Asia Rugby Updates Quarter 1 2021 Competitions

Asia Rugby has released some changes to the planned competitions in Q1 2021 (1st January 2021 to 31st March 2021) with the COVID-19 global pandemic still causing disruptions.

Asia Rugby released their initial 2021 tournament and competition schedule in December 2020, perhaps prematurely, as it was followed by major competitions in January 2021 announcing postponements or cancellations. The governing body in Asia has now updated the competitions scheduled for Q1 2021.

The Asia Rugby Competitions Committee is chaired by Mr Asanga Seneviratne, and the scheduled changes were made on recommendation from the Asia Rugby COVID-19 Working Group.

Mr Asanga Seneviratne, said on the Asia Rugby website, “Rugby is slowly returning and quite a few unions have begun training.  Domestic competitions are scheduled to begin shortly….We continue to monitor the situation closely with constant dialogue with our stakeholders and have proposed a tentative calendar for competitions to begin in the second quarter of this year.”

Photo Credit: Asia Rugby

What Asia Rugby 2021 Competitions have been updated?

Asia Rugby Division 2

The Asia Rugby Division 2, which was scheduled to be held in Lahore, Pakistan, between China, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and host Pakistan in March 2021,  has been moved to the Quarter 4 2021 competitions window (October-December 2021).

• Due Date: Q4 2021
• Venue: Lahore Pakistan

Asia Rugby Women’s Championship (Rugby World Cup 2023 Qualifier)

It was already confirmed that the RWC 2021 Qualifiers have again been postponed with new no date or venue yet confirmed.

Hong Kong was due to host the Asia Rugby Women’s Championship (ARWC), which was initially scheduled for 2020, from 5-13 March 2021. The championship will also determine the qualifiers for the Rugby World Cup 2021 which has been confirmed to start in September 2021 in New Zealand.

• Due Date: TBC
• Venue: Possible still Hong Kong

Asia Rugby U19 Men’s Championship Fifteens Tournament

This is due to start at the end of March 2021 but does not appear to have been rescheduled. The Asia Rugby U19 Men’s Fifteens Tournament is a reschedule of 2020 tournament and features Chinese Taipei, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong.

• Opening Games: 31 March 2021 – Taipei vs Korea, Hong Kong vs Sri Lanka

Rugby Tournaments 2021

• HSBC Singapore Rugby Sevens 2021.
• Updated Japan Top League 2021 Schedule.
• Touch Singapore: Nationals 4 Touch League 2021
• Rugby World Cup 2021.