Asian 5 Nations 2009; the final story
All the matches in the 2009 Asian 5 Nations have now been completed and the final results are detailed below.
Japan again dominated the Top Five, but Kazakhstan surprised everyone, not least Korea by finishing in second place. Next year the tournament will double as the qualifiers for the World Cup 2011. In the highly unlikely circumstances that the Arabian Gulf were to qualify it may cause some consternation, as their union is being officially split up into its constituent countries on December 31st 2010.
Outside the Top Five it was a year for the hosts with all 5 tournaments being won by the home team.
It will not be known until September whether the current format of regional pools will continue, or whether perhaps a Division 4 and / or 5 will be created with promotion and relegation in place.
This year’s promotions and relegations have thrown up some intriguing ties; Singapore will take on neighbour Malaysia, the two most populous countries in the world China and India will battle it out and the Philippines will certainly know they have stepped up a division when they face Thailand.
Top 5 2009
| Apr-25-2009 | Korea | 65 | - | 0 | Singapore |
| Apr-25-2009 | Japan | 87 | - | 10 | Kazakhstan |
| May-2-2009 | Hong Kong | 6 | - | 59 | Japan |
| May-2-2009 | Kazakhstan | 30 | - | 27 | Korea |
| May-9-2009 | Singapore | 19 | - | 22 | Kazakhstan |
| May-9-2009 | Korea | 36 | - | 34 | Hong Kong |
| May-16-2009 | Japan | 80 | - | 9 | Korea |
| May-16-2009 | Hong Kong | 64 | - | 6 | Singapore |
| May-23-2009 | Singapore | 15 | - | 45 | Japan |
| May-24-2009 | Kazakhstan | 25 | - | 6 | Hongkong |
| Pos |
Nation |
P |
W |
D |
L |
For |
Ag |
Diff |
Tries |
BP | Pts |
| 1 |
Japan |
4 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
271 |
40 | +231 |
41 | 4 |
24 |
| 2 | Kazakhstan | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 87 | 139 | -52 | 10 |
0 | 15 |
| 3 | Korea |
4 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 137 | 144 | -7 | 19 | 3 |
13 |
| 4 | Hong Kong |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 110 | 126 | -16 | 8 | 3 |
8 |
| 5 | Singapore |
4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 40 | 196 |
-156 | 1 |
1 |
1 |
Champions: Japan
Relegated: Singapore
Division 1 (held in Dubai)
| April-8-2009 | Chinese Taipei |
36 |
- |
24 |
Sri Lanka |
| April-8-2009 | Arabian Gulf |
36 |
- |
17 |
Thailand |
| April-11-2009 | Sri Lanka | 51 |
- |
17 |
Thailand |
| April-11-2009 | Arabian Gulf |
44 |
- |
24 |
Chinese Taipei |
Champions and promoted: Arabian Gulf
Relegated: Thailand
Division 2 (held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
| June-3-2009 | China |
25 |
- |
19 |
Pakistan |
| June-3-2009 | India |
29 |
- |
43 |
Malaysia |
| June-6-2009 | India | 44 |
- |
3 |
Pakistan |
| June-6-2009 | Malaysia |
43 |
- |
15 |
China |
Champions and promoted: Malaysia
Relegated: Pakistan
Division 3 (held in Manila, Philippines)
| July-1-2009 | Guam | 23 |
- |
3 |
Indonesia |
| July-1-2009 | Philippines |
15 |
- |
0 |
Iran |
| July-4-2009 | Iran | 48 |
- |
13 |
Indonesia |
| July-4-2009 | Philippines |
25 |
- |
0 |
Guam |
Champions and promoted: Philippines
Regional Pool 1 (held in Savannakhet, Laos)
| Mar-22-2009 | Laos | 28 |
- |
8 |
Brunei |
| Mar-25-2009 | Brunei |
21 |
- |
10 |
Cambodia |
| Mar-28-2009 | Laos | 8 |
- |
3 |
Cambodia |
Champions: Laos
Regional Pool 2 (held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan)
| June-9-2009 | Kyrgyzstan |
38 |
- |
21 |
Mongolia |
| June-9-2009 | Uzbekistan |
31 |
- |
12 |
Kyrgyzstan |
Champions: Uzbekistan
Images courtesy: R.I.A. and Sean Moore
This article is also available in the following Country/s. Uzbekistan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, South Korea, Singapore, Philippines, Pakistan, Mongolia, Malaysia, Laos, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Japan, Iran, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Guam, Chinese Taipei, China, Cambodia, Brunei, Arabian Gulf
