Rory Underwood and Frank Hadden launch year of grassroots rugby

 

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) and Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) today launched the HSBC Asian 5 Nations Series (HSBC A5N) 2010.

 

HSBC A5N Ambassador Rory Underwood and former Scotland and current HSBC Penguin coach Frank Hadden attended today’s press launch

With only two qualification spots remaining for RWC 2011, the focus is now on Asia and the upcoming battle for the Asia 1 spot...

John Kirwan named a 62-man squad Monday ahead of this summer’s test matches, which kick off on May first in Daegu against South Korea in the HSBC Asian Five Nations.

Following games against Arabian Gulf, Kazakhstan and Hong Kong in Tokyo, Japan then hopes to play a game against a South Africa President’s XV before travelling south for the IRB Pacific Nations Cup.

Philippines Beats Guam to guarantee promotion to HSBC Asian Five Nations Division II; Iran upsets formbook for its first win of 2009

The final tournament in the 2009 HSBC Asian Five Nations (A5N), Asia's premier rugby competition, began today with the kick-off of the Division III championship in Manila, Philippines.

Uzbekistan cruised past Kyrgyzstan 31-12 at the Stadium Yoshlik in Tashkent, Uzbekistan today to win its regional tournament on the first occasion it has hosted the HSBC Asian Five Nations. After losing its opening match to Kyrgyzstan on Wednesday, Mongolia rebounded to overcome Uzbekistan B 36-12 for a third place finish in the HSBC Asian Five Nations regional tournament in Uzbekistan.

Kyrgyzstan topped Mongolia 38-21 in today's opening match of the HSBC Asian Five Nations Uzbekistan Regional Tournament. It was the first men's XVs test match in the history of the Asian Rugby Football Union to be refereed by a woman, Gabriel Lee of Hong Kong, Asia's number one ranked female referee.

Malaysia topples China for promotion to 2010 HSBC Asian Five Nations Division I; India beats Pakistan in Relegation Match

Malaysia and China jockey for promotion to Division I,
India and Pakistan face off in relegation match 

The Nomads of Kazakhstan have settled in second place in this year's HSBC Asian Five Nations Top 5 competition after dispatching Hong Kong 25 - 6 today in a rain-drenched Almaty. Today's win sees Kazakhstan finish with three victories from its four matches, good for 15 points on the table. The Kazakhs have moved up an impressive two spots on their 2008 finish.

The brave Singapore Rugby Lions finished their Top 5 run in the HSBC Asian Five Nations on a high by holding defending champions Japan to a 45 - 15 victory in today's match played at the Yio Chu Kang Stadium in Singapore. 

Battle for second spot underway in HSBC Asian Five Nations

STAR SPORTS rugby commentator Mike Rehu catches up with Hong Kong winger Adam Raby and Korean number 8 Han Hun Kyu.
 

Japan storm past Korea to lift Asian Five Nations silverware in Osaka, while Hong Kong threw down a marker in its the battle for second place.

This week STAR Sport's rugby commentator Mike Rehu is in Osaka, as he gets on his saddle and takes a Tour de HSBC Asian 5 Nations. 

 

Week three of the HSBC Asian Five Nations through up some fantastic matches with both games going down to the wire as South Korea narrowly escaped a second consecutive loss this week to Hong Kong as they eked out a 36-34 win. In the day's late match, Kazakhstan managed to finish the better team after playing two men down for most of the last 10 minutes as they edged Singapore 22-19 in Singapore. 

South Korea hosts Hong Kong as the battle for second place honours in the HSBC Asian Five Nations (A5N) heats up. In Saturday's other match, Singapore gets its first taste of A5N rugby as the tournament comes to the Lion City for a vital home clash against Kazakhstan.

STAR SPORTS Rugby Commentator Mike Rehu says drawing boards, text books and form books are all very important assets in a rugby squad, and all of them came into play in Round 2 of 5 in the HSBC Asian 5 Nations.

Breaking News: Kazakhstan upset Korea 30-27 in Almaty

Japan smashed their way to a 59-6 victory past Hong Kong to keep their slate clean at the HSBC Asian Five Nations championship on Saturday.