be just what’s needed against Japan

Mark Pawley, the general manager of Hong Kong Football Club, was spotted holding some garlic before the crucial game between Hong Kong and South Korea last Saturday. Was it to drive away the demons that have plagued Hong Kong in the past couple of years against Korea?

Against the Koreans, the ever-impressive Leon Wei Hon-sum was part of a rock solid Hong Kong front row with Tom Bolland and James Cooper. Photo: HKRFU
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Formidable Japan up next as Hong Kong seek direct route to World Cup

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.

Hong Kong's reserve forward Alex Ng Wai-shing in action against South Korea at Hong Kong Football Club. Photo: Kenneth Chan/SCMP
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Video: Hong Kong 39-6 South Korea

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.

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Hong Kong make RWC history with 39-6 win over South Korea

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.

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Hong Kong dare to dream after victory over South Korea

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.

Hong Kong fly-half Chris McAdam wrestles South Korea number eight Lee Kwang-moon to the turf in their clash at Hong Kong Football Club. Photo: Jonathan Wong/SCMP
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Coach Jung keeps faith with tried and tested Korean squad

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.

South Korea scrum-half Yang Young-hun is one of five Japan Top League professionals selected for Saturday’s RWC qualifier against Hong Kong. Photo: HKRFU
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It’s all in the mind against the Koreans: Pale Tauti

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.

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Hong Kong face most important 15s game ever, says coach Leigh Jones

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.

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