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"language": "en-US",
"title": "Rugby World Cup 2023 Archives - Asia Rugby",
"description": "Regional Association of the Governing Body for the Global Game",
"items": [
{
"id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=9247",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2023/01/24/france-2023-family-united-to-deliver-best-ever-rugby-world-cup-in-landmark-year-for-the-sport/",
"title": "France 2023 family united to deliver best-ever Rugby World Cup in landmark year for the sport",
"content_html": "The family behind the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France have underscored their commitment to delivering one of the great sports events as they gathered for a special celebration in Paris.
\n\n- Rugby World Cup year kicked off with an event bringing together all of France 2023 stakeholders in Paris
\n- French Minister of Sports, Olympic and Paralympic Games Am\u00e9lie Oud\u00e9a-Cast\u00e9ra announce “We will be up to the challenge of this extraordinary event”
\n- Rugby World Cup 2023 will \u201cCelebrate Togetherness\u201d and rugby\u2019s unique ability to unite people
\n- Positive and productive meetings took place as the tournament is on track for its delivery
\n- France is preparing to welcome international fans with \u201cRugby Villages\u201d in host cities
\n- Official RWC 2023 ticketing resale platform will launch on 24 January at 18:00 CET
\n
\nThe family behind the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France have underscored their commitment to delivering one of the great sports events as they gathered for a special celebration in Paris.
\nLeading figures from the French Sports Ministry, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) presented their wishes alongside World Rugby and France 2023 representatives, reaffirming the collective mission to deliver a transformative and engaging Rugby World Cup that will deliver multiple significant benefits for Rugby and France.
\nProductive and positive meetings took place between the France 2023 Organising Committee and World Rugby to review the progress to date and plan the final push as the tournament enters its operational delivery phase. An updated project roadmap and budget will be presented to the France 2023 board on 2 February to consolidate the good progress and set this year\u2019s priorities with the event expected to leave a tangible legacy benefiting the French grassroot rugby. Rugby World Cup 2023 will kick-off on 8 September with a blockbuster at Stade de France (Saint-Denis) when hosts France will face New Zealand in front of a sold-out crowd.
\nFRANCE READY TO WELCOME THE WORLD
\nAcross 48 matches, 51 days and nine host cities, fans will be able to experience the best of France and its lifestyle. Organisers and host cities are working together to implement Rugby Villages in the heart of host cities where the local public and international visitors can gather to share their passion for rugby and enjoy activities and products linked to France and the tournament. In a video published today, France 2023 is inviting rugby fans to get ready for an exceptional event and moments of celebrations together with more than 600,000 international visitors expected during the tournament.
\nFollowing unprecedented demand for tickets and with more than two million tickets already sold, the Organising Committee will launch the\u00a0official resale platform\u00a0on Tuesday, 24 January at 18:00 CET. The website is the only official and secured way for fans to resell tickets bought during the previous sale phases. Tickets sold on other websites won\u2019t guarantee access to the Rugby World Cup 2023 venues.
\nAvoid disappointment, buy official >>
\nWorld Rugby Chairman\u00a0Sir Bill Beaumont\u00a0said: \u201cThe waiting is almost over! Rugby World Cup 2023 will be the main event in rugby\u2019s 200th\u00a0birthday celebrations and as we begin the year of the tournament, the spirit of unity across all stakeholders is strong. We can say with great confidence that France is ready. Ready to welcome the world\u2019s best players for an unforgettable celebration of rugby and French culture. Ready also to deliver a tournament that will forever be remembered as innovative, sustainable, and transformative; a tournament that brought people together.\u201d
\n\u201cOur partners, the public authorities, the FFR, France 2023 and Rugby World Cup\u2019s staff were united in Paris earlier this month around one common objective: delivering a fantastic and responsible event, one that France can be proud of. In addition to incredible rugby action and lifelong memories, Rugby World Cup 2023 will be a celebration of our togetherness and will leave a legacy that will live long after the champions are crowned.\u201d
\nFrance 2023 Chairman\u00a0Jacques Rivoal\u00a0added: \u201cHere we are! The closing moments of a match whose outcome is eagerly awaited by all: the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2023\u2019s 48 matches, the hosting of 20 qualified nations, the guaranteed emotions everywhere in France and abroad. With millions of rugby fans from around the world, we will make this Rugby World Cup 2023 a moment of togetherness and celebration.
\n\u201cI would like to thank all those who, collectively, will bring this unique event to the highest standards: our founding members (FFR, French State, CNOSF), World Rugby, our economic and institutional partners, and the employees of the France 2023 Organising Committee.\u201d
\nThe French Minister of Sports, Olympic and Paralympic Games\u00a0Am\u00e9lie Oud\u00e9a-Cast\u00e9ra\u00a0said: \u201cIn 2023, it is in France that rugby fans from all over the world will meet. We will be up to the challenge of this extraordinary event and are working tirelessly to ensure that it is successfully organised in every respect. Our ambition is to enable all fans to experience a unique moment of fervour and popular celebration, to ensure that this Rugby World Cup leaves a legacy for the development of rugby in our country, and to make 2023 a great year for the global rugby family.\u201d
\nWatch \u201cLet\u2019s Celebrate Togetherness\u201d video >>
\nRugby World Cup 2023 – Let’s Celebrate Togetherness
\nRugby World Cup 2023 will be a moment of celebration and togetherness. The world will be united from 8 September to 28 October, 2023 to share an unforgettable experience: the celebration of rugby and its values, the best of France and its lifestyle, the celebration of France 2023\u2019s commitment to have a positive impact and, overall, a nationwide festival for fans in France and abroad who will come together for 51 days and 48 matches, making this tournament a truly special one.
\nThe post France 2023 family united to deliver best-ever Rugby World Cup in landmark year for the sport appeared first on Asia Rugby.
\n",
"content_text": "The family behind the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France have underscored their commitment to delivering one of the great sports events as they gathered for a special celebration in Paris.\n\nRugby World Cup year kicked off with an event bringing together all of France 2023 stakeholders in Paris\nFrench Minister of Sports, Olympic and Paralympic Games Am\u00e9lie Oud\u00e9a-Cast\u00e9ra announce “We will be up to the challenge of this extraordinary event”\nRugby World Cup 2023 will \u201cCelebrate Togetherness\u201d and rugby\u2019s unique ability to unite people\nPositive and productive meetings took place as the tournament is on track for its delivery\nFrance is preparing to welcome international fans with \u201cRugby Villages\u201d in host cities\nOfficial RWC 2023 ticketing resale platform will launch on 24 January at 18:00 CET\n\nThe family behind the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France have underscored their commitment to delivering one of the great sports events as they gathered for a special celebration in Paris.\nLeading figures from the French Sports Ministry, the French Rugby Federation (FFR) and the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) presented their wishes alongside World Rugby and France 2023 representatives, reaffirming the collective mission to deliver a transformative and engaging Rugby World Cup that will deliver multiple significant benefits for Rugby and France.\nProductive and positive meetings took place between the France 2023 Organising Committee and World Rugby to review the progress to date and plan the final push as the tournament enters its operational delivery phase. An updated project roadmap and budget will be presented to the France 2023 board on 2 February to consolidate the good progress and set this year\u2019s priorities with the event expected to leave a tangible legacy benefiting the French grassroot rugby. Rugby World Cup 2023 will kick-off on 8 September with a blockbuster at Stade de France (Saint-Denis) when hosts France will face New Zealand in front of a sold-out crowd.\nFRANCE READY TO WELCOME THE WORLD\nAcross 48 matches, 51 days and nine host cities, fans will be able to experience the best of France and its lifestyle. Organisers and host cities are working together to implement Rugby Villages in the heart of host cities where the local public and international visitors can gather to share their passion for rugby and enjoy activities and products linked to France and the tournament. In a video published today, France 2023 is inviting rugby fans to get ready for an exceptional event and moments of celebrations together with more than 600,000 international visitors expected during the tournament.\nFollowing unprecedented demand for tickets and with more than two million tickets already sold, the Organising Committee will launch the\u00a0official resale platform\u00a0on Tuesday, 24 January at 18:00 CET. The website is the only official and secured way for fans to resell tickets bought during the previous sale phases. Tickets sold on other websites won\u2019t guarantee access to the Rugby World Cup 2023 venues.\nAvoid disappointment, buy official >>\nWorld Rugby Chairman\u00a0Sir Bill Beaumont\u00a0said: \u201cThe waiting is almost over! Rugby World Cup 2023 will be the main event in rugby\u2019s 200th\u00a0birthday celebrations and as we begin the year of the tournament, the spirit of unity across all stakeholders is strong. We can say with great confidence that France is ready. Ready to welcome the world\u2019s best players for an unforgettable celebration of rugby and French culture. Ready also to deliver a tournament that will forever be remembered as innovative, sustainable, and transformative; a tournament that brought people together.\u201d\n\u201cOur partners, the public authorities, the FFR, France 2023 and Rugby World Cup\u2019s staff were united in Paris earlier this month around one common objective: delivering a fantastic and responsible event, one that France can be proud of. In addition to incredible rugby action and lifelong memories, Rugby World Cup 2023 will be a celebration of our togetherness and will leave a legacy that will live long after the champions are crowned.\u201d\nFrance 2023 Chairman\u00a0Jacques Rivoal\u00a0added: \u201cHere we are! The closing moments of a match whose outcome is eagerly awaited by all: the delivery of Rugby World Cup 2023\u2019s 48 matches, the hosting of 20 qualified nations, the guaranteed emotions everywhere in France and abroad. With millions of rugby fans from around the world, we will make this Rugby World Cup 2023 a moment of togetherness and celebration.\n\u201cI would like to thank all those who, collectively, will bring this unique event to the highest standards: our founding members (FFR, French State, CNOSF), World Rugby, our economic and institutional partners, and the employees of the France 2023 Organising Committee.\u201d\nThe French Minister of Sports, Olympic and Paralympic Games\u00a0Am\u00e9lie Oud\u00e9a-Cast\u00e9ra\u00a0said: \u201cIn 2023, it is in France that rugby fans from all over the world will meet. We will be up to the challenge of this extraordinary event and are working tirelessly to ensure that it is successfully organised in every respect. Our ambition is to enable all fans to experience a unique moment of fervour and popular celebration, to ensure that this Rugby World Cup leaves a legacy for the development of rugby in our country, and to make 2023 a great year for the global rugby family.\u201d\nWatch \u201cLet\u2019s Celebrate Togetherness\u201d video >>\nRugby World Cup 2023 – Let’s Celebrate Togetherness\nRugby World Cup 2023 will be a moment of celebration and togetherness. The world will be united from 8 September to 28 October, 2023 to share an unforgettable experience: the celebration of rugby and its values, the best of France and its lifestyle, the celebration of France 2023\u2019s commitment to have a positive impact and, overall, a nationwide festival for fans in France and abroad who will come together for 51 days and 48 matches, making this tournament a truly special one.\nThe post France 2023 family united to deliver best-ever Rugby World Cup in landmark year for the sport appeared first on Asia Rugby.",
"date_published": "2023-01-24T22:40:08+08:00",
"date_modified": "2023-01-24T22:40:08+08:00",
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{
"id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=9199",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/12/24/u20-trophy-the-story-so-far/",
"title": "U20 Trophy: The story so far",
"content_html": "With the World Rugby U20 Trophy finally returning in 2023 after a three-year absence, we take a stroll down memory lane to look back at the 12 previous editions of the influential age-grade competition.
\nThere is no better example of the success of the World Rugby U20 Trophy as a vehicle to prepare players for the highest level of the game than the Portugal team that qualified for\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2023\u00a0in Dubai a month ago.
\nFour players who started\u00a0the 16-16 draw with the USA\u00a0in the decisive match of the Final Qualification Tournament featured in the final of the last edition of the U20 Trophy in Brazil, a heart-breaking 35-34 defeat to Japan in 2019.
\nAnd in addition to Jose Madeira, Jeronimo Portela, Rodrigo Marta and the star and top try-scorer of the 2019 tournament , Raffaele Storti, four other members of the XV came up through the U20s system but at an earlier date, including captain and inspiration Tomas Appleton.
\nPortugal are not the exception though, the make-up of the squads at Rugby World Cup 2019 highlighted just how important the U20s pathway is in terms of developing future stars of the game.
\nWhile there were 218 players in Japan who\u2019d experienced playing in the top-level U20 Championship, a further 83 had come up through the ranks via the U20 Trophy, age-grade international rugby\u2019s second-tier competition.
\nGeorgia\u2019s Otari Giorgadze, Beka Gorgadze, Giorgi Kveseladze and Giorgi Melikidze, for example, were members of the Junior Lelos team that lifted the U20 Trophy in 2015, while centre Lasha Khmaladze shares the record as the competition\u2019s most-capped player with Uruguay\u2019s Diego Magno (82 caps).
\n\n\nThe U20 Trophy has produced many memorable moments as well as players, but it would be hard to top the 2019 final in S\u00e3o Jose dos Campos.
\nIn a free-flowing match unrecognisable from the weather-affected final played between these two teams in Montevideo in 2017, Japan once again came out on top to secure promotion back to the World Rugby U20 Championship \u2013 but not before Portugal gave them the mightiest of scares.
\nJapan raced into a 14-0 lead inside the first 10 minutes, but Portugal showed great resolve and no little skill to fight their way back into the contest at the Estadio Martins Pereira.
\nFrom the 36th to the 76th minute, the Portuguese were ahead on the scoreboard despite being second-best at scrum time throughout, but a try from full-back Ryosuke Kawase and the all-important conversion from Ryuto Fukuyama denied them a place in the World Rugby U20 Championship for the first time.
\nIt was the third time Japan have won age-grade international rugby\u2019s second-tier competition, following on from their successes in 2014 and 2017, with promotion achieved to the U20 Championship on each occasion.
\nHere is our tournament-by-tournament guide to the U20 Trophy.
\nU20 TROPHY 2008
\nHOST: CHILE
\nWINNER: URUGUAY
\nRUNNER-UP: CHILE
\nTournament statistics
\nPoints: 877
\nTries: 126
\nTop points scorer: Goderdzi Joglidze (GEO)\u00a0\u2013\u00a050
\nTop try scorer: Kim Hyun Soo (KOR)\u00a0\u2013\u00a07
\nA Los Teritos team containing a test captain in the making in Juan Manuel Gaminara, and other future stars such as Diego Magno and Jeronimo Etcheverry, broke the hearts of the partisan 7,000 crowd in attendance at the\u00a0Stade Fran\u00e7ais Club in Santiago with a stirring come-from-behind win against hosts Chile.
\nA final between the two unbeaten sides from the pool stages looked to be heading the way of the home side when they raced into an 8-0 lead, but Los Teritos replied with 20 unanswered points, scoring tries through Magno and fly-half Germ\u00e1n Albanell, to take the inaugural title. The absence of a semi-final stage meant the pool runners-up went into a straight shootout for the bronze, Georgia winning an all-east European affair with Romania, 34-10
\nU20 TROPHY 2009
\nHOST: KENYA
\nWINNER: ROMANIA
\nRUNNER-UP: USA
\nTournament statistics
\nPoints: 1049
\nTries: 152
\nTop points scorer: Stefan Patrascu (ROM)\u00a0\u2013\u00a061
\nTop try scorer: Ionut Puisoru (ROM) / Thomas Claps (CHI) / Sung Kun Cha (KOR) / Collins Omae\u00a0\u2013\u00a05
\nLike the inaugural final, the eventual winners had to come from behind with Romania overhauling a 13-3 interval deficit against the USA.
\nBarry Sheehan\u2019s yellow card on the stroke of half-time proved costly as Romania scored through Adrian Apostol within four minutes of the re-start before Marian Pirvu and Stefan Patrascu added their names to the scoresheet late on.
\nWith the U20 Championship being cut from 16 teams to 12 in 2010, champions Romania missed out on promotion. Maintaining their form from the year before, Chile claimed the bronze medal with a 19-17 win over the hosts Kenya.
\nU20 TROPHY 2010
\nHOST: RUSSIA
\nWINNER: ITALY
\nRUNNER-UP: JAPAN
\nTournament statistics
\nPoints: 703
\nTries: 83
\nTop points scorer: Alberto Chillon (ITA) – 51
\nTop try scorer: Takaaki Nakazuru (JPN) – 4
\nDespite being guaranteed a return to the top-tier U20 Championship in 2011 as hosts of World Rugby\u2019s premier age grade tournament, Italy were determined to take their place among the elite in their own right as U20 Trophy 2010 champions.
\nKicking off with comfortable wins against Papua New Guinea (74-0) and defending champions Romania (30-7) in Pool A of what was a hugely competitive tournament with Japan, Canada and Uruguay also having played at a higher level the year before, the Azzurrini then beat Uruguay thanks to a last-gasp penalty try.
\nPool B winners Japan lay in wait but an early try from dashing centre Tommaso Benvenuti calmed any nerves the young Italians may have had, and Antonio Denti, Michele Mortali and Gabriele Cicchinelli confirmed their dominance against the gallant Japanese, who scored a late consolation try through Mao Enoki. Denis Kukishev\u2019s penalty, 12 minutes into extra time, saw Russia claim the bronze medal at Romania\u2019s expense.
\nU20 TROPHY 2011
\nHOST: GEORGIA
\nWINNER: SAMOA
\nRUNNER-UP: JAPAN
\nTournament statistics
\nPoints: 879
\nTries: 115
\nTop points scorer: Bakhva Kobakhidze (GEO)\u00a0\u2013\u00a052
\nTop try scorer: Robert Lilomaiava (SAM)\u00a0\u2013\u00a09
\nThe 2011 final followed the same pattern as the first two tournaments with Samoa trailing Japan 17-0 before finally showing the sort of form that had seen them sweep Uruguay, USA and Russia aside in topping Pool A with a perfect record.
\nTries from wing Masakatasu Hikosaka and hooker Yoshikatsu Hikosaka put Japan on the front foot, but in typical Samoan fashion, they struck back with dangerous broken-field play leading to tries from Jordan Taufua, Robert Lilomaiava and Faavae Faavaeand a 19-17 half-time lead.
\nWing Viliamu Alauni dotted the ball down to make it 24-17 to the Samoans, but back came Japan with prop Mao Enoki\u2019s second try in as many finals levelling the scores. Then, with the match heading into extra time, full-back Peter Schuster scored at the death to win it for the Islanders. Georgia outscored Uruguay two tries to nil to win the third place play-off, 20-15.
\nU20 TROPHY 2012
\nHOST: USA
\nWINNER: USA
\nRUNNER-UP: JAPAN
\nTournament statistics
\nPoints: 1015
\nTries: 144
\nTop point scorer: Madison Hughes (USA) – 72
\nTop try scorer: Hosea Saumaki (TGA) – 7
\nUSA became the first host nation to win the Junior World Rugby Trophy on home soil after a thrilling victory over Japan in Utah.
\nThe JWRT 2012 final was typical of the nail-biting drama evident throughout a tournament that did much to boost rugby\u2019s appeal in the US. In an epic match that saw 10 tries shared equally and the lead change hands seven times, USA withstood one last onslaught from the Brave Blossoms to cling on for a 37-33 win in front of a sell-out crowd.
\nHaving lost the two previous finals it was a case of more disappointment for Japan who were christened the \u2018Cardiac Kids\u2019 because of their involvement in a series of heart-stopping pool matches, and the final was no different.
\nHaving fought their way back from a 14-point deficit in the first half, the match was ultimately won by wing Noah Tarrant\u2019s hat-trick try in the 76th minute and the determined defensive rearguard that followed. Madison Hughes kicked 12 points in the match to take his overall tournament tally to 72 points, which is still a tournament record to this day.
\nManase Folau\u2019s late try saw Tonga deny Georgia 31-29 in an equally thrilling third place play-off.
\nU20 TROPHY 2013
\nHOST: CHILE
\nWINNER: ITALY
\nRUNNER-UP: CANADA
\nTournament statistics
\nPoints: 840
\nTries: 112
\nTop point scorer: Shane O’Leary (CAN)\u00a0\u2013\u00a045
\nTop try scorer: Kai Ishii (JPN)\u00a0\u2013\u00a08
\nFor the second time in five years the U20 Trophy was held in Chile but this time it was Italy not Uruguay who came out on top.
\nItaly secured an immediate return to the IRB Junior World Championship after overcoming Canada 45-23 in the final in Temuco.
\nThe Azzurrini, who were relegated to the second tier after losing 19-17 to Fiji in the relegation play-off at JWC 2012, won all four of their matches in Chile to ensure their place among the world\u2019s elite Under 20 teams in New Zealand next year.
\nHaving safely negotiated their way through the pool stages, Italy made their intentions clear from the start of the final at the Estadio Germ\u00e1n Becker with Marcello Violi crossing in the opening minute.
\nBut, despite leading only 10-6 at half-time, Italy took advantage when Canada had two players sin-binned in the second half, scoring five tries, including a second by Violi, to run out impressive winners.
\nChile made it onto podium, as they did in 2008, after beating Japan 38-35 to claim the bronze medal.
\nU20 TROPHY 2014
\nHOST: HONG KONG
\nWINNER: JAPAN
\nRUNNER-UP: TONGA
\nTournament statistics
\nPoints: 761
\nTries: 82
\nTop point scorer: Revaz Jinchvelashvili (GEO)\u00a0\u2013\u00a063
\nTop try scorer: Vakhtang Amiranashvili (GEO) / German Kessler (URU)\u00a0\u2013\u00a04
\nHaving fallen at the final hurdle on three occasions from 2010 to 2012, Japan were determined to finally lift the Trophy but they began with a defeat to Uruguay.
\nHowever, they bounced back brilliantly, winning the rest of their matches including victory over first-time finalists Tonga.
\nAfter a tight first half in which Japan led 10-3, second-half tries from Shunta Nakamura, Shuhei Narita and Takayuki Watanabe confirmed the win for the Asian team and promotion to the U20 Championship.
\nThe third place play-off was a battle of the Americas between two former Trophy champions. It went right down to the wire with the USA holding on to beat ill-disciplined Uruguay, who finished the game down to 12 men, 26-25.
\nU20 TROPHY 2015
\nHOST: PORTUGAL
\nWINNER: GEORGIA
\nRUNNER-UP: CANADA
\nTournament statistics
\nPoints: 862
\nTries: 114
\nTop point scorer: Revaz Jinchvelashvili (GEO)\u00a0\u2013\u00a051
\nTop try scorer: Christo van der Merwe (NAM)\u00a0\u2013\u00a05
\nGeorgian reaffirmed their status as a growing power in world rugby with a maiden U20 Trophy title. For many in the Junior Lelos\u2019 ranks the win in the final over Canada marked the start of something special, especially scrum-half Vasil Lobzhanidze who, just four months later, would go on to become the youngest played to appear at a Rugby World Cup, aged just 18 years and 340 days.
\nCanada went into the game at the Estadio Universitario with a settled team showing only one change from the starting XV that had beaten Tonga to reach a second Trophy final in three years. But the Canadians were second-best for large periods of the game against a Georgian outfit that demonstrated their ability to be clinical in the tight as well as the loose.
\nTries before the break tries for Mikheili Babunashvili, Giorgi Melikidze, Badri Liparteliani and Tornike Zoidze were followed by three more in the second-half, scored by Anzor Sichinava, Giorgi Kveseladze, Revazi Jintchvelashvili.
\nCanada captain Lucas Rumball served notice of the ability that has seen him earmarked as one to watch at this year\u2019s Rugby World Cup with a try on the stroke of half-time, while fellow loose forward, Luke Bradley, grabbed a brace.
\nTonga and Uruguay served up a feast of tries in a third place play-off that ended in a 44-43 win for the South Americans.
\nU20 TROPHY 2016
\nHOST: ZIMBABWE
\nWINNER: SAMOA
\nRUNNER-UP: SPAIN
\nTournament statistics*
\nPoints: 1054
\nTries: 141
\nTop point scorer: Hanco Germishuys (USA)\u00a0\u2013\u00a048
\nTop try scorer: Hanco Germishuys (USA)\u00a0\u2013\u00a08
\nPlayed under trialled scoring laws with six points awarded for a try, the 2016 edition of the U20 Trophy was a feast of running rugby. A then tournament record 1,054 points were scored with 70 of them coming in a classic final between Samoa and Spain that was won in the fifth minute of extra-time thanks to a try from replacement Tivoli Masaga.
\nEven for a tournament where entertainment had been the order of the day throughout, few people would have predicted that the final would have been quite so dramatic. Leading by eight points with nine minutes left to go, Spain threatened to cause an upset against the side relegated from the U20 Championship in 2015. However, number eight Elia Elia\u2019s hat-trick try handed Samoa a lifeline which they gratefully accepted when Masaga crossed in the corner. Despite his treble, Elia missed out on the top try scorer award to another number eight, USA\u2019s Hanco Germishuys.
\nIn the third place play-off, five first-half tries meant the bronze medal was Fiji\u2019s long before Namibia staged a second-half fight-back.
\nU20 TROPHY 2017
\nHOST: URUGUAY
\nWINNER: JAPAN
\nRUNNER-UP: PORTUGAL
\nTournament statistics
\nPoints: 727
\nTries: 101
\nTop point scorer: Alejo Piazza (URU)\u00a0\u2013\u00a040
\nTop try scorer:\u00a0 Faulua Makisi (JPN)\u00a0\u2013\u00a06
\nNot even the torrential rain could dampen Japan\u2019s enthusiasm as they celebrated a return to the World Rugby U20 Championship at the first attempt following a 14-3 victory over valiant Portugal in a truncated U20 Trophy final.
\nWith large pools of surface water on the Estadio Charrua pitch worsening all the time and thunderstorms rolling in, the decision was taken by referee Francisco Gonzalez to abandon play with 15 minutes to go. Japan led 14-3 at the time and were declared the winners.
\nUnderstandably, the tactics of both teams were clear from the start \u2013 kick for territory and hope for a mistake \u2013 and Japan\u2019s first try from Faulua Makisi, his sixth of the tournament, came from a charged down clearance kick.
\nConceding a scrum penalty try seven minutes into the second half ultimately sealed Porttugal\u2019s fate.
\nHosts Uruguay managed a repeat of the bronze medal they won in Lisbon two years earlier with a relatively comfortable victory over Namibia in the penultimate game of the day.
\nU20 TROPHY 2018
\nHOST: ROMANIA
\nWINNER: FIJI
\nRUNNER-UP: SAMOA
\nTournament statistics
\nPoints: 1164
\nTries: 166
\nTop point scorer: Denzo Bruwer (NAM)\u00a0\u2013\u00a059
\nTop try scorer: Manuel Ardao (URU)\u00a0\u2013\u00a06
\nFiji celebrated a return to the World Rugby U20 Championship for the first time since 2014 in typically flamboyant fashion.
\nInspired by full-back Nabetelevu Turaganivalu and centres Vilimoni Botitu and Ilikena Vudogo, Fiji were irrepressible in attack as they ruthlessly capitalised on basic Samoan errors, of which there were many, to put the two-time champions to the sword, scoring nine tries in a 58-8 win.
\nSamoa\u2019s lack of patience in attack and high turnover rate hurt them badly and Fiji could even afford to lose a man to the sin-bin in each half as they recorded the biggest win in the history of U20 Trophy finals.
\nIn a match of 16 tries, Manuel Pinto, Nuno Mascarenhas and Duarte Campos each bagged a brace as Portugal maintained their form from the year before to beat Namibia 67-36 and win the bronze medal.
\nU20 TROPHY 2019
\nHOST: BRAZIL
\nWINNER: JAPAN
\nRUNNER-UP: PORTUGAL
\nTournament statistics
\nPoints: 1,106
\nTries: 159
\nTop point scorer: Will Percillier (Canada)\u00a0\u2013\u00a065
\nTop try scorer: Raffaele Storti (Portugal)\u00a0\u2013\u00a09
\nWhen Japan scored a promotion-clinching try with two minutes to go in the final against Portugal, it brought the curtain down on a final day of high drama at the Estadio Martins Pereira.
\nTheir 35-34 victory, in what was a re-run of the 2017 showpiece, was the third consecutive match to be decided by three points or less. In addition to the Japan v Portugal thriller, arguably the best U20 Trophy final of all time, Brazil\u2019s seventh-place play-off with Hong Kong went to sudden-death extra-time, the hosts winning their first match at this level thanks to a drop goal, while Tonga\u2019s play-off for bronze with Uruguay would have gone beyond the 80 minutes had Los Teritos kicker Matias D\u2019Avanzo not struck the upright with an all-important conversion.
\nJapan\u2019s success ensured captain and back-row Shota Fukui created a piece of U20 Trophy history. Fukui, then a winger, was part of the 2017-winning side and becomes the first player to win the title twice \u2013 and in very different positions, too!
\nPortugal may have lost out on a maiden U20 Trophy title, but they unearthed a player with a very bright future in 18-year-old winger Raffaele Storti. A brace of tries in the final took the speedster\u2019s tally to nine, equalling the record for a single U20 Trophy tournament set by Samoa\u2019s Robert Lilomaiava in 2011.
\n*\u00a0Law trials with points (T=6, PT=8, C/PG/DG=2)
\nThe post U20 Trophy: The story so far appeared first on Asia Rugby.
\n",
"content_text": "With the World Rugby U20 Trophy finally returning in 2023 after a three-year absence, we take a stroll down memory lane to look back at the 12 previous editions of the influential age-grade competition.\nThere is no better example of the success of the World Rugby U20 Trophy as a vehicle to prepare players for the highest level of the game than the Portugal team that qualified for\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2023\u00a0in Dubai a month ago.\nFour players who started\u00a0the 16-16 draw with the USA\u00a0in the decisive match of the Final Qualification Tournament featured in the final of the last edition of the U20 Trophy in Brazil, a heart-breaking 35-34 defeat to Japan in 2019.\nAnd in addition to Jose Madeira, Jeronimo Portela, Rodrigo Marta and the star and top try-scorer of the 2019 tournament , Raffaele Storti, four other members of the XV came up through the U20s system but at an earlier date, including captain and inspiration Tomas Appleton.\nPortugal are not the exception though, the make-up of the squads at Rugby World Cup 2019 highlighted just how important the U20s pathway is in terms of developing future stars of the game.\nWhile there were 218 players in Japan who\u2019d experienced playing in the top-level U20 Championship, a further 83 had come up through the ranks via the U20 Trophy, age-grade international rugby\u2019s second-tier competition.\nGeorgia\u2019s Otari Giorgadze, Beka Gorgadze, Giorgi Kveseladze and Giorgi Melikidze, for example, were members of the Junior Lelos team that lifted the U20 Trophy in 2015, while centre Lasha Khmaladze shares the record as the competition\u2019s most-capped player with Uruguay\u2019s Diego Magno (82 caps).\n\nWorld Rugby U20 Trophy 2019 – Japan U20 v Portugal U20 https://t.co/PMRjCHDuSh\n\u2014 World Rugby (@WorldRugby) July 21, 2019\n\nThe U20 Trophy has produced many memorable moments as well as players, but it would be hard to top the 2019 final in S\u00e3o Jose dos Campos.\nIn a free-flowing match unrecognisable from the weather-affected final played between these two teams in Montevideo in 2017, Japan once again came out on top to secure promotion back to the World Rugby U20 Championship \u2013 but not before Portugal gave them the mightiest of scares.\nJapan raced into a 14-0 lead inside the first 10 minutes, but Portugal showed great resolve and no little skill to fight their way back into the contest at the Estadio Martins Pereira.\nFrom the 36th to the 76th minute, the Portuguese were ahead on the scoreboard despite being second-best at scrum time throughout, but a try from full-back Ryosuke Kawase and the all-important conversion from Ryuto Fukuyama denied them a place in the World Rugby U20 Championship for the first time.\nIt was the third time Japan have won age-grade international rugby\u2019s second-tier competition, following on from their successes in 2014 and 2017, with promotion achieved to the U20 Championship on each occasion.\nHere is our tournament-by-tournament guide to the U20 Trophy.\nU20 TROPHY 2008\nHOST: CHILE\nWINNER: URUGUAY\nRUNNER-UP: CHILE\nTournament statistics\nPoints: 877\nTries: 126\nTop points scorer: Goderdzi Joglidze (GEO)\u00a0\u2013\u00a050\nTop try scorer: Kim Hyun Soo (KOR)\u00a0\u2013\u00a07\nA Los Teritos team containing a test captain in the making in Juan Manuel Gaminara, and other future stars such as Diego Magno and Jeronimo Etcheverry, broke the hearts of the partisan 7,000 crowd in attendance at the\u00a0Stade Fran\u00e7ais Club in Santiago with a stirring come-from-behind win against hosts Chile.\nA final between the two unbeaten sides from the pool stages looked to be heading the way of the home side when they raced into an 8-0 lead, but Los Teritos replied with 20 unanswered points, scoring tries through Magno and fly-half Germ\u00e1n Albanell, to take the inaugural title. The absence of a semi-final stage meant the pool runners-up went into a straight shootout for the bronze, Georgia winning an all-east European affair with Romania, 34-10\nU20 TROPHY 2009\nHOST: KENYA\nWINNER: ROMANIA\nRUNNER-UP: USA\nTournament statistics\nPoints: 1049\nTries: 152\nTop points scorer: Stefan Patrascu (ROM)\u00a0\u2013\u00a061\nTop try scorer: Ionut Puisoru (ROM) / Thomas Claps (CHI) / Sung Kun Cha (KOR) / Collins Omae\u00a0\u2013\u00a05\nLike the inaugural final, the eventual winners had to come from behind with Romania overhauling a 13-3 interval deficit against the USA.\nBarry Sheehan\u2019s yellow card on the stroke of half-time proved costly as Romania scored through Adrian Apostol within four minutes of the re-start before Marian Pirvu and Stefan Patrascu added their names to the scoresheet late on.\nWith the U20 Championship being cut from 16 teams to 12 in 2010, champions Romania missed out on promotion. Maintaining their form from the year before, Chile claimed the bronze medal with a 19-17 win over the hosts Kenya.\nU20 TROPHY 2010\nHOST: RUSSIA\nWINNER: ITALY\nRUNNER-UP: JAPAN\nTournament statistics\nPoints: 703\nTries: 83\nTop points scorer: Alberto Chillon (ITA) – 51\nTop try scorer: Takaaki Nakazuru (JPN) – 4\nDespite being guaranteed a return to the top-tier U20 Championship in 2011 as hosts of World Rugby\u2019s premier age grade tournament, Italy were determined to take their place among the elite in their own right as U20 Trophy 2010 champions.\nKicking off with comfortable wins against Papua New Guinea (74-0) and defending champions Romania (30-7) in Pool A of what was a hugely competitive tournament with Japan, Canada and Uruguay also having played at a higher level the year before, the Azzurrini then beat Uruguay thanks to a last-gasp penalty try.\nPool B winners Japan lay in wait but an early try from dashing centre Tommaso Benvenuti calmed any nerves the young Italians may have had, and Antonio Denti, Michele Mortali and Gabriele Cicchinelli confirmed their dominance against the gallant Japanese, who scored a late consolation try through Mao Enoki. Denis Kukishev\u2019s penalty, 12 minutes into extra time, saw Russia claim the bronze medal at Romania\u2019s expense.\nU20 TROPHY 2011\nHOST: GEORGIA\nWINNER: SAMOA\nRUNNER-UP: JAPAN\nTournament statistics\nPoints: 879\nTries: 115\nTop points scorer: Bakhva Kobakhidze (GEO)\u00a0\u2013\u00a052\nTop try scorer: Robert Lilomaiava (SAM)\u00a0\u2013\u00a09\nThe 2011 final followed the same pattern as the first two tournaments with Samoa trailing Japan 17-0 before finally showing the sort of form that had seen them sweep Uruguay, USA and Russia aside in topping Pool A with a perfect record.\nTries from wing Masakatasu Hikosaka and hooker Yoshikatsu Hikosaka put Japan on the front foot, but in typical Samoan fashion, they struck back with dangerous broken-field play leading to tries from Jordan Taufua, Robert Lilomaiava and Faavae Faavaeand a 19-17 half-time lead.\nWing Viliamu Alauni dotted the ball down to make it 24-17 to the Samoans, but back came Japan with prop Mao Enoki\u2019s second try in as many finals levelling the scores. Then, with the match heading into extra time, full-back Peter Schuster scored at the death to win it for the Islanders. Georgia outscored Uruguay two tries to nil to win the third place play-off, 20-15.\nU20 TROPHY 2012\nHOST: USA\nWINNER: USA\nRUNNER-UP: JAPAN\nTournament statistics\nPoints: 1015\nTries: 144\nTop point scorer: Madison Hughes (USA) – 72\nTop try scorer: Hosea Saumaki (TGA) – 7\nUSA became the first host nation to win the Junior World Rugby Trophy on home soil after a thrilling victory over Japan in Utah.\nThe JWRT 2012 final was typical of the nail-biting drama evident throughout a tournament that did much to boost rugby\u2019s appeal in the US. In an epic match that saw 10 tries shared equally and the lead change hands seven times, USA withstood one last onslaught from the Brave Blossoms to cling on for a 37-33 win in front of a sell-out crowd.\nHaving lost the two previous finals it was a case of more disappointment for Japan who were christened the \u2018Cardiac Kids\u2019 because of their involvement in a series of heart-stopping pool matches, and the final was no different.\nHaving fought their way back from a 14-point deficit in the first half, the match was ultimately won by wing Noah Tarrant\u2019s hat-trick try in the 76th minute and the determined defensive rearguard that followed. Madison Hughes kicked 12 points in the match to take his overall tournament tally to 72 points, which is still a tournament record to this day.\nManase Folau\u2019s late try saw Tonga deny Georgia 31-29 in an equally thrilling third place play-off.\nU20 TROPHY 2013\nHOST: CHILE\nWINNER: ITALY\nRUNNER-UP: CANADA\nTournament statistics\nPoints: 840\nTries: 112\nTop point scorer: Shane O’Leary (CAN)\u00a0\u2013\u00a045\nTop try scorer: Kai Ishii (JPN)\u00a0\u2013\u00a08\nFor the second time in five years the U20 Trophy was held in Chile but this time it was Italy not Uruguay who came out on top.\nItaly secured an immediate return to the IRB Junior World Championship after overcoming Canada 45-23 in the final in Temuco.\nThe Azzurrini, who were relegated to the second tier after losing 19-17 to Fiji in the relegation play-off at JWC 2012, won all four of their matches in Chile to ensure their place among the world\u2019s elite Under 20 teams in New Zealand next year.\nHaving safely negotiated their way through the pool stages, Italy made their intentions clear from the start of the final at the Estadio Germ\u00e1n Becker with Marcello Violi crossing in the opening minute.\nBut, despite leading only 10-6 at half-time, Italy took advantage when Canada had two players sin-binned in the second half, scoring five tries, including a second by Violi, to run out impressive winners.\nChile made it onto podium, as they did in 2008, after beating Japan 38-35 to claim the bronze medal.\nU20 TROPHY 2014\nHOST: HONG KONG\nWINNER: JAPAN\nRUNNER-UP: TONGA\nTournament statistics\nPoints: 761\nTries: 82\nTop point scorer: Revaz Jinchvelashvili (GEO)\u00a0\u2013\u00a063\nTop try scorer: Vakhtang Amiranashvili (GEO) / German Kessler (URU)\u00a0\u2013\u00a04\nHaving fallen at the final hurdle on three occasions from 2010 to 2012, Japan were determined to finally lift the Trophy but they began with a defeat to Uruguay.\nHowever, they bounced back brilliantly, winning the rest of their matches including victory over first-time finalists Tonga.\nAfter a tight first half in which Japan led 10-3, second-half tries from Shunta Nakamura, Shuhei Narita and Takayuki Watanabe confirmed the win for the Asian team and promotion to the U20 Championship.\nThe third place play-off was a battle of the Americas between two former Trophy champions. It went right down to the wire with the USA holding on to beat ill-disciplined Uruguay, who finished the game down to 12 men, 26-25.\nU20 TROPHY 2015\nHOST: PORTUGAL\nWINNER: GEORGIA\nRUNNER-UP: CANADA\nTournament statistics\nPoints: 862\nTries: 114\nTop point scorer: Revaz Jinchvelashvili (GEO)\u00a0\u2013\u00a051\nTop try scorer: Christo van der Merwe (NAM)\u00a0\u2013\u00a05\nGeorgian reaffirmed their status as a growing power in world rugby with a maiden U20 Trophy title. For many in the Junior Lelos\u2019 ranks the win in the final over Canada marked the start of something special, especially scrum-half Vasil Lobzhanidze who, just four months later, would go on to become the youngest played to appear at a Rugby World Cup, aged just 18 years and 340 days.\nCanada went into the game at the Estadio Universitario with a settled team showing only one change from the starting XV that had beaten Tonga to reach a second Trophy final in three years. But the Canadians were second-best for large periods of the game against a Georgian outfit that demonstrated their ability to be clinical in the tight as well as the loose.\nTries before the break tries for Mikheili Babunashvili, Giorgi Melikidze, Badri Liparteliani and Tornike Zoidze were followed by three more in the second-half, scored by Anzor Sichinava, Giorgi Kveseladze, Revazi Jintchvelashvili.\nCanada captain Lucas Rumball served notice of the ability that has seen him earmarked as one to watch at this year\u2019s Rugby World Cup with a try on the stroke of half-time, while fellow loose forward, Luke Bradley, grabbed a brace.\nTonga and Uruguay served up a feast of tries in a third place play-off that ended in a 44-43 win for the South Americans.\nU20 TROPHY 2016\nHOST: ZIMBABWE\nWINNER: SAMOA\nRUNNER-UP: SPAIN\nTournament statistics*\nPoints: 1054\nTries: 141\nTop point scorer: Hanco Germishuys (USA)\u00a0\u2013\u00a048\nTop try scorer: Hanco Germishuys (USA)\u00a0\u2013\u00a08\nPlayed under trialled scoring laws with six points awarded for a try, the 2016 edition of the U20 Trophy was a feast of running rugby. A then tournament record 1,054 points were scored with 70 of them coming in a classic final between Samoa and Spain that was won in the fifth minute of extra-time thanks to a try from replacement Tivoli Masaga.\nEven for a tournament where entertainment had been the order of the day throughout, few people would have predicted that the final would have been quite so dramatic. Leading by eight points with nine minutes left to go, Spain threatened to cause an upset against the side relegated from the U20 Championship in 2015. However, number eight Elia Elia\u2019s hat-trick try handed Samoa a lifeline which they gratefully accepted when Masaga crossed in the corner. Despite his treble, Elia missed out on the top try scorer award to another number eight, USA\u2019s Hanco Germishuys.\nIn the third place play-off, five first-half tries meant the bronze medal was Fiji\u2019s long before Namibia staged a second-half fight-back.\nU20 TROPHY 2017\nHOST: URUGUAY\nWINNER: JAPAN\nRUNNER-UP: PORTUGAL\nTournament statistics\nPoints: 727\nTries: 101\nTop point scorer: Alejo Piazza (URU)\u00a0\u2013\u00a040\nTop try scorer:\u00a0 Faulua Makisi (JPN)\u00a0\u2013\u00a06\nNot even the torrential rain could dampen Japan\u2019s enthusiasm as they celebrated a return to the World Rugby U20 Championship at the first attempt following a 14-3 victory over valiant Portugal in a truncated U20 Trophy final.\nWith large pools of surface water on the Estadio Charrua pitch worsening all the time and thunderstorms rolling in, the decision was taken by referee Francisco Gonzalez to abandon play with 15 minutes to go. Japan led 14-3 at the time and were declared the winners.\nUnderstandably, the tactics of both teams were clear from the start \u2013 kick for territory and hope for a mistake \u2013 and Japan\u2019s first try from Faulua Makisi, his sixth of the tournament, came from a charged down clearance kick.\nConceding a scrum penalty try seven minutes into the second half ultimately sealed Porttugal\u2019s fate.\nHosts Uruguay managed a repeat of the bronze medal they won in Lisbon two years earlier with a relatively comfortable victory over Namibia in the penultimate game of the day.\nU20 TROPHY 2018\nHOST: ROMANIA\nWINNER: FIJI\nRUNNER-UP: SAMOA\nTournament statistics\nPoints: 1164\nTries: 166\nTop point scorer: Denzo Bruwer (NAM)\u00a0\u2013\u00a059\nTop try scorer: Manuel Ardao (URU)\u00a0\u2013\u00a06\nFiji celebrated a return to the World Rugby U20 Championship for the first time since 2014 in typically flamboyant fashion.\nInspired by full-back Nabetelevu Turaganivalu and centres Vilimoni Botitu and Ilikena Vudogo, Fiji were irrepressible in attack as they ruthlessly capitalised on basic Samoan errors, of which there were many, to put the two-time champions to the sword, scoring nine tries in a 58-8 win.\nSamoa\u2019s lack of patience in attack and high turnover rate hurt them badly and Fiji could even afford to lose a man to the sin-bin in each half as they recorded the biggest win in the history of U20 Trophy finals.\nIn a match of 16 tries, Manuel Pinto, Nuno Mascarenhas and Duarte Campos each bagged a brace as Portugal maintained their form from the year before to beat Namibia 67-36 and win the bronze medal.\nU20 TROPHY 2019\nHOST: BRAZIL\nWINNER: JAPAN\nRUNNER-UP: PORTUGAL\nTournament statistics\nPoints: 1,106\nTries: 159\nTop point scorer: Will Percillier (Canada)\u00a0\u2013\u00a065\nTop try scorer: Raffaele Storti (Portugal)\u00a0\u2013\u00a09\nWhen Japan scored a promotion-clinching try with two minutes to go in the final against Portugal, it brought the curtain down on a final day of high drama at the Estadio Martins Pereira.\nTheir 35-34 victory, in what was a re-run of the 2017 showpiece, was the third consecutive match to be decided by three points or less. In addition to the Japan v Portugal thriller, arguably the best U20 Trophy final of all time, Brazil\u2019s seventh-place play-off with Hong Kong went to sudden-death extra-time, the hosts winning their first match at this level thanks to a drop goal, while Tonga\u2019s play-off for bronze with Uruguay would have gone beyond the 80 minutes had Los Teritos kicker Matias D\u2019Avanzo not struck the upright with an all-important conversion.\nJapan\u2019s success ensured captain and back-row Shota Fukui created a piece of U20 Trophy history. Fukui, then a winger, was part of the 2017-winning side and becomes the first player to win the title twice \u2013 and in very different positions, too!\nPortugal may have lost out on a maiden U20 Trophy title, but they unearthed a player with a very bright future in 18-year-old winger Raffaele Storti. A brace of tries in the final took the speedster\u2019s tally to nine, equalling the record for a single U20 Trophy tournament set by Samoa\u2019s Robert Lilomaiava in 2011.\n*\u00a0Law trials with points (T=6, PT=8, C/PG/DG=2)\nThe post U20 Trophy: The story so far appeared first on Asia Rugby.",
"date_published": "2022-12-24T11:23:22+08:00",
"date_modified": "2022-12-24T11:23:22+08:00",
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"tags": [
"World Rugby U20 Trophy",
"Rugby World Cup 2023",
"U20 Trophy",
"Jose Madeira",
"Jeronimo Portela",
"Rodrigo Marta",
"Featured",
"News"
]
},
{
"id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=9098",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/11/10/final-qualification-tournament-players-wed-love-to-see-at-rugby-world-cup-2023/",
"title": "Final Qualification Tournament players we\u2019d love to see at Rugby World Cup 2023",
"content_html": "We throw the spotlight on some of the stars who have the ability to take the world\u2019s greatest stage by storm.
\nWhat is clear from the opening round of the\u00a0Final Qualification Tournament\u00a0is that all four teams would add something unique to next year\u2019s\u00a0Rugby World Cup in France.
\nAs things stand,\u00a0USA and Portugal hold the advantage\u00a0after picking up bonus-points over Hong Kong and Kenya respectively.
\nBoth matches featured some outstanding individual displays from players who deserve to test themselves against the elite on the game\u2019s greatest stage, even if it\u2019s not next year but at some point in the future.
\nHere, we throw the spotlight on some of the players to have caught our eye.
\nMATTHEW WORLEY (HONG KONG)
\nWith Portugal running riot with ball in hand, winger Matt Worley and the remainder of the Hong Kong back-three were firmly put in the shade.
\nHowever, the Bedford Blues flyer is a talented player who can make something happen out of nothing with his ability to see space and exploit it, either through his footwork \u2013 on the ground and with boot to ball \u2013 or his pace.
\nWith a try on debut against Korea and two scintillating scores in his second cap against Tonga in the Asia-Pacific Qualifier, the 25-year-old has three test tries in as many caps but seemingly with many more to come.
\nRAPHAELE STORTI (PORTUGAL)
\nWhere else to start?
\nThe Beziers winger has been carving it up ever since he first made his mark on the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2019.
\nComposed, lightning quick and with a powerful fend and an eye for a gap, Storti ran rampant on the wing for Portugal in their run to the final that year.
\nThat form has since been translated to senior rugby and the 21-year-old has seamlessly taken to test rugby, scoring 12 tries in 16 caps.
\nIn last weekend\u2019s 42-14 win over Hong Kong, Storti ran in two tries and set up another in a man-of-the-match display.
\nHad he not been replaced at 58 minutes, you\u2019d have banked on him getting a hat-trick.
\n\nNUNO SOUSA GUEDES (PORTUGAL)
\nTo be fair, you could easily have picked any of the Portuguese backline. But we\u2019ve gone for full-back Guedes to complement Storti if only because he possesses arguably the best right-foot step in the business.
\nGuedes was at the heart of everything good about Portugal\u2019s attack last Sunday, creating holes in the Hong Kong defence that didn\u2019t appear to be there.
\nThe only thing missing from his performance was a deserved try.
\nCHRISTIAN DYER (USA)
\nIt takes something special for a back to stand out in a USA team that relies heavily on its forward pack as an attacking weapon.
\nBut Dyer showed exactly what he is capable of in the Eagles\u2019 68-14 win over Kenya last Sunday.
\nCool at the back and with a booming kick to boot \u2013 he managed a brilliant 50:22 \u2013 Dyer managed to increasingly get into the game with ball in hand as the match wore on.
\nDemonstrating the athleticism that saw him appear for the USA on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2021, Dyer crossed for a 13-minute hat-trick and the Californian now has eight tries from nine test appearances.
\nJAMASON FA’ANANA-SCHULTZ (USA)
\nA physical force of nature who gives the USA real go-forward at the base of the scrum. Has had disciplinary issues in the past but seems to have learnt from his mistakes and has added a bit more composure to go with his combustible style of play.
\nHaving been denied a try for a double movement earlier in the match, Fa\u2019anana-Schultz got the score his efforts deserved against Kenya when he muscled his way over the line just before half-time.
\nOriginally from Brisbane in Australia, Fa\u2019anana-Schultz plays his club rugby for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby.
\nJOSHUA WERU (KENYA)
\nWeru recently left English side Northampton Saints to further his international ambitions and Sunday\u2019s try-scoring debut for the Simbas suggests the fleet-footed back-rower has made a sound decision.
\nWeru was passed the ball 60 metres out and quickly ate up the ground with his pace and long strides, before stepping inside the USA full-back to score.
\nIt may have only been a consolation try at the end of the game but it served notice to professional clubs elsewhere that he is definitely one to watch.
\nANDREW SIMINYU (KENYA)
\nWhile it was a brilliant day for Kenya in the set-piece, replacement prop Andrew Siminyu provided one of his team’s few highlights when he bumped off David Ainu\u2019u with a barnstorming run that led to the first of Kenya\u2019s two tries.
\nAt 120 kgs, Ainu\u2019u is normally an unmovable object but he was no match for Siminyu who went into full-on beast mode when receiving the ball just inside the USA\u2019s 22. The converted number eight followed up his dynamic run with a try-scoring pass to Brian Juma.
\nThe post Final Qualification Tournament players we\u2019d love to see at Rugby World Cup 2023 appeared first on Asia Rugby.
\n",
"content_text": "We throw the spotlight on some of the stars who have the ability to take the world\u2019s greatest stage by storm.\nWhat is clear from the opening round of the\u00a0Final Qualification Tournament\u00a0is that all four teams would add something unique to next year\u2019s\u00a0Rugby World Cup in France.\nAs things stand,\u00a0USA and Portugal hold the advantage\u00a0after picking up bonus-points over Hong Kong and Kenya respectively.\nBoth matches featured some outstanding individual displays from players who deserve to test themselves against the elite on the game\u2019s greatest stage, even if it\u2019s not next year but at some point in the future.\nHere, we throw the spotlight on some of the players to have caught our eye.\nMATTHEW WORLEY (HONG KONG)\nWith Portugal running riot with ball in hand, winger Matt Worley and the remainder of the Hong Kong back-three were firmly put in the shade.\nHowever, the Bedford Blues flyer is a talented player who can make something happen out of nothing with his ability to see space and exploit it, either through his footwork \u2013 on the ground and with boot to ball \u2013 or his pace.\nWith a try on debut against Korea and two scintillating scores in his second cap against Tonga in the Asia-Pacific Qualifier, the 25-year-old has three test tries in as many caps but seemingly with many more to come.\nRAPHAELE STORTI (PORTUGAL)\nWhere else to start?\nThe Beziers winger has been carving it up ever since he first made his mark on the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2019.\nComposed, lightning quick and with a powerful fend and an eye for a gap, Storti ran rampant on the wing for Portugal in their run to the final that year.\nThat form has since been translated to senior rugby and the 21-year-old has seamlessly taken to test rugby, scoring 12 tries in 16 caps.\nIn last weekend\u2019s 42-14 win over Hong Kong, Storti ran in two tries and set up another in a man-of-the-match display.\nHad he not been replaced at 58 minutes, you\u2019d have banked on him getting a hat-trick.\n\nEverything you need to know about the Rugby World Cup 2023 Final Qualification Tournament\nEverything You Need To Know About Rugby World Cup 2021\nAsia Rugby grants green light for Sri Lanka to participate in the elite continental sevens tournament\nQuarter-final line-up confirmed at scintillating Hong Kong Sevens\n\nNUNO SOUSA GUEDES (PORTUGAL)\nTo be fair, you could easily have picked any of the Portuguese backline. But we\u2019ve gone for full-back Guedes to complement Storti if only because he possesses arguably the best right-foot step in the business.\nGuedes was at the heart of everything good about Portugal\u2019s attack last Sunday, creating holes in the Hong Kong defence that didn\u2019t appear to be there.\nThe only thing missing from his performance was a deserved try.\nCHRISTIAN DYER (USA)\nIt takes something special for a back to stand out in a USA team that relies heavily on its forward pack as an attacking weapon.\nBut Dyer showed exactly what he is capable of in the Eagles\u2019 68-14 win over Kenya last Sunday.\nCool at the back and with a booming kick to boot \u2013 he managed a brilliant 50:22 \u2013 Dyer managed to increasingly get into the game with ball in hand as the match wore on.\nDemonstrating the athleticism that saw him appear for the USA on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2021, Dyer crossed for a 13-minute hat-trick and the Californian now has eight tries from nine test appearances.\nJAMASON FA’ANANA-SCHULTZ (USA)\nA physical force of nature who gives the USA real go-forward at the base of the scrum. Has had disciplinary issues in the past but seems to have learnt from his mistakes and has added a bit more composure to go with his combustible style of play.\nHaving been denied a try for a double movement earlier in the match, Fa\u2019anana-Schultz got the score his efforts deserved against Kenya when he muscled his way over the line just before half-time.\nOriginally from Brisbane in Australia, Fa\u2019anana-Schultz plays his club rugby for Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby.\nJOSHUA WERU (KENYA)\nWeru recently left English side Northampton Saints to further his international ambitions and Sunday\u2019s try-scoring debut for the Simbas suggests the fleet-footed back-rower has made a sound decision.\nWeru was passed the ball 60 metres out and quickly ate up the ground with his pace and long strides, before stepping inside the USA full-back to score.\nIt may have only been a consolation try at the end of the game but it served notice to professional clubs elsewhere that he is definitely one to watch.\nANDREW SIMINYU (KENYA)\nWhile it was a brilliant day for Kenya in the set-piece, replacement prop Andrew Siminyu provided one of his team’s few highlights when he bumped off David Ainu\u2019u with a barnstorming run that led to the first of Kenya\u2019s two tries.\nAt 120 kgs, Ainu\u2019u is normally an unmovable object but he was no match for Siminyu who went into full-on beast mode when receiving the ball just inside the USA\u2019s 22. The converted number eight followed up his dynamic run with a try-scoring pass to Brian Juma.\nThe post Final Qualification Tournament players we\u2019d love to see at Rugby World Cup 2023 appeared first on Asia Rugby.",
"date_published": "2022-11-10T13:13:39+08:00",
"date_modified": "2022-11-10T13:16:22+08:00",
"authors": [
{
"name": "Asia Rugby",
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"author": {
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"image": "https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Final-Qualification-Tournament-players.jpg",
"tags": [
"MATTHEW WORLEY",
"JOSHUA WERU",
"Rugby World Cup 2023",
"RWC",
"RAPHAELE STORTI",
"NUNO SOUSA GUEDES",
"CHRISTIAN DYER",
"JAMASON FA'ANANA-SCHULTZ",
"ANDREW SIMINYU",
"Featured",
"News"
]
},
{
"id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=9095",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/11/09/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-rugby-world-cup-2023-final-qualification-tournament/",
"title": "Everything you need to know about the Rugby World Cup 2023 Final Qualification Tournament",
"content_html": "We give you the lowdown on the tournament that will decide the 20th and final team to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023.
\n
\nThe\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2023 Final Qualification Tournament\u00a0got underway in Dubai last weekend, where USA and Portugal each got off to a winning start.
\nIn the opening match at The Sevens Stadium on Sunday, the Eagles ran in 10 tries to beat Kenya and kick-off their bid for the 20th and final ticket to\u00a0RWC 2023\u00a0in style.
\nPortugal followed that up with a similarly convincing defeat of Hong Kong, which was good enough to take them above USA in the\u00a0World Rugby Men\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini\u00a0but not the Final Qualification Tournament standings.
\nThe Eagles lead the way on points difference from Os Lobos ahead of the second round of action, which will get underway at 16:00 local time (GMT+4) on Saturday, 12 November.
\nWith so much still at stake, we give you the lowdown on the tournament, and where the winner will line up in France next year.
\nWhat is the RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament?
\nThe RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament is a four-team round robin tournament that will be played between 6-18 November.
\nWhoever finishes top of the standings following the final round of matches will secure the final ticket to Rugby World Cup 2023.
\nWho will compete in the tournament?
\nThe four teams that will compete in the RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament are Hong Kong, Kenya, Portugal and the USA.
\nPortugal were the first team to secure their place in the tournament, as they qualified as the third-highest ranked team from the last two editions of the Rugby Europe Championship.
\nOs Lobos were subsequently joined by Kenya, who qualified as Rugby Africa Cup 2022 runners-up, the USA, who lost the Americas 2 play-off, and Hong Kong, who were defeated in the Asia/Pacific 1 play-off.
\nWhat has happened so far?
\nRound one
\nThe Final Qualification Tournament got underway with a comfortable victory for USA as Dylan Fawsitt and Christian Dyer each scored a hat-trick of tries in the Eagles\u2019 bonus-point 68-14 win against Kenya.
\nFollowing a scoreless opening 20 minutes, USA broke the deadlock while Geoffrey Okwach was in the sin-bin, as Fawsitt crossed for his first try. He soon got a second and Jamason Fa\u2019anana-Schultz added a third for the Eagles on the stroke of half-time.
\nFawsitt completed his hat-trick early in the second half before Dyer and Nate Augspurger crossed the whitewash either side of a converted Brian Juma try for Kenya.
\nDyer then notched two tries inside three minutes to complete his own hat-trick shortly after the hour mark, while Mike Sosene Feagai and Mitch Wilson also got on the scoresheet for USA.
\nIt was Kenya who had final say, however, as Joshua Weru touched down for the Simbas\u2019 second try of the match, converted by Darwin Mukidza.
\nPortugal ensured they kept pace with USA at the top of the standings after coming from behind to beat Hong Kong 42-14 at The Sevens Stadium.
\nAlexander Post gave Hong Kong a seventh-minute lead in Dubai, coming up with the ball following a strong forward drive over the line.
\nHowever, Portugal responded with three converted tries before half-time as Jos\u00e8 Madeira, Raffaele Storti and Miguel Morais all crossed the whitewash.
\nDespite having Jo\u0101o Granate in the sin-bin, Portugal added a fourth try in the third minute of the second half, through Rodrigo Marta, to wrap up a try-scoring bonus point.
\nFurther well-worked scores followed from Storti and Jos\u00e9 Lima before Jack Neville\u2019s try for Hong Kong on the hour mark brought an end to the scoring.
\nReplacement Portugal second-row Duarte Torgal was shown a yellow card late on but it had little impact on the result.
\nWhen will rounds two and three be played?
\nThe second round of matches will be played at The Sevens Stadium on Saturday, 13 November.
\nPortugal and Kenya will get the action underway when they meet at 16:00 local time (GMT+4). Hong Kong will then take on USA at 18:30 local time.
\nMatch day three will take place at The Sevens Stadium on 18 November, with the opening match between Hong Kong and Kenya at 17:00 local time (GMT+4).
\nThe RWC Final Qualification Tournament will draw to a close with the match between the USA and Portugal, which will kick off at 19:30 local time.
\nCan I buy tickets?
\nEntry to all six matches at The Sevens Stadium will be free to the public wishing to attend.
\nFans interested in travelling to the Final Qualification Tournament and looking to purchase spectator packages can get in touch with local tour operators at\u00a0sports@dnata.com\u00a0(+971 (0)4 389 8389) or contact\u00a0sports.events@thesevens.ae\u00a0for match day and venue information.
\nWhere can I watch the action elsewhere?
\nThe Final Qualification Tournament will be broadcast by The Rugby Network in the USA and Canada, on Sport TV in Portugal and SuperSport in Sub-Saharan Africa.
\nFans who want to tune in but do not live in those countries or regions can stream the matches live via\u00a0RugbyWorldCup.com/2023.
\nWhich RWC 2023 pool will the Final Qualification Tournament winner compete in?
\nThe team that finishes top of the RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament will take their place in Pool C in France next year.
\nAwaiting the Final Qualification Tournament winner at RWC 2023 are Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia, who have all been drawn in Pool C.
\nWhen and where will they play at RWC 2023?
\nWhoever wins the tournament in Dubai will open their RWC 2023 campaign against Wales in Nice on 16 September, 2023, with kick-off scheduled for 17:45 local time (GMT+2).
\nTheir next match will be seven days later, against Georgia at Stadium de Toulouse (kick-off 14:00 local time) before they play Australia at Stade Geoffroy Guichard in Saint-\u00c9tienne on 1 October (kick-off 17:45 local time).
\nThe Final Qualification Tournament winner will return to Toulouse on 8 October as they complete their pool phase campaign by taking on Fiji at 21:00 local time (GMT+2).
\nThe post Everything you need to know about the Rugby World Cup 2023 Final Qualification Tournament appeared first on Asia Rugby.
\n",
"content_text": "We give you the lowdown on the tournament that will decide the 20th and final team to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023.\n\nThe\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2023 Final Qualification Tournament\u00a0got underway in Dubai last weekend, where USA and Portugal each got off to a winning start.\nIn the opening match at The Sevens Stadium on Sunday, the Eagles ran in 10 tries to beat Kenya and kick-off their bid for the 20th and final ticket to\u00a0RWC 2023\u00a0in style.\nPortugal followed that up with a similarly convincing defeat of Hong Kong, which was good enough to take them above USA in the\u00a0World Rugby Men\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini\u00a0but not the Final Qualification Tournament standings.\nThe Eagles lead the way on points difference from Os Lobos ahead of the second round of action, which will get underway at 16:00 local time (GMT+4) on Saturday, 12 November.\nWith so much still at stake, we give you the lowdown on the tournament, and where the winner will line up in France next year.\nWhat is the RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament?\nThe RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament is a four-team round robin tournament that will be played between 6-18 November.\nWhoever finishes top of the standings following the final round of matches will secure the final ticket to Rugby World Cup 2023.\nWho will compete in the tournament?\nThe four teams that will compete in the RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament are Hong Kong, Kenya, Portugal and the USA.\nPortugal were the first team to secure their place in the tournament, as they qualified as the third-highest ranked team from the last two editions of the Rugby Europe Championship.\nOs Lobos were subsequently joined by Kenya, who qualified as Rugby Africa Cup 2022 runners-up, the USA, who lost the Americas 2 play-off, and Hong Kong, who were defeated in the Asia/Pacific 1 play-off.\nWhat has happened so far?\nRound one\nThe Final Qualification Tournament got underway with a comfortable victory for USA as Dylan Fawsitt and Christian Dyer each scored a hat-trick of tries in the Eagles\u2019 bonus-point 68-14 win against Kenya.\nFollowing a scoreless opening 20 minutes, USA broke the deadlock while Geoffrey Okwach was in the sin-bin, as Fawsitt crossed for his first try. He soon got a second and Jamason Fa\u2019anana-Schultz added a third for the Eagles on the stroke of half-time.\nFawsitt completed his hat-trick early in the second half before Dyer and Nate Augspurger crossed the whitewash either side of a converted Brian Juma try for Kenya.\nDyer then notched two tries inside three minutes to complete his own hat-trick shortly after the hour mark, while Mike Sosene Feagai and Mitch Wilson also got on the scoresheet for USA.\nIt was Kenya who had final say, however, as Joshua Weru touched down for the Simbas\u2019 second try of the match, converted by Darwin Mukidza.\nPortugal ensured they kept pace with USA at the top of the standings after coming from behind to beat Hong Kong 42-14 at The Sevens Stadium.\nAlexander Post gave Hong Kong a seventh-minute lead in Dubai, coming up with the ball following a strong forward drive over the line.\nHowever, Portugal responded with three converted tries before half-time as Jos\u00e8 Madeira, Raffaele Storti and Miguel Morais all crossed the whitewash.\nDespite having Jo\u0101o Granate in the sin-bin, Portugal added a fourth try in the third minute of the second half, through Rodrigo Marta, to wrap up a try-scoring bonus point.\nFurther well-worked scores followed from Storti and Jos\u00e9 Lima before Jack Neville\u2019s try for Hong Kong on the hour mark brought an end to the scoring.\nReplacement Portugal second-row Duarte Torgal was shown a yellow card late on but it had little impact on the result.\nWhen will rounds two and three be played?\nThe second round of matches will be played at The Sevens Stadium on Saturday, 13 November.\nPortugal and Kenya will get the action underway when they meet at 16:00 local time (GMT+4). Hong Kong will then take on USA at 18:30 local time.\nMatch day three will take place at The Sevens Stadium on 18 November, with the opening match between Hong Kong and Kenya at 17:00 local time (GMT+4).\nThe RWC Final Qualification Tournament will draw to a close with the match between the USA and Portugal, which will kick off at 19:30 local time.\nCan I buy tickets?\nEntry to all six matches at The Sevens Stadium will be free to the public wishing to attend.\nFans interested in travelling to the Final Qualification Tournament and looking to purchase spectator packages can get in touch with local tour operators at\u00a0sports@dnata.com\u00a0(+971 (0)4 389 8389) or contact\u00a0sports.events@thesevens.ae\u00a0for match day and venue information.\nWhere can I watch the action elsewhere?\nThe Final Qualification Tournament will be broadcast by The Rugby Network in the USA and Canada, on Sport TV in Portugal and SuperSport in Sub-Saharan Africa.\nFans who want to tune in but do not live in those countries or regions can stream the matches live via\u00a0RugbyWorldCup.com/2023.\nWhich RWC 2023 pool will the Final Qualification Tournament winner compete in?\nThe team that finishes top of the RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament will take their place in Pool C in France next year.\nAwaiting the Final Qualification Tournament winner at RWC 2023 are Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia, who have all been drawn in Pool C.\nWhen and where will they play at RWC 2023?\nWhoever wins the tournament in Dubai will open their RWC 2023 campaign against Wales in Nice on 16 September, 2023, with kick-off scheduled for 17:45 local time (GMT+2).\nTheir next match will be seven days later, against Georgia at Stadium de Toulouse (kick-off 14:00 local time) before they play Australia at Stade Geoffroy Guichard in Saint-\u00c9tienne on 1 October (kick-off 17:45 local time).\nThe Final Qualification Tournament winner will return to Toulouse on 8 October as they complete their pool phase campaign by taking on Fiji at 21:00 local time (GMT+2).\nThe post Everything you need to know about the Rugby World Cup 2023 Final Qualification Tournament appeared first on Asia Rugby.",
"date_published": "2022-11-09T17:45:50+08:00",
"date_modified": "2022-11-09T17:45:50+08:00",
"authors": [
{
"name": "Asia Rugby",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g"
}
],
"author": {
"name": "Asia Rugby",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g"
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"image": "https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/HK.jpeg",
"tags": [
"USA Rugby",
"Rugby World Cup",
"Rugby World Cup 2023",
"Portugal Rugby",
"Featured",
"News"
]
},
{
"id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=9074",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/11/04/meet-the-last-four-rugby-world-cup-2023-hopefuls/",
"title": "Meet the last four Rugby World Cup 2023 hopefuls",
"content_html": "We give you the lowdown on the teams competing at the Final Qualification Tournament for the 20th and final ticket to France 2023, taking a look at how USA, Portugal, Hong Kong and Kenya got this far and their form on route to Dubai.
\nHong Kong, Kenya, Portugal and the USA have arrived in Dubai for a two-week trip they hope will prove to be a stop-over en route to\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2023.
\nThe four teams will take to The Sevens Stadium pitch on Sunday as the round-robin RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament, which will run until 18 November, gets underway.
\nAt the end of the three match days in the UAE, the team on top of the standings will claim the 20th and final ticket to France.
\nBut which teams head into the Final Qualification Tournament on form and who has the most Rugby World Cup pedigree? We give you the lowdown on each of the competing nations.
\n\nRUGBY WORLD CUP PEDIGREE
\nHONG KONG
\nHong Kong\u2019s attempts to make it to a Rugby World Cup date back to the 1995 tournament but so far they have been unsuccessful in getting over the line and booking their place at the game\u2019s showpiece event.
\nMore often than not it was Japan, the dominant team in Asia, who blocked their progress in the early years, although it was a defeat to Chinese Taipei that cost them dearly in the RWC 2003 qualifying campaign.
\nFor RWC 2015, Hong Kong\u2019s interest came to an end in the repechage when they lost to Uruguay, while in 2019, they fell short in what was by now a round-robin event, finishing second-from-last in the four-team tournament in Marseilles.
\nKENYA
\nLike Hong Kong, the first tournament Kenya attempted to qualify for was RWC 1995, however, defeats to Zimbabwe and Namibia ended their hopes before a win against the Arabian Gulf.
\nThe Simbas have entered qualifying for each Rugby World Cup since but are yet to progress to the showpiece tournament itself.
\nKenya came close to qualifying for RWC 2015, putting themselves in a good position by beating Namibia only for defeat to Zimbabwe to ensure they missed out on both a ticket to England and a place in the repechage on points difference.
\nFour years later, defeat to Namibia in their final qualifier denied them direct qualification for RWC 2019. They had done enough to make the repechage but lost all three matches in Marseille, against Canada, Hong Kong and Germany.
\nPORTUGAL
\nPortugal\u2019s one and only Rugby World Cup appearance to date came in 2007 when the tournament was last held in France.
\nBack then, Os Lobos left it until the last possible moment to qualify with a narrow aggregate victory over Uruguay.
\nOs Lobos were beaten 18-12 by their South American hosts in the second leg of their repechage clash in Montevideo but thanks to their 12-5 victory over Los Teros in the first leg in Lisbon they claimed a 24-23 overall victory.
\nThe result avenged a heavy defeat the previous time Portugal met Uruguay in the Repechage back in 1999.
\nAs a reward, Portugal took their place in Pool C at the tournament proper with matches against New Zealand, Scotland, Italy and Romania.
\nCheered on by a large Portuguese contingent in St Etienne, Portugal began their campaign with a 56-10 defeat to Scotland, winger Pedro Cabral scoring their first-ever Rugby World Cup try.
\nA 108-13 loss to New Zealand in their second fixture could have derailed a less spirited team, but Os Lobos finished the tournament strongly with a respectable 31-5 defeat to Italy and then in a close-run encounter against Romania, the Oaks took the game 14-10 but only after scoring two converted tries in the final quarter.
\nPortugal finished their inaugural Rugby World Cup appearance beaten in every game but not bowed, achieving their target of scoring at least one try in every match.
\nUSA
\nUSA head into the Final Qualification Tournament with the most Rugby World Cup pedigree of any of the competing teams, having competed in every tournament bar RWC 1995.
\nTheir Rugby World Cup debut came on 24 May, 1987, at Ballymore in Brisbane, Australia, when they held off a late comeback to beat Japan 21-18.
\nDefeats to Australia and England followed and they would have to wait 16 years to register their second tournament win.
\nFollowing winless pool phase exits at RWC 1991 and RWC 1999, that victory arrived when the tournament returned to Australia in 2003. Japan again provided the opposition as the USA ran in five tries to win 39-26 at Central Coast Stadium.
\nUSA have only won one Rugby World Cup match since that night in Gosford, a 13-6 defeat of Russia at RWC 2011, again in the southern hemisphere, Mike Petri scoring the only try of the match.
\nQualification for the quarter-finals has so far proved elusive for the USA on the biggest stage but they did come close to securing a fourth tournament victory on their most recent Rugby World Cup outing.
\nIn their final Pool C match at RWC 2019, a brace of tries from Mike Te\u2019o gave the Eagles a 12-7 half-time lead against Tonga in Hanazono.
\nHowever, Tonga outscored the USA three tries to one in the second half to secure a 31-19 victory and condemn their opponents to a fifth winless Rugby World Cup campaign.
\nWORLD RANKINGS SINCE LAST RUGBY WORLD CUP
\nHONG KONG
\nHong Kong have managed to climb two places in the World Rugby Men\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini despite only playing four tests since Japan 2019.
\nBack in November 2019, Hong Kong were ranked in 24th place with 59.65 points, but they are now two places and 1.38 points better off in 22nd (61.03 points).
\nA place in the world’s top 20 is within Hong Kong’s reach if they pull of a shock victory in their first encounter at the Final Qualification Tournament\u00a0 against Portugal
\nKENYA
\nKenya have only played seven tests since the last Rugby World Cup, winning four, but have slipped one place in the rankings.
\nThe Simbas were ranked 32nd at the beginning of November 2019, with 52.55 points, and three years later find themselves 33rd with 52.06.
\nThis weekend, Kenya stand to gain as many as five places if they win their first meeting with USA.
\nPORTUGAL
\nIn what is perceived as a period of success for Portugal, it comes as no surprise that the current Rugby World Cup cycle has brought gains for Os Lobos in the rankings.
\nWhile a one-place rise to 20th does not sound much by way of momentum, the increase in rating score from 61.34 to 65.08 tells you all you need to know about the direction they are heading in.
\nLooking to the weekend, Portugal will replace USA in 19th if they beat Hong Kong, irrespective of how the Eagles fare in their opening match against lower-ranked Kenya.
\nUSA
\nThe past three years have been a transitional period for the USA and that is highlighted in the rankings, in which the team has slipped slightly.
\nAt the end of RWC 2019, the Eagles were ranked 17th with 68.10 points and they have since fallen two places to 19th, losing almost three rating points to head into the Final Qualification Tournament with 65.17.
\nUSA could slip further in the rankings this weekend as they are unable to boost their score against Kenya due to the 13.11 points difference between the two nations.
\nFORM GUIDE
\nHONG KONG
\nHong Kong go into the Final Qualification Tournament with precious little test rugby behind them.
\nSince the last Rugby World Cup finished, Hong Kong have only taken to the field four times, winning two and losing two of those matches.
\nA European tour at the back end of 2019 gave Hong Kong some new experiences as they played Belgium and Spain away for the first time
\nA 36-17 win in Brussels was followed by a 29-7 defeat to Los Leones but the team appeared to be heading in an upward trajectory until COVID-19 hit.
\nHong Kong\u2019s 15s test rugby was put on hold for two-and-a-half years due to travel restrictions and then reduced in status from full-time to part-time programme because of the financial repercussions of the global pandemic.
\nBut when Hong Kong returned, they returned in style, beating Korea 23-21 in Incheon with a last-minute penalty kick. That secured Hong Kong a place in the Asia-Pacific Qualifier and the chance of winning a direct ticket to France 2023.
\nThe game against Tonga was played on neutral ground in Australia and the \u2018Ikale Tahi prevailed, as most people expected them to, 44-22.
\nHowever, for a side that had so little preparation time behind them under a new head coach, Hong Kong\u2019s performance, particularly in the latter stages of the match, gives them cause for confidence and something to work on heading into the Final Qualification Tournament.
\nKENYA
\nKenya head into the Final Qualification Tournament in relatively good form, having only lost twice \u2013 both times to Namibia \u2013 in their last six matches.
\nDue to the impact of the pandemic, the Simbas did not take to the pitch between September 2019 and July 2021.
\nWhen they did return to the field, to begin their RWC 2023 qualifying campaign, Kenya suffered an agonising 20-19 defeat at the hands of Senegal, conceding the match-winning converted try in the final play.
\nKenya recovered to get their qualifying campaign back on track with a 45-8 win against Zambia and ended the year with a training camp in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
\nWhile there, the Simbas took on both Namibia and Brazil, and led their African rivals 24-19 at half-time of their first match only to lose 60-24 as their opponents ran in seven tries after the break.
\nAgain, the Simbas recovered and six days later, ran in five tries to edge a 66-point thriller, beating Brazil 36-30 at Mark\u00f6tter Stadium.
\nDuring July\u2019s Rugby Africa Cup 2022 in France, Kenya beat Uganda and Algeria to set up a winner takes all match against Namibia. However, the Simbas\u2019 hopes of securing direct qualification to RWC 2023 were ended by a 36-0 defeat in Aix-en-Provence.
\nPORTUGAL
\nPortugal made it to Dubai after finishing third in the combined 2021 and 202 Rugby Europe Championship tables.
\nThe second half of the qualification campaign began on a high with Os Lobos ending Georgia\u2019s 20-match winning streak in the competition thanks to a 25-25 draw in Tbilisi; however, results \u2013 if not performances \u2013 tailed off as the year went on.
\nA crucial 37-27 defeat to Romania in Bucharest was a setback to their automatic qualification hopes but a meeting with the struggling Netherlands got them back on track, Os Lobos winning 59-3.
\nThen came the run of four defeats leading into the Final Qualification Tournament, albeit three were by slender margins to higher-ranked teams.
\nSpain ensured what had been a largely positive Rugby Europe Championship campaign ended on a low note for Portugal with a 33-28 victory in Madrid.
\nPortugal then hosted an Italian side on a high from their Six Nations victory over Wales and again only just came out on the wrong side of the scoreline, losing 38-31.
\nA 52-35 defeat to an Argentina XV followed but only after the South Americans overturned a half-time deficit.
\nAnd in their last outing in Kutaisi in July, Portugal made their hosts Georgia work hard for a 23-14 win.
\nUSA
\nHad it not been for Santiago Videla\u2019s late penalty in Glendale, the USA would already be through to RWC 2023 and preparing for matches against England, Japan, Argentina and Samoa in Pool D.
\nThey had seemingly done the hard work by winning a rain-soaked first leg of their Americas 2 play-off against Chile 22-21 in Santiago and led heading into the final 10 minutes of the second.
\nBut sport is a matter of fine margins and in truth the USA\u2019s form since RWC 2019 has been patchy at best.
\nThe team returned to action in July 2021 with heavy defeats to England and Ireland but kept their quest for a ticket to France on track with a 59-50 aggregate win against old rivals Canada.
\nVictory set up a two-legged Americas 1 play-off against Uruguay, but despite winning 19-16 at home they were beaten 34-15 in Montevideo to lose the tie 50-34 on aggregate.
\nA 104-14 defeat to the All Blacks in Washington followed before a 26-21 win against the French Barbarians in Houston provided Eagles fans with hope.
\nThat was extinguished with a swing of Videla\u2019s boot at Infinity Park and the USA now head to Dubai having won only three of their nine tests since Japan.
\nThe post Meet the last four Rugby World Cup 2023 hopefuls appeared first on Asia Rugby.
\n",
"content_text": "We give you the lowdown on the teams competing at the Final Qualification Tournament for the 20th and final ticket to France 2023, taking a look at how USA, Portugal, Hong Kong and Kenya got this far and their form on route to Dubai.\nHong Kong, Kenya, Portugal and the USA have arrived in Dubai for a two-week trip they hope will prove to be a stop-over en route to\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2023.\nThe four teams will take to The Sevens Stadium pitch on Sunday as the round-robin RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament, which will run until 18 November, gets underway.\nAt the end of the three match days in the UAE, the team on top of the standings will claim the 20th and final ticket to France.\nBut which teams head into the Final Qualification Tournament on form and who has the most Rugby World Cup pedigree? We give you the lowdown on each of the competing nations.\n\nRugby Sevens returns to Hong Kong as 2023 Series kicks-off\nAsia Rugby & Redstrike Ink Landmark Strategic Partnership Agreement\nHong Kong Men, China Women Clinch the Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2022 First Leg\n\nRUGBY WORLD CUP PEDIGREE\nHONG KONG\nHong Kong\u2019s attempts to make it to a Rugby World Cup date back to the 1995 tournament but so far they have been unsuccessful in getting over the line and booking their place at the game\u2019s showpiece event.\nMore often than not it was Japan, the dominant team in Asia, who blocked their progress in the early years, although it was a defeat to Chinese Taipei that cost them dearly in the RWC 2003 qualifying campaign.\nFor RWC 2015, Hong Kong\u2019s interest came to an end in the repechage when they lost to Uruguay, while in 2019, they fell short in what was by now a round-robin event, finishing second-from-last in the four-team tournament in Marseilles.\nKENYA\nLike Hong Kong, the first tournament Kenya attempted to qualify for was RWC 1995, however, defeats to Zimbabwe and Namibia ended their hopes before a win against the Arabian Gulf.\nThe Simbas have entered qualifying for each Rugby World Cup since but are yet to progress to the showpiece tournament itself.\nKenya came close to qualifying for RWC 2015, putting themselves in a good position by beating Namibia only for defeat to Zimbabwe to ensure they missed out on both a ticket to England and a place in the repechage on points difference.\nFour years later, defeat to Namibia in their final qualifier denied them direct qualification for RWC 2019. They had done enough to make the repechage but lost all three matches in Marseille, against Canada, Hong Kong and Germany.\nPORTUGAL\nPortugal\u2019s one and only Rugby World Cup appearance to date came in 2007 when the tournament was last held in France.\nBack then, Os Lobos left it until the last possible moment to qualify with a narrow aggregate victory over Uruguay.\nOs Lobos were beaten 18-12 by their South American hosts in the second leg of their repechage clash in Montevideo but thanks to their 12-5 victory over Los Teros in the first leg in Lisbon they claimed a 24-23 overall victory.\nThe result avenged a heavy defeat the previous time Portugal met Uruguay in the Repechage back in 1999.\nAs a reward, Portugal took their place in Pool C at the tournament proper with matches against New Zealand, Scotland, Italy and Romania.\nCheered on by a large Portuguese contingent in St Etienne, Portugal began their campaign with a 56-10 defeat to Scotland, winger Pedro Cabral scoring their first-ever Rugby World Cup try.\nA 108-13 loss to New Zealand in their second fixture could have derailed a less spirited team, but Os Lobos finished the tournament strongly with a respectable 31-5 defeat to Italy and then in a close-run encounter against Romania, the Oaks took the game 14-10 but only after scoring two converted tries in the final quarter.\nPortugal finished their inaugural Rugby World Cup appearance beaten in every game but not bowed, achieving their target of scoring at least one try in every match.\nUSA\nUSA head into the Final Qualification Tournament with the most Rugby World Cup pedigree of any of the competing teams, having competed in every tournament bar RWC 1995.\nTheir Rugby World Cup debut came on 24 May, 1987, at Ballymore in Brisbane, Australia, when they held off a late comeback to beat Japan 21-18.\nDefeats to Australia and England followed and they would have to wait 16 years to register their second tournament win.\nFollowing winless pool phase exits at RWC 1991 and RWC 1999, that victory arrived when the tournament returned to Australia in 2003. Japan again provided the opposition as the USA ran in five tries to win 39-26 at Central Coast Stadium.\nUSA have only won one Rugby World Cup match since that night in Gosford, a 13-6 defeat of Russia at RWC 2011, again in the southern hemisphere, Mike Petri scoring the only try of the match.\nQualification for the quarter-finals has so far proved elusive for the USA on the biggest stage but they did come close to securing a fourth tournament victory on their most recent Rugby World Cup outing.\nIn their final Pool C match at RWC 2019, a brace of tries from Mike Te\u2019o gave the Eagles a 12-7 half-time lead against Tonga in Hanazono.\nHowever, Tonga outscored the USA three tries to one in the second half to secure a 31-19 victory and condemn their opponents to a fifth winless Rugby World Cup campaign.\nWORLD RANKINGS SINCE LAST RUGBY WORLD CUP\nHONG KONG\nHong Kong have managed to climb two places in the World Rugby Men\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini despite only playing four tests since Japan 2019.\nBack in November 2019, Hong Kong were ranked in 24th place with 59.65 points, but they are now two places and 1.38 points better off in 22nd (61.03 points).\nA place in the world’s top 20 is within Hong Kong’s reach if they pull of a shock victory in their first encounter at the Final Qualification Tournament\u00a0 against Portugal\nKENYA\nKenya have only played seven tests since the last Rugby World Cup, winning four, but have slipped one place in the rankings.\nThe Simbas were ranked 32nd at the beginning of November 2019, with 52.55 points, and three years later find themselves 33rd with 52.06.\nThis weekend, Kenya stand to gain as many as five places if they win their first meeting with USA.\nPORTUGAL\nIn what is perceived as a period of success for Portugal, it comes as no surprise that the current Rugby World Cup cycle has brought gains for Os Lobos in the rankings.\nWhile a one-place rise to 20th does not sound much by way of momentum, the increase in rating score from 61.34 to 65.08 tells you all you need to know about the direction they are heading in.\nLooking to the weekend, Portugal will replace USA in 19th if they beat Hong Kong, irrespective of how the Eagles fare in their opening match against lower-ranked Kenya.\nUSA\nThe past three years have been a transitional period for the USA and that is highlighted in the rankings, in which the team has slipped slightly.\nAt the end of RWC 2019, the Eagles were ranked 17th with 68.10 points and they have since fallen two places to 19th, losing almost three rating points to head into the Final Qualification Tournament with 65.17.\nUSA could slip further in the rankings this weekend as they are unable to boost their score against Kenya due to the 13.11 points difference between the two nations.\nFORM GUIDE\nHONG KONG\nHong Kong go into the Final Qualification Tournament with precious little test rugby behind them.\nSince the last Rugby World Cup finished, Hong Kong have only taken to the field four times, winning two and losing two of those matches.\nA European tour at the back end of 2019 gave Hong Kong some new experiences as they played Belgium and Spain away for the first time\nA 36-17 win in Brussels was followed by a 29-7 defeat to Los Leones but the team appeared to be heading in an upward trajectory until COVID-19 hit.\nHong Kong\u2019s 15s test rugby was put on hold for two-and-a-half years due to travel restrictions and then reduced in status from full-time to part-time programme because of the financial repercussions of the global pandemic.\nBut when Hong Kong returned, they returned in style, beating Korea 23-21 in Incheon with a last-minute penalty kick. That secured Hong Kong a place in the Asia-Pacific Qualifier and the chance of winning a direct ticket to France 2023.\nThe game against Tonga was played on neutral ground in Australia and the \u2018Ikale Tahi prevailed, as most people expected them to, 44-22.\nHowever, for a side that had so little preparation time behind them under a new head coach, Hong Kong\u2019s performance, particularly in the latter stages of the match, gives them cause for confidence and something to work on heading into the Final Qualification Tournament.\nKENYA\nKenya head into the Final Qualification Tournament in relatively good form, having only lost twice \u2013 both times to Namibia \u2013 in their last six matches.\nDue to the impact of the pandemic, the Simbas did not take to the pitch between September 2019 and July 2021.\nWhen they did return to the field, to begin their RWC 2023 qualifying campaign, Kenya suffered an agonising 20-19 defeat at the hands of Senegal, conceding the match-winning converted try in the final play.\nKenya recovered to get their qualifying campaign back on track with a 45-8 win against Zambia and ended the year with a training camp in Stellenbosch, South Africa.\nWhile there, the Simbas took on both Namibia and Brazil, and led their African rivals 24-19 at half-time of their first match only to lose 60-24 as their opponents ran in seven tries after the break.\nAgain, the Simbas recovered and six days later, ran in five tries to edge a 66-point thriller, beating Brazil 36-30 at Mark\u00f6tter Stadium.\nDuring July\u2019s Rugby Africa Cup 2022 in France, Kenya beat Uganda and Algeria to set up a winner takes all match against Namibia. However, the Simbas\u2019 hopes of securing direct qualification to RWC 2023 were ended by a 36-0 defeat in Aix-en-Provence.\nPORTUGAL\nPortugal made it to Dubai after finishing third in the combined 2021 and 202 Rugby Europe Championship tables.\nThe second half of the qualification campaign began on a high with Os Lobos ending Georgia\u2019s 20-match winning streak in the competition thanks to a 25-25 draw in Tbilisi; however, results \u2013 if not performances \u2013 tailed off as the year went on.\nA crucial 37-27 defeat to Romania in Bucharest was a setback to their automatic qualification hopes but a meeting with the struggling Netherlands got them back on track, Os Lobos winning 59-3.\nThen came the run of four defeats leading into the Final Qualification Tournament, albeit three were by slender margins to higher-ranked teams.\nSpain ensured what had been a largely positive Rugby Europe Championship campaign ended on a low note for Portugal with a 33-28 victory in Madrid.\nPortugal then hosted an Italian side on a high from their Six Nations victory over Wales and again only just came out on the wrong side of the scoreline, losing 38-31.\nA 52-35 defeat to an Argentina XV followed but only after the South Americans overturned a half-time deficit.\nAnd in their last outing in Kutaisi in July, Portugal made their hosts Georgia work hard for a 23-14 win.\nUSA\nHad it not been for Santiago Videla\u2019s late penalty in Glendale, the USA would already be through to RWC 2023 and preparing for matches against England, Japan, Argentina and Samoa in Pool D.\nThey had seemingly done the hard work by winning a rain-soaked first leg of their Americas 2 play-off against Chile 22-21 in Santiago and led heading into the final 10 minutes of the second.\nBut sport is a matter of fine margins and in truth the USA\u2019s form since RWC 2019 has been patchy at best.\nThe team returned to action in July 2021 with heavy defeats to England and Ireland but kept their quest for a ticket to France on track with a 59-50 aggregate win against old rivals Canada.\nVictory set up a two-legged Americas 1 play-off against Uruguay, but despite winning 19-16 at home they were beaten 34-15 in Montevideo to lose the tie 50-34 on aggregate.\nA 104-14 defeat to the All Blacks in Washington followed before a 26-21 win against the French Barbarians in Houston provided Eagles fans with hope.\nThat was extinguished with a swing of Videla\u2019s boot at Infinity Park and the USA now head to Dubai having won only three of their nine tests since Japan.\nThe post Meet the last four Rugby World Cup 2023 hopefuls appeared first on Asia Rugby.",
"date_published": "2022-11-04T20:00:48+08:00",
"date_modified": "2022-11-04T20:00:48+08:00",
"authors": [
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"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/",
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"image": "https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Rugby-World-Cup-2023-hopefuls.jpg",
"tags": [
"Rugby World Cup",
"Rugby World Cup 2023",
"USA",
"Portugal",
"Kenya",
"Hong Kong",
"Featured",
"News"
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},
{
"id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=9020",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/10/12/hong-kong-rallies-ahead-of-rwc2023-final-qualification-tournament/",
"title": "Hong Kong Rallies Ahead Of #RWC2023 Final Qualification Tournament",
"content_html": "It\u2019s been three months since Hong Kong\u2019s victory over Korea and subsequent gutsy performance against Tonga, and now the Hong Kong Men\u2019s XV are back, recharged and ready for the next stop in their Rugby World Cup 2023 journey – the Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai next month.
\nHeld from 6-18 November 2022, four teams from around the world will square off in a round robin format, with the team who secures the most points booking that coveted final spot to France 2023, joining Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia in Pool C.
\n![\"Hong](\"https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/HK-1024x695.jpeg\")
Whilst the Hong Kong coaching team have had a succession of logistical challenges off the back of the pandemic, they are quietly confident that the squad heading to Dubai has the depth to cause a few surprises. There\u2019s a mix of fresh faces and grizzled veterans at the ready – experienced players Josh Hrstich, James Cunningham, Bryn Phillips, and Alex Post will offer a steady hand and some exciting infrastructure for Head Coach Lewis Evans to work with, while a crop of up-and-comers will be looking to make their mark, having enjoyed a full pre-season and some good game time with their respective clubs.
\nAfter a well-publicised shift from a full-time to part-time XVs programme as a result of the financial impact of the pandemic, General Manager of Performance Rugby Jo Hull knows that now is the time to recalibrate and set fresh goals: \u201cWe are still a high performing Union across all areas of the game, with plenty of opportunities to compete at the highest levels.\u201d
\n\u201cThe young coaching and playing talent we have in Hong Kong is excellent – the focus now is to create a sustainable pathway for Hong Kong performance rugby and the success of the ARC over the summer, as well as the upcoming tournament in Dubai gives us a good platform from which to evaluate and plan for the future\u201d.
\nEvans has also signalled a positive outlook to the preparations, and the squad has taken a lot of heart from their last international game: \u201cWe had a lot to be proud of looking back on the footage from our game against Tonga. The attitude and the energy remained consistent, and we will be looking to take that through to the tournament next month.\u201d
\n\u201cWe know we\u2019ve got it in our armoury to succeed.\u201d
\nFull details of the Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification pathway can be found\u00a0here,\u00a0while ticket news and the full list of fixtures are available on the official\u00a0Rugby World Cup website.
\nHong Kong Men\u2019s XV Travelling Squad:\u00a0Ashton HYDE, Alexander POST, Ben HIGGINS, Bryn PHILLIPS, Charles HIGSON-SMITH, Callum McFeat SMITH, Faizal SOLOMONA PENESA, Glyn HUGHES, Gregor McNEISH Gregor RAMAGE, Guy SPANTON, Ian ETHERIDGE, Jack COMBES, Jack NEVILLE, James CUNNINGHAM, James SAWYER, Jamie LAUDER, Jamie PINCOTT, John McCORMICK-HOUSTON, Joshua HRSTICH, Lam Jak Shing, Luke VAN DER SMIT, Matthew WORLEY, Mark PRIOR, Nathan DE THIERRY, Nikolas CUMMING, Patrick JENKINSON, Sean TAYLOR, Tom HILL, Zacceus CINNAMOND
\nThe post Hong Kong Rallies Ahead Of #RWC2023 Final Qualification Tournament appeared first on Asia Rugby.
\n",
"content_text": "It\u2019s been three months since Hong Kong\u2019s victory over Korea and subsequent gutsy performance against Tonga, and now the Hong Kong Men\u2019s XV are back, recharged and ready for the next stop in their Rugby World Cup 2023 journey – the Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai next month.\nHeld from 6-18 November 2022, four teams from around the world will square off in a round robin format, with the team who secures the most points booking that coveted final spot to France 2023, joining Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia in Pool C.\nWhilst the Hong Kong coaching team have had a succession of logistical challenges off the back of the pandemic, they are quietly confident that the squad heading to Dubai has the depth to cause a few surprises. There\u2019s a mix of fresh faces and grizzled veterans at the ready – experienced players Josh Hrstich, James Cunningham, Bryn Phillips, and Alex Post will offer a steady hand and some exciting infrastructure for Head Coach Lewis Evans to work with, while a crop of up-and-comers will be looking to make their mark, having enjoyed a full pre-season and some good game time with their respective clubs.\nAfter a well-publicised shift from a full-time to part-time XVs programme as a result of the financial impact of the pandemic, General Manager of Performance Rugby Jo Hull knows that now is the time to recalibrate and set fresh goals: \u201cWe are still a high performing Union across all areas of the game, with plenty of opportunities to compete at the highest levels.\u201d\n\u201cThe young coaching and playing talent we have in Hong Kong is excellent – the focus now is to create a sustainable pathway for Hong Kong performance rugby and the success of the ARC over the summer, as well as the upcoming tournament in Dubai gives us a good platform from which to evaluate and plan for the future\u201d.\nEvans has also signalled a positive outlook to the preparations, and the squad has taken a lot of heart from their last international game: \u201cWe had a lot to be proud of looking back on the footage from our game against Tonga. The attitude and the energy remained consistent, and we will be looking to take that through to the tournament next month.\u201d\n\u201cWe know we\u2019ve got it in our armoury to succeed.\u201d\nFull details of the Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification pathway can be found\u00a0here,\u00a0while ticket news and the full list of fixtures are available on the official\u00a0Rugby World Cup website.\nHong Kong Men\u2019s XV Travelling Squad:\u00a0Ashton HYDE, Alexander POST, Ben HIGGINS, Bryn PHILLIPS, Charles HIGSON-SMITH, Callum McFeat SMITH, Faizal SOLOMONA PENESA, Glyn HUGHES, Gregor McNEISH Gregor RAMAGE, Guy SPANTON, Ian ETHERIDGE, Jack COMBES, Jack NEVILLE, James CUNNINGHAM, James SAWYER, Jamie LAUDER, Jamie PINCOTT, John McCORMICK-HOUSTON, Joshua HRSTICH, Lam Jak Shing, Luke VAN DER SMIT, Matthew WORLEY, Mark PRIOR, Nathan DE THIERRY, Nikolas CUMMING, Patrick JENKINSON, Sean TAYLOR, Tom HILL, Zacceus CINNAMOND\nThe post Hong Kong Rallies Ahead Of #RWC2023 Final Qualification Tournament appeared first on Asia Rugby.",
"date_published": "2022-10-12T01:23:10+08:00",
"date_modified": "2022-10-12T09:11:09+08:00",
"authors": [
{
"name": "Asia Rugby",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g"
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],
"author": {
"name": "Asia Rugby",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g"
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"image": "https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Rugby-World-Cup-2023.jpeg",
"tags": [
"Hong Kong",
"#RWC2023",
"Rugby World Cup 2023",
"Hong Kong Rugby",
"Featured",
"News"
]
},
{
"id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=8935",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/08/31/match-schedule-confirmed-for-rwc-2023-final-qualification-tournament/",
"title": "Match schedule confirmed for RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament",
"content_html": "World Rugby has today unveiled the match schedule for the Final Qualification Tournament that will determine the 20th and final qualifier for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.
\nWorld Rugby has today unveiled the match schedule for the Final Qualification Tournament that will determine the 20th and final qualifier for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.
\nPlayed over three match days from 6-18 November at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai, the Final Qualification Tournament for RWC 2023 in France will feature four teams from four different continents. Hong Kong, Kenya, Portugal and USA will face each other in a round-robin format with the team accruing the most competition points securing the last spot at France 2023.
\n\nThe World Rugby Men\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini as of 31 July, 2022 have been used to determine the decisive tournament\u2019s match schedule. On the opening day, USA (ranked 19th) will face Kenya (33rd) while Portugal (20th) play against Hong Kong (22nd). The third and final match day will see the two highest-ranked teams USA and Portugal face each other to conclude the qualification process for next year\u2019s Rugby World Cup.
\nThe eventual winner and final team to join the Rugby World Cup 2023 adventure will take their place in Pool C alongside Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia.
\n![\"Match](\"https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/RWC23_FQTMatchSchedule_400x500.jpg\")
All matches will be free entry to the public wishing to attend. Fans interested in travelling to the Final Qualification Tournament and looking to purchase spectator packages can get in touch with local tour operators at\u00a0sports@dnata.com\u00a0(+971 (0)4 389 8389) or contact\u00a0sports.events@thesevens.ae\u00a0for match day and venue information.
\nDubai to host decisive Final Qualification Tournament for Rugby World Cup 2023 >>
\nThe post Match schedule confirmed for RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament appeared first on Asia Rugby.
\n",
"content_text": "World Rugby has today unveiled the match schedule for the Final Qualification Tournament that will determine the 20th and final qualifier for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.\nWorld Rugby has today unveiled the match schedule for the Final Qualification Tournament that will determine the 20th and final qualifier for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.\nPlayed over three match days from 6-18 November at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai, the Final Qualification Tournament for RWC 2023 in France will feature four teams from four different continents. Hong Kong, Kenya, Portugal and USA will face each other in a round-robin format with the team accruing the most competition points securing the last spot at France 2023.\n\nDubai to host decisive Final Qualification Tournament for Rugby World Cup 2023\nRWC 2023 Qualification: six spots to fill in 2022, starting in Europe\nTonga qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023 after winning the Asia / Pacific play-off\n\nThe World Rugby Men\u2019s Rankings powered by Capgemini as of 31 July, 2022 have been used to determine the decisive tournament\u2019s match schedule. On the opening day, USA (ranked 19th) will face Kenya (33rd) while Portugal (20th) play against Hong Kong (22nd). The third and final match day will see the two highest-ranked teams USA and Portugal face each other to conclude the qualification process for next year\u2019s Rugby World Cup.\nThe eventual winner and final team to join the Rugby World Cup 2023 adventure will take their place in Pool C alongside Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia.\nAll matches will be free entry to the public wishing to attend. Fans interested in travelling to the Final Qualification Tournament and looking to purchase spectator packages can get in touch with local tour operators at\u00a0sports@dnata.com\u00a0(+971 (0)4 389 8389) or contact\u00a0sports.events@thesevens.ae\u00a0for match day and venue information.\nDubai to host decisive Final Qualification Tournament for Rugby World Cup 2023 >>\nThe post Match schedule confirmed for RWC 2023 Final Qualification Tournament appeared first on Asia Rugby.",
"date_published": "2022-08-31T22:56:07+08:00",
"date_modified": "2022-08-31T22:57:09+08:00",
"authors": [
{
"name": "Asia Rugby",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g"
}
],
"author": {
"name": "Asia Rugby",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/author/k-haroon/",
"avatar": "https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ea791d807df550e52d2e6508886912b7?s=512&d=mm&r=g"
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"image": "https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Aerial-View-of-The-Sevens.jpg",
"tags": [
"RWC 2023",
"France Rugby",
"Rugby World Cup",
"Rugby World Cup 2023",
"Featured",
"News"
]
},
{
"id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=8880",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/07/28/emirates-and-world-rugby-to-fly-better-at-rugby-world-cup-2023-and-2027/",
"title": "Emirates and World Rugby to \u2018Fly Better\u2019 at Rugby World Cup 2023 and 2027",
"content_html": "World Rugby and Emirates have announced an extension of the Dubai-based airline\u2019s long-standing relationship as a Rugby World Cup Worldwide Partner.
\nUnder the agreement, the leading airline will continue as Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France and Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
\nUnderscoring its commitment to the sport, Emirates is also extending its official sponsorship of the Emirates World Rugby Match Officials through to 2027, a relationship that has proven pivotal in the development and performance of elite match officials since 2013.
\nIn joining the global family of Worldwide Partners for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, Emirates will return to where the hugely successful relationship between the airline and the international federation began in 2007. Since then, the airline has become one of the sport\u2019s most prominent and active supporters as a committed partner of every men\u2019s Rugby World Cup since 2007 and proud sponsor of the Dubai and Cape Town rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
\n![\"\"](\"https://www.asiarugby.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/RWC-300x110.jpg\")
As the Official Airline of Rugby World Cup France 2023 and Australia 2027, Emirates will fly rugby to new frontiers and bring its leading expertise in customer experience to help deliver a truly world-class tournament for fans travelling to the host nations. Its investment in the sport as a Worldwide Partner will help support rugby\u2019s development in both emerging and established markets, while fans will be able to watch every moment from two unforgettable Rugby World Cups live and on-demand from their flight seats, making the sport more accessible.
\nSupporting rugby\u2019s values and high-performance officiating
\nWith Emirates\u2019 support, World Rugby will continue to invest in the development and support of the world\u2019s top match officials, central to the sport\u2019s values of respect and discipline. The world\u2019s best referees will take the field in their Emirates Fly Better Macron kit when officiating in test rugby, continuing a long tradition started back in 2013.
\nFollowing the success of the award-winning \u2018Whistle Watch\u2019, a World Rugby content series presented by former international referee Nigel Owens and sponsored by Emirates, the two partners will continue to create innovative content to immerse fans into the world of match officials and inspire young referees to pick up the whistle, while making rugby\u2019s laws more accessible
\n\nWorld Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: \u201cWe are delighted to announce the extension of our long-term and successful collaboration with Emirates for the next two men\u2019s Rugby World Cups and in support of our men\u2019s and women\u2019s match officials programme. Emirates\u2019 global network and passion for our sport will be key in our efforts to make rugby truly global and their proven excellence in customer experience will be an asset to take our fan services to the next level.\u201d
\nWorld Rugby Chief Revenue and Fan Engagement Officer Richard Heaselgrave added: \u201cEmirates has a global stature as a partner and that is incredibly prestigious for any tournament. For Rugby World Cup, we’ve had Emirates on board for more than a decade and we\u2019re immensely proud to be partnering again for the next two pinnacle men\u2019s tournaments.
\n\u201cEmirates\u2019 global operations in most major markets across the world helps us raise awareness of our sport and their belief in excellence is aligned with our own vision of staging world-class events. Emirates is right at the heart of creating events that people want to take part in, bringing fans closer to the action. We are in the business of days out and unforgettable memories. So are Emirates.\u201d
\nEmirates Airline President, Sir Tim Clark, said: \u201cRugby is a sport with great values and a proud heritage in many countries. It is also a sport that\u2019s attracting more participation and interest across communities each year as we are seeing in the UAE where rugby just made it into school programmes nationwide. We see rugby as a great platform to bring people together under a shared passion for the sport.
\n\u201cEmirates has been a proud sponsor of Rugby World Cup since 2007. France 2023 also coincides with Emirates\u2019 30 years of flight operations to Paris, Charles de Gaulle and considering we now have 31 weekly flights to France, Emirates is looking forward to flying in fans to watch the world\u2019s best teams competing for the Webb Ellis Cup.\u201d
\nBy renewing as a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup, Emirates joins Societe Generale, Mastercard, Asahi, Capgemini and Jaguar Land Rover in the global family of Worldwide Partners for Rugby World Cup 2023. Emirates also becomes the fourth Global Partner of World Rugby, joining Capgemini, Macron and HSBC.
\nAbout World Rugby
\nWorld Rugby is an international federation and a global movement comprising more than 500 million fans and 7.69 million players within 129 national member federations affiliated through six regional associations.
\nLocated in Dublin, Ireland, World Rugby\u2019s purpose is to grow rugby by making it more relevant and accessible, with a vision of a global sport for all, true to its values. The driving force behind the sport\u2019s significant growth has been World Rugby\u2019s portfolio of major events, from the flagship men\u2019s and women\u2019s Rugby World Cups and U20 Championship, that celebrates the future stars of the sport, to the excitement of the men\u2019s and women\u2019s Rugby World Cup Sevens and HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series which are instrumental in attracting new fans.
\nThe financial success of the men\u2019s Rugby World Cup enables World Rugby to invest record sums in the development and growth of the sport from the playground to the podium, ensuring that the sport is as accessible and enjoyable for as many people as possible. Between 2020-23, the international federation will invest more than \u00a3565 million in the sport.
\nhttps://www.world.rugby/vision
\nAbout Emirates
\nThe Emirates story started in 1985 when we launched operations with just two aircraft. Today, we fly the world\u2019s biggest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, offering our customers the comforts of the latest and most efficient wide-body aircraft in the skies.
\nWe inspire travellers around the world with our growing network of worldwide destinations, industry leading inflight entertainment, regionally inspired cuisine, and world-class service.
\nAbout Emirates and rugby
\nEmirates is one of the world\u2019s biggest supporters of the sport of rugby.
\nIn the airline\u2019s home base of Dubai, The Sevens tournament has been running for more than 50 years in Dubai and Emirates was instrumental in growing its international status when it first began its support in 1987 in cooperation with World Rugby. Through clear focus and a strong commitment from the airline, the Emirates Dubai 7s has become the largest sports event in the region, with over 100,000 fans joining over the three-day tournament in 2021.
\nThe airline also sponsors the jerseys of World Rugby\u2019s Match Officials who take to the field in their Emirates \u2018Fly Better\u2019 kits. Emirates\u2019 strong rugby partnerships also extend to the South African Emirates Lions and their home venue, Emirates Airline Park, as well as the Dubai Hurricanes Rugby Football Club.
\nThe post Emirates and World Rugby to \u2018Fly Better\u2019 at Rugby World Cup 2023 and 2027 appeared first on Asia Rugby.
\n",
"content_text": "World Rugby and Emirates have announced an extension of the Dubai-based airline\u2019s long-standing relationship as a Rugby World Cup Worldwide Partner.\nUnder the agreement, the leading airline will continue as Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France and Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.\nUnderscoring its commitment to the sport, Emirates is also extending its official sponsorship of the Emirates World Rugby Match Officials through to 2027, a relationship that has proven pivotal in the development and performance of elite match officials since 2013.\nIn joining the global family of Worldwide Partners for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, Emirates will return to where the hugely successful relationship between the airline and the international federation began in 2007. Since then, the airline has become one of the sport\u2019s most prominent and active supporters as a committed partner of every men\u2019s Rugby World Cup since 2007 and proud sponsor of the Dubai and Cape Town rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.\nAs the Official Airline of Rugby World Cup France 2023 and Australia 2027, Emirates will fly rugby to new frontiers and bring its leading expertise in customer experience to help deliver a truly world-class tournament for fans travelling to the host nations. Its investment in the sport as a Worldwide Partner will help support rugby\u2019s development in both emerging and established markets, while fans will be able to watch every moment from two unforgettable Rugby World Cups live and on-demand from their flight seats, making the sport more accessible.\nSupporting rugby\u2019s values and high-performance officiating\nWith Emirates\u2019 support, World Rugby will continue to invest in the development and support of the world\u2019s top match officials, central to the sport\u2019s values of respect and discipline. The world\u2019s best referees will take the field in their Emirates Fly Better Macron kit when officiating in test rugby, continuing a long tradition started back in 2013.\nFollowing the success of the award-winning \u2018Whistle Watch\u2019, a World Rugby content series presented by former international referee Nigel Owens and sponsored by Emirates, the two partners will continue to create innovative content to immerse fans into the world of match officials and inspire young referees to pick up the whistle, while making rugby\u2019s laws more accessible\n\nDubai to host decisive Final Qualification Tournament for Rugby World Cup 2023\nTonga qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023 after winning the Asia / Pacific play-off\nRugby Sevens match schedule confirmed for Commonwealth Games 2022\n\nWorld Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: \u201cWe are delighted to announce the extension of our long-term and successful collaboration with Emirates for the next two men\u2019s Rugby World Cups and in support of our men\u2019s and women\u2019s match officials programme. Emirates\u2019 global network and passion for our sport will be key in our efforts to make rugby truly global and their proven excellence in customer experience will be an asset to take our fan services to the next level.\u201d\nWorld Rugby Chief Revenue and Fan Engagement Officer Richard Heaselgrave added: \u201cEmirates has a global stature as a partner and that is incredibly prestigious for any tournament. For Rugby World Cup, we’ve had Emirates on board for more than a decade and we\u2019re immensely proud to be partnering again for the next two pinnacle men\u2019s tournaments.\n\u201cEmirates\u2019 global operations in most major markets across the world helps us raise awareness of our sport and their belief in excellence is aligned with our own vision of staging world-class events. Emirates is right at the heart of creating events that people want to take part in, bringing fans closer to the action. We are in the business of days out and unforgettable memories. So are Emirates.\u201d\nEmirates Airline President, Sir Tim Clark, said: \u201cRugby is a sport with great values and a proud heritage in many countries. It is also a sport that\u2019s attracting more participation and interest across communities each year as we are seeing in the UAE where rugby just made it into school programmes nationwide. We see rugby as a great platform to bring people together under a shared passion for the sport.\n\u201cEmirates has been a proud sponsor of Rugby World Cup since 2007. France 2023 also coincides with Emirates\u2019 30 years of flight operations to Paris, Charles de Gaulle and considering we now have 31 weekly flights to France, Emirates is looking forward to flying in fans to watch the world\u2019s best teams competing for the Webb Ellis Cup.\u201d\nBy renewing as a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup, Emirates joins Societe Generale, Mastercard, Asahi, Capgemini and Jaguar Land Rover in the global family of Worldwide Partners for Rugby World Cup 2023. Emirates also becomes the fourth Global Partner of World Rugby, joining Capgemini, Macron and HSBC.\nAbout World Rugby\nWorld Rugby is an international federation and a global movement comprising more than 500 million fans and 7.69 million players within 129 national member federations affiliated through six regional associations.\nLocated in Dublin, Ireland, World Rugby\u2019s purpose is to grow rugby by making it more relevant and accessible, with a vision of a global sport for all, true to its values. The driving force behind the sport\u2019s significant growth has been World Rugby\u2019s portfolio of major events, from the flagship men\u2019s and women\u2019s Rugby World Cups and U20 Championship, that celebrates the future stars of the sport, to the excitement of the men\u2019s and women\u2019s Rugby World Cup Sevens and HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series which are instrumental in attracting new fans.\nThe financial success of the men\u2019s Rugby World Cup enables World Rugby to invest record sums in the development and growth of the sport from the playground to the podium, ensuring that the sport is as accessible and enjoyable for as many people as possible. Between 2020-23, the international federation will invest more than \u00a3565 million in the sport.\nhttps://www.world.rugby/vision\nAbout Emirates\nThe Emirates story started in 1985 when we launched operations with just two aircraft. Today, we fly the world\u2019s biggest fleets of Airbus A380s and Boeing 777s, offering our customers the comforts of the latest and most efficient wide-body aircraft in the skies.\nWe inspire travellers around the world with our growing network of worldwide destinations, industry leading inflight entertainment, regionally inspired cuisine, and world-class service.\nAbout Emirates and rugby\nEmirates is one of the world\u2019s biggest supporters of the sport of rugby.\nIn the airline\u2019s home base of Dubai, The Sevens tournament has been running for more than 50 years in Dubai and Emirates was instrumental in growing its international status when it first began its support in 1987 in cooperation with World Rugby. Through clear focus and a strong commitment from the airline, the Emirates Dubai 7s has become the largest sports event in the region, with over 100,000 fans joining over the three-day tournament in 2021.\nThe airline also sponsors the jerseys of World Rugby\u2019s Match Officials who take to the field in their Emirates \u2018Fly Better\u2019 kits. Emirates\u2019 strong rugby partnerships also extend to the South African Emirates Lions and their home venue, Emirates Airline Park, as well as the Dubai Hurricanes Rugby Football Club.\nThe post Emirates and World Rugby to \u2018Fly Better\u2019 at Rugby World Cup 2023 and 2027 appeared first on Asia Rugby.",
"date_published": "2022-07-28T11:02:42+08:00",
"date_modified": "2022-07-28T11:05:17+08:00",
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"tags": [
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"id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=8822",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/06/29/three-tickets-to-rugby-world-cup-2023-on-offer-in-july/",
"title": "Three Tickets to Rugby World Cup 2023 on offer in July",
"content_html": "As the countdown to Rugby World Cup 2023 continues, we take a look at what qualification issues will be decided in what promises to be a busy month of test rugby.
\nThe line-up for\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2023\u00a0is not far from being complete with teams competing for three of the final four tickets throughout July.
\nOn 10 July, the Rugby Africa Cup comes to a conclusion and\u00a0the winner of the region\u2019s elite competition will go to France as Africa\u00a01, taking their place in Pool A alongside three-time champions New Zealand, hosts France, Italy and Uruguay.
\nThe Americas 2 slot in Pool D will also be decided over two weekends in July as Chile and the USA compete for the right to face England, Japan, Argentina and the Pacific qualifier, Samoa.
\nMeanwhile, Hong Kong and Korea are both bidding to qualify for a Rugby World Cup for the first time and join Japan in competing on the game\u2019s grandest stage. But the winner of their play-off on 9 July will have to also beat Tonga a fortnight later to make it to France 2023 as Asia/Pacific 1.
\nEIGHT TEAMS STAKE A CLAIM FOR AFRICA 1 TICKET
\nThe South of France is the setting for the Rugby Africa Cup 2022 which is run on a straight knockout basis this year.
\nNot long after Marseille hosted an epic Champions Cup Final between La Rochelle and Leinster, top-level rugby returns to the port city with two of the Rugby Africa Cup 2022 quarter-finals to be played there, at Stade Pierre-Delort, on 1 July.
\nFor the first time in men\u2019s test rugby, pre-tournament favourites and six-time Rugby World Cup participants Namibia take on Burkina Faso, while the other tie in the top half of the draw sees Zimbabwe up against the Ivory Coast. Both teams have previously competed on the Rugby World Cup stage but not in the professional era.
\nRead – Canon joins the Rugby World Cup commercial family for New Zealand 2021 and France 2023
\nThe following day, 30 kilometres away in Aix-en-Provence, Senegal play Algeria and Uganda renew their East African rivalry with Kenya as Stade Maurice David makes its debut as a test arena. None of the four teams on this side of the draw have ever appeared at a Rugby World Cup.
\nOn 6 July, the two winners in Marseille will face each other in the semi-finals, but this time in Aix-en-Provence, while the winners of the other two quarter-finals will switch to Marseille.
\nStade Maurice David will host the final, on 10 July, when the identity of the Africa 1 qualifier will be revealed.
\nCHILE OUT TO MAKE HISTORY
\nWith Uruguay claiming the Americas 1 ticket to France 2023, it is left to Chile and the USA to decide the region\u2019s other qualifier,
\nWhile USA have appeared at every Rugby World Cup to date bar 1995, Chile have yet to experience what the tournament has to offer at first-hand.
\nChile have home advantage in the first leg, in Santiago on 9 July, before the return leg takes place in Colorado a week later.
\nUSA have won five of their six previous meetings with Los Condores, the last four by an average of more than 50 points, but with the Eagles in a poor run of form and Chile riding high on confidence, an upset cannot be discounted.
\nLos Condores defeated Canada in Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifiers and, as a result, the next tournament will be the first Rugby World Cup without the North Americans\u2019 involvement.
\nRead More – Philippines Premiership Division Finals Set This Weekend
\nAway wins over Russia in November only served to underline the growing credentials of a Chile squad mainly made up of players from this year\u2019s Superliga Americana de Rugby runners-up, Selknam.
\nBut having been named the host location for Rugby World Cups 2031 and 2033, USA will not want to miss out on an appearance at France 2023.
\nEagles head coach Gary Gold has selected a strong-looking squad that includes one of the best fly-halves in the English Premiership in AJ MacGinty.
\nOther eye-catching inclusions are the return to the international fold of Samu Manoa, 37, and the crossover of Martin Iosefo from the\u00a0HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
\nTONGA IN WAITING GAME
\nNearly a year since their Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifier victory over Cook Islands, Tonga are a matter of weeks away from knowing the identity of their next opponent on the road to France.
\nThe \u2018Ikale Tahi will play the winner of the Asia Rugby Championship 2022 Final, at the Sunshine Coast Stadium in Queensland, Australia, in a one-off game that will decide which team progresses through to the tournament.
\nMatches against Rugby World Cup 2023 participants Fiji and Samoa and Australia A in the\u00a0World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup\u00a0will serve as ideal preparation for the Asia/Pacific 1 play-off against either Hong Kong or Korea.
\nRead Also – Quicker, accurate decision-making at the heart of TMO protocol amendment
\nKorea have advanced to this stage of the qualification process having defeated\u00a0Malaysia 55-10\u00a0in the semi-final of the Asia Rugby Championship 2022.
\nThe Asia Rugby Championship Final against Korea, in Incheon on 9 July, will be\u00a0Hong Kong\u2019s first test in three years\u00a0and head coach Lewis Evans\u2019 first game in charge of the team.
\nLAST CALL FOR FRANCE 2023
\nOnce the Asia/Pacific 1 slot has been settled, that leaves one space left to fill in the line-up for France 2023.
\nThe 20th and final ticket will be on offer at the Final Qualification Tournament which involves four teams from across Africa, Asia/Pacific, the Americas and Europe and will be played over three match days.
\nThe runners-up in the Rugby Africa Cup 2022 and the Asia/Pacific and Americas 2 play-off losers will join Portugal (Europe 3) at the event.
\nThe post Three Tickets to Rugby World Cup 2023 on offer in July appeared first on Asia Rugby.
\n",
"content_text": "As the countdown to Rugby World Cup 2023 continues, we take a look at what qualification issues will be decided in what promises to be a busy month of test rugby.\nThe line-up for\u00a0Rugby World Cup 2023\u00a0is not far from being complete with teams competing for three of the final four tickets throughout July.\nOn 10 July, the Rugby Africa Cup comes to a conclusion and\u00a0the winner of the region\u2019s elite competition will go to France as Africa\u00a01, taking their place in Pool A alongside three-time champions New Zealand, hosts France, Italy and Uruguay.\nThe Americas 2 slot in Pool D will also be decided over two weekends in July as Chile and the USA compete for the right to face England, Japan, Argentina and the Pacific qualifier, Samoa.\nMeanwhile, Hong Kong and Korea are both bidding to qualify for a Rugby World Cup for the first time and join Japan in competing on the game\u2019s grandest stage. But the winner of their play-off on 9 July will have to also beat Tonga a fortnight later to make it to France 2023 as Asia/Pacific 1.\nEIGHT TEAMS STAKE A CLAIM FOR AFRICA 1 TICKET\nThe South of France is the setting for the Rugby Africa Cup 2022 which is run on a straight knockout basis this year.\nNot long after Marseille hosted an epic Champions Cup Final between La Rochelle and Leinster, top-level rugby returns to the port city with two of the Rugby Africa Cup 2022 quarter-finals to be played there, at Stade Pierre-Delort, on 1 July.\nFor the first time in men\u2019s test rugby, pre-tournament favourites and six-time Rugby World Cup participants Namibia take on Burkina Faso, while the other tie in the top half of the draw sees Zimbabwe up against the Ivory Coast. Both teams have previously competed on the Rugby World Cup stage but not in the professional era.\nRead – Canon joins the Rugby World Cup commercial family for New Zealand 2021 and France 2023\nThe following day, 30 kilometres away in Aix-en-Provence, Senegal play Algeria and Uganda renew their East African rivalry with Kenya as Stade Maurice David makes its debut as a test arena. None of the four teams on this side of the draw have ever appeared at a Rugby World Cup.\nOn 6 July, the two winners in Marseille will face each other in the semi-finals, but this time in Aix-en-Provence, while the winners of the other two quarter-finals will switch to Marseille.\nStade Maurice David will host the final, on 10 July, when the identity of the Africa 1 qualifier will be revealed.\nCHILE OUT TO MAKE HISTORY\nWith Uruguay claiming the Americas 1 ticket to France 2023, it is left to Chile and the USA to decide the region\u2019s other qualifier,\nWhile USA have appeared at every Rugby World Cup to date bar 1995, Chile have yet to experience what the tournament has to offer at first-hand.\nChile have home advantage in the first leg, in Santiago on 9 July, before the return leg takes place in Colorado a week later.\nUSA have won five of their six previous meetings with Los Condores, the last four by an average of more than 50 points, but with the Eagles in a poor run of form and Chile riding high on confidence, an upset cannot be discounted.\nLos Condores defeated Canada in Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifiers and, as a result, the next tournament will be the first Rugby World Cup without the North Americans\u2019 involvement.\nRead More – Philippines Premiership Division Finals Set This Weekend\nAway wins over Russia in November only served to underline the growing credentials of a Chile squad mainly made up of players from this year\u2019s Superliga Americana de Rugby runners-up, Selknam.\nBut having been named the host location for Rugby World Cups 2031 and 2033, USA will not want to miss out on an appearance at France 2023.\nEagles head coach Gary Gold has selected a strong-looking squad that includes one of the best fly-halves in the English Premiership in AJ MacGinty.\nOther eye-catching inclusions are the return to the international fold of Samu Manoa, 37, and the crossover of Martin Iosefo from the\u00a0HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.\nTONGA IN WAITING GAME\nNearly a year since their Rugby World Cup 2023 qualifier victory over Cook Islands, Tonga are a matter of weeks away from knowing the identity of their next opponent on the road to France.\nThe \u2018Ikale Tahi will play the winner of the Asia Rugby Championship 2022 Final, at the Sunshine Coast Stadium in Queensland, Australia, in a one-off game that will decide which team progresses through to the tournament.\nMatches against Rugby World Cup 2023 participants Fiji and Samoa and Australia A in the\u00a0World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup\u00a0will serve as ideal preparation for the Asia/Pacific 1 play-off against either Hong Kong or Korea.\nRead Also – Quicker, accurate decision-making at the heart of TMO protocol amendment\nKorea have advanced to this stage of the qualification process having defeated\u00a0Malaysia 55-10\u00a0in the semi-final of the Asia Rugby Championship 2022.\nThe Asia Rugby Championship Final against Korea, in Incheon on 9 July, will be\u00a0Hong Kong\u2019s first test in three years\u00a0and head coach Lewis Evans\u2019 first game in charge of the team.\nLAST CALL FOR FRANCE 2023\nOnce the Asia/Pacific 1 slot has been settled, that leaves one space left to fill in the line-up for France 2023.\nThe 20th and final ticket will be on offer at the Final Qualification Tournament which involves four teams from across Africa, Asia/Pacific, the Americas and Europe and will be played over three match days.\nThe runners-up in the Rugby Africa Cup 2022 and the Asia/Pacific and Americas 2 play-off losers will join Portugal (Europe 3) at the event.\nThe post Three Tickets to Rugby World Cup 2023 on offer in July appeared first on Asia Rugby.",
"date_published": "2022-06-29T22:10:58+08:00",
"date_modified": "2022-06-29T22:13:22+08:00",
"authors": [
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"tags": [
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{
"id": "https://www.asiarugby.com/?p=8819",
"url": "https://www.asiarugby.com/2022/06/27/canon-joins-the-rugby-world-cup-commercial-family-for-new-zealand-2021-and-france-2023/",
"title": "Canon joins the Rugby World Cup commercial family for New Zealand 2021 and France 2023",
"content_html": "\n- Canon named Worldwide Partner for Rugby World Cup 2021 and will be the tournament\u2019s Official Imaging Partner and Official Camera Partner
\n- Japanese company comes on board for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France as Official Imaging Supplier
\n- Canon and World Rugby continue their long-standing relationship started at Rugby World Cup 2015
\n- Partnership marks Canon\u2019s first women\u2019s Rugby World Cup as tournament set to take New Zealand by storm from 8 October-12 November, 2022
\n- Canon will seize incredible moments at Rugby World Cup 2023 as the world unite in France to celebrate rugby\u2019s 200th anniversary
\n
\nWorld Rugby and Canon have announced an extension of their association that will see the leading technology brand become a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand and Official Imaging Supplier of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.
\nThe announcement represents the first time that Canon has entered into an agreement specifically for the women\u2019s game. It reflects the organisation\u2019s alignment with World Rugby\u2019s commitment to accelerating the advancement of gender equality globally, while playing its full role in the promotion of one of the fastest-growing team sports on the planet.
\nRugby World Cup 2021 is set to take New Zealand by storm from 8 October to 12 November, 2022 as the southern hemisphere prepares to host the women\u2019s edition of the pinnacle tournament for the first time.
\nThe tournament will see 12 of the world\u2019s top women\u2019s 15s teams go head-to-head to see who will be crowned world champions at Auckland\u2019s Eden Park on 12 November.
\nGET YOUR TICKETS TO RWC 2021 >>
\nRugby World Cup 2021 will also be Canon\u2019s third consecutive involvement with Rugby World Cup, having previously sponsored the men\u2019s editions in 2015 in England and 2019 in Japan, the most globally impactful rugby event of all time.
\nCanon is the fourth Japanese brand to join the Rugby World Cup 2023 commercial family following a record-breaking Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, which surpassed all initial commercial revenue projections, largely influenced by strong interest from Japanese and wider Asian brands.
\nCanon will have a crucial role in supporting photographers and international media to capture the incredible moments during France 2023; a tournament set to be the major attraction in the sporting calendar that year, bringing the rugby family together for a celebration of the 200 years of the sport.
\nWorld Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: \u201cHaving recently confirmed both men\u2019s and women\u2019s editions of Rugby World Cup up until 2033, there couldn\u2019t be a more pivotal time to welcome Canon on board. Their relentless focus on innovation echoes our vision to make rugby as relevant and accessible as possible and their support will accelerate the development of our sport across the globe.
\n\u201cWe have had the great pleasure of working with Canon for a number of years and we are very proud to be continuing our long-standing relationship for Rugby World Cups 2021 and 2023. Canon shares our passion for driving gender parity across the game and we are delighted to be welcoming them to the partner family for the pinnacle women\u2019s 15s tournament that kicks off in New Zealand later this year.\u201d
\nAs a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2021 and Official Imaging Supplier of Rugby World Cup 2023, Canon will make available the full support of its diverse businesses, ranging from products and solutions, including cameras, lenses, video camcorders, network cameras and medical equipment.
\nAs with other major sporting competitions, both in Japan and overseas, Canon will provide behind-the-scenes support services to members of the media covering Rugby World Cup 2021 and 2023, including camera and lens maintenance services and product loans, to enable the best possible capture of the top-class athletes competing on the sport\u2019s biggest stage.
\nCanon Inc. Chairman and CEO Fujio Mitarai, commented: \u201cFollowing on from Rugby World Cup 2015 in England and Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, Canon is delighted to continue backing the tournaments as Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand and Official Imaging Supplier of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France. I am delighted that we have been granted this opportunity to support both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s tournaments. In addition to supporting professional photographers and news media as they capture the intense action of the world\u2019s top teams facing off in peak condition, Canon will do its utmost to support World Rugby, the owner of both tournaments, as well as the organising committees, relevant authorities, local government and other corporate sponsors.\u201d
\nThe post Canon joins the Rugby World Cup commercial family for New Zealand 2021 and France 2023 appeared first on Asia Rugby.
\n",
"content_text": "Canon named Worldwide Partner for Rugby World Cup 2021 and will be the tournament\u2019s Official Imaging Partner and Official Camera Partner\nJapanese company comes on board for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France as Official Imaging Supplier\nCanon and World Rugby continue their long-standing relationship started at Rugby World Cup 2015\nPartnership marks Canon\u2019s first women\u2019s Rugby World Cup as tournament set to take New Zealand by storm from 8 October-12 November, 2022\nCanon will seize incredible moments at Rugby World Cup 2023 as the world unite in France to celebrate rugby\u2019s 200th anniversary\n\nWorld Rugby and Canon have announced an extension of their association that will see the leading technology brand become a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand and Official Imaging Supplier of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.\nThe announcement represents the first time that Canon has entered into an agreement specifically for the women\u2019s game. It reflects the organisation\u2019s alignment with World Rugby\u2019s commitment to accelerating the advancement of gender equality globally, while playing its full role in the promotion of one of the fastest-growing team sports on the planet.\nRugby World Cup 2021 is set to take New Zealand by storm from 8 October to 12 November, 2022 as the southern hemisphere prepares to host the women\u2019s edition of the pinnacle tournament for the first time.\nThe tournament will see 12 of the world\u2019s top women\u2019s 15s teams go head-to-head to see who will be crowned world champions at Auckland\u2019s Eden Park on 12 November.\nGET YOUR TICKETS TO RWC 2021 >>\nRugby World Cup 2021 will also be Canon\u2019s third consecutive involvement with Rugby World Cup, having previously sponsored the men\u2019s editions in 2015 in England and 2019 in Japan, the most globally impactful rugby event of all time.\nCanon is the fourth Japanese brand to join the Rugby World Cup 2023 commercial family following a record-breaking Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, which surpassed all initial commercial revenue projections, largely influenced by strong interest from Japanese and wider Asian brands.\nCanon will have a crucial role in supporting photographers and international media to capture the incredible moments during France 2023; a tournament set to be the major attraction in the sporting calendar that year, bringing the rugby family together for a celebration of the 200 years of the sport.\nWorld Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: \u201cHaving recently confirmed both men\u2019s and women\u2019s editions of Rugby World Cup up until 2033, there couldn\u2019t be a more pivotal time to welcome Canon on board. Their relentless focus on innovation echoes our vision to make rugby as relevant and accessible as possible and their support will accelerate the development of our sport across the globe.\n\u201cWe have had the great pleasure of working with Canon for a number of years and we are very proud to be continuing our long-standing relationship for Rugby World Cups 2021 and 2023. Canon shares our passion for driving gender parity across the game and we are delighted to be welcoming them to the partner family for the pinnacle women\u2019s 15s tournament that kicks off in New Zealand later this year.\u201d\nAs a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2021 and Official Imaging Supplier of Rugby World Cup 2023, Canon will make available the full support of its diverse businesses, ranging from products and solutions, including cameras, lenses, video camcorders, network cameras and medical equipment.\nAs with other major sporting competitions, both in Japan and overseas, Canon will provide behind-the-scenes support services to members of the media covering Rugby World Cup 2021 and 2023, including camera and lens maintenance services and product loans, to enable the best possible capture of the top-class athletes competing on the sport\u2019s biggest stage.\nCanon Inc. Chairman and CEO Fujio Mitarai, commented: \u201cFollowing on from Rugby World Cup 2015 in England and Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, Canon is delighted to continue backing the tournaments as Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2021 in New Zealand and Official Imaging Supplier of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France. I am delighted that we have been granted this opportunity to support both the men\u2019s and women\u2019s tournaments. In addition to supporting professional photographers and news media as they capture the intense action of the world\u2019s top teams facing off in peak condition, Canon will do its utmost to support World Rugby, the owner of both tournaments, as well as the organising committees, relevant authorities, local government and other corporate sponsors.\u201d\nThe post Canon joins the Rugby World Cup commercial family for New Zealand 2021 and France 2023 appeared first on Asia Rugby.",
"date_published": "2022-06-27T18:12:38+08:00",
"date_modified": "2022-06-27T18:12:38+08:00",
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Whilst the Hong Kong coaching team have had a succession of logistical challenges off the back of the pandemic, they are quietly confident that the squad heading to Dubai has the depth to cause a few surprises. There\u2019s a mix of fresh faces and grizzled veterans at the ready – experienced players Josh Hrstich, James Cunningham, Bryn Phillips, and Alex Post will offer a steady hand and some exciting infrastructure for Head Coach Lewis Evans to work with, while a crop of up-and-comers will be looking to make their mark, having enjoyed a full pre-season and some good game time with their respective clubs.