The 2015 Asia Rugby Championship, or ARC, was the inaugural tri-nations series for top-level rugby union in Asia and the twenty-eighth continental championship for the ARFU nations. The Asia Rugby Championship replaced the former Asian Five Nations in 2015, with only three nations competing in the top division instead of the previous five. The inaugural series included Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea. Other Asian nations competed in the lower division tournaments.

Instead of the single round-robin format used in the Asian Five Nations, the three teams played each other twice on a home and away basis. Japan, as the team finishing on top of the standings in 2015, was declared the winner. The bottom-placed team, Korea, was subject to a promotion-relegation play-off against the winner of the next lower division. However, Sri Lanka, who finished on top of Division 1, declined the opportunity to challenge.

Standings ChampionsWill play in the top 3 challenge

PositionNationGamesPointsBonuspointsTotalpointsPlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainstDifference1431016340+1233212411264111–4731134103110186–7638Points were awarded to the teams as follows:Win - 5 pointsDraw - 3 points 4 or more tries - 1 point Loss within 7 points - 1 pointLoss greater than 7 points - 0 points Notes: The final match saw the Japan v Hong Kong match abandoned due to adverse weather. It was agreed that Japan and Hong Kong would share the points, with each team receiving 3 points each.

Fixtures Week 1

FB 15Jang Seong Min RW 14Jegal BinOC 13Kim Sung Soo (c) IC 12Kim NamukLW 11Kim Gwong MinFH 10Oh Youn-hyungSH 9 Lee Myung JunN8 8 Han Kun KyuOF 7 Jang Seok HwanBF 6 Kim Hyun SooRL 5 Youn Kwon Woo LL 4 Kim Ho Bum TP 3 Kim Kwang Sik HK 2 Kim Jeep LP 1 Park Sung Ku Replacements:HK 16Na Kwan Young PR 17Son Young Ki PR 18Shin Dong Won FL 19Hwan In Jo N8 20Lee Young Seung SH 21Shin Ki Chul FB 22Nam Young Soo WG 23Park Han Gyul Coach: Chung Hyung Seok FB 15Ayumu GoromaruRW 14Chihito MatsuiOC 13Karne HeskethIC 12Yuu Tamura LW 11Yoshikazu FujitaFH 10Harumichi Tatekawa SH 9 Atsushi Hiwasa N8 8 Koliniasi HolaniOF 7 Hayden Hopgood BF 6 Justin IvesRL 5 Shoji ItoLL 4 Luke Thompson TP 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama (c) HK 2 Takeshi Kizu LP 1 Masataka Mikami Replacements:PR 16Hisateru Hirashima HK 17Hiroki Yuhara PR 18Hiroshi Yamashita LK 19Kazuhiko Usami FL 20Tsuyoshi Murata SH 21Keisuke Uchida CE 22Ryohei Yamanaka WG 23Toshiaki Hirose Coach: Eddie Jones Touch judges: Matthew Rodden (Hong Kong) Stephen Copeman (Hong Kong)

Week 2

FB 15Alex McQueenRW 14Tom McQueenOC 13Max WoodwardIC 12Tyler Spitz LW 11Salom Yiu Kam ShingFH 10Chris McAdam SH 9 Cado Lee Ka-toN8 8 Nick Hewson (c)OF 7 Matt LammingBF 6 Alex Baddeley RL 5 Paul DywerLL 4 Jack Delaforce TP 3 James Cooper HK 2 Lachlan Chubb LP 1 John Aikman Replacements:HK 16Alex Harris PR 17Leon Wei Hon Sum PR 18Jack Nielsen LK 19Bill Brant FL 20Toby Fenn SH 21Jaime Hood WG 22Charlie Higson-SmithFH 23Niall Rowark Coach: Andrew Hall FB 15Jang Seong MinRW 14Jegal BinOC 13Kim Sung Soo (c) IC 12Kim NamukLW 11Chang Yong HeungFH 10Oh Youn-hyung SH 9 Lee Myung JunN8 8 Hwan In Jo OF 7 Jang Seok HwanBF 6 Kim Hyun Soo RL 5 Youn Kwon WooLL 4 Park Soon ChaiTP 3 Kim Kwang Sik HK 2 Kim Jeep LP 1 Park Sung Ku Replacements:HK 16Na Kwan Young PR 17Son Young Ki PR 18Shin Dong Won FL 19Kim Min Kyu N8 20Kim Jeong Min SH 21Shin Ki ChulFB 22Nam Young Soo WG 23Kim Gwong Min Coach: Chung Hyung Seok Touch judges: Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan) Rui Shimizu (Japan)

Week 3

FB 15Ayumu GoromaruRW 14Chihito Matsui OC 13Karne HeskethIC 12Yuu TamuraLW 11Akihito YamadaFH 10Harumichi Tatekawa SH 9 Atsushi Hiwasa N8 8 Koliniasi HolaniOF 7 Tsuyoshi Murata BF 6 Justin IvesRL 5 Shoji ItoLL 4 Luke Thompson TP 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama (c) HK 2 Takeshi Kizu LP 1 Masataka Mikami Replacements:PR 16Yusuke Nagae HK 17Ryuhei Arita PR 18Shinnosuke Kakinaga LK 19Kazuhiko Usami FL 20Hayden Hopgood SH 21Keisuke Uchida WG 22Toshiaki Hirose WG 23Yoshikazu Fujita Coach: Eddie Jones FB 15Alex McQueenRW 14Tom McQueenOC 13Jaime HoodIC 12Max Woodward LW 11Charlie Higson-Smith FH 10Ben RimenSH 9 Cado Lee Ka-to N8 8 Nick Hewson (c) OF 7 Toby FennBF 6 Matt Lamming RL 5 Paul DywerLL 4 Adam Butterfield TP 3 Jack Parfitt HK 2 Alex Harris LP 1 Leon Wei Hon Sum Replacements:HK 16John Aikman PR 17Lachlan Chubb PR 18Jack Nielsen LK 19Alex Baddeley N8 20Damian Bailey SH 21Adam Rolston WG 22Jonny Rees FH 23Niall Rowark Coach: Andrew Hall Touch judges: Chris Linwood (United Arab Emirates) Sansudin Saleh (Malaysia)

Week 4

FB 15Ayumu GoromaruRW 14Yoshikazu FujitaOC 13Karne HeskethIC 12Yuu Tamura LW 11Kenki FukuokaFH 10Harumichi Tatekawa SH 9 Atsushi Hiwasa N8 8 Koliniasi HolaniOF 7 Tsuyoshi Murata BF 6 Justin IvesRL 5 Shoji ItoLL 4 Kazuhiko Usami TP 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama (c) HK 2 Takeshi Kizu LP 1 Hisateru Hirashima Replacements:PR 16Masataka Mikami HK 17Hiroki Yuhara PR 18Hiroshi Yamashita LK 19Luke Thompson FL 20Hayden Hopgood SH 21Yuki Yatomi CE 22Ryohei Yamanaka WG 23Toshiaki Hirose Coach: Eddie Jones FB 15Jang Seong Min RW 14Park Han GyulOC 13Jegal BinIC 12Kim NamukLW 11Kim Gwong MinFH 10Lee Eutteum SH 9 Shin Ki Chul N8 8 Park Soon ChaiOF 7 Kim Jeong Min (c) BF 6 Jang Seok HwanRL 5 Youn Kwon Woo LL 4 Kim Ho BumTP 3 Shin Dong Won HK 2 Kim Jeep LP 1 Son Young Ki Replacements:PR 16Na Kwan Young HK 17Kim Min Kyu PR 18Kim Min Kyu LK 19Choi Kang San FL 20Hwan In Jo SH 21Lee Myung Jun FH 22Oh Youn-hyung FB 23Nam Young Soo Coach: Chung Hyung Seok Touch judges: Tim Baker (Hong Kong) Patrick Wallingford (Hong Kong)

Week 5

FB 15Jang Seong MinRW 14Jegal BinOC 13Kim Sung Soo IC 12Kim Namuk LW 11Chang Yong HeungFH 10Oh Youn-hyung SH 9 Lee Myung JunN8 8 Park Soon Chai OF 7 Kim Jeong Min (c)BF 6 Jang Seok HwanRL 5 Youn Kwon Woo LL 4 Kim Ho Bum TP 3 Kim Kwang Sik HK 2 Kim Jeep LP 1 Park Sung Ku Replacements:PR 16Na Kwan Young HK 17Kim Min Kyu PR 18Shin Dong Won LK 19Park Hwan FL 20Hwan In Jo SH 21Shin Ki ChulFH 22Lee Eu Dum FB 23Andre Coquillard Coach: Chung Hyung Seok FB 15Alex McQueenRW 14Tom McQueenOC 13Jamie Hood IC 12Max WoodwardLW 11Salom Yiu Kam ShingFH 10Ben Rimen SH 9 Cado Lee Ka-toN8 8 Nick Hewson (c)OF 7 Toby Fenn BF 6 Matt Lamming RL 5 Adrian GriffithsLL 4 Paul Dywer TP 3 Jack Parfitt HK 2 Lachlan Chubb LP 1 John Aikman Replacements:HK 16Alex Harris PR 17Leon Wei Hon Sum PR 18Jack Nielsen LK 19Jack Delaforce FL 20Alex Baddeley N8 21Damian Bailey CE 22Tyler Spitz FH 23Niall Rowark Coach: Andrew Hall

Week 6

FB 15Jean-Baptiste AldigeRW 14Tom McQueenOC 13Max WoodwardIC 12Tyler SpitzLW 11Salom Yiu Kam ShingFH 10Niall RowarkSH 9 Cado Lee Ka-toN8 8 Alex BaddeleyOF 7 Matt LammingBF 6 Nick Hewson (c)RL 5 Paul DywerLL 4 Adrian GriffithsTP 3 Jack ParfittHK 2 Alex HarrisLP 1 Leon Wei Hon SumReplacements:HK 16Lachlan ChubbPR 17Jack NielsenPR 18James CooperLK 19Jack DelaforceN8 20Damian BaileySH 21Adam RolstonCE 22Gavin HadleyFH 23Chris McAdamCoach: Andrew Hall FB 15Ayumu Goromaru (c)RW 14Yoshikazu FujitaOC 13Karne HeskethIC 12Yuu TamuraLW 11Kenki FukuokaFH 10Harumichi TatekawaSH 9 Yuki YatomiN8 8 Koliniasi HolaniOF 7 Hayden HopgoodBF 6 Justin IvesRL 5 Shoji ItoLL 4 Luke ThompsonTP 3 Shinnosuke KakinagaHK 2 Ryuhei AritaLP 1 Hisateru HirashimaReplacements:PR 16Masataka MikamiHK 17Hiroki YuharaPR 18Ryu Sioapelatu HolaniLK 19Hitoshi OnoFL 20Michael BroadhurstSH 21Keisuke UchidaCE 22Ryohei YamanakaWG 23Toshiaki HiroseCoach: Eddie Jones Touch judges: Norman Drake (United Arab Emirates) Sansudin Saleh (Malaysia)

Top 3 Challenge

Due to financial reasons, the game was cancelled and South Korea remained in the Tri-nations division for 2016.

Squads

Summary NationMatch venuesHead coachCaptainNameCityCapacityAberdeen Sports GroundHong Kong9,000 Andrew HallNick HewsonHong Kong Football Club StadiumHong Kong2,800Chichibunomiya Rugby StadiumTokyo27,188 Eddie JonesKensuke HatakeyamaLevel-5 StadiumFukuoka22,563Namdong Asiad Rugby StadiumIncheon7,000 Chung Hyung SeokKim Sung Soo

Note: Ages, caps and domestic side are of 18 April 2015 – the starting date of the tournament.

Japan On 5 March, head coach Eddie Jones named a 31-man squad for the 2015 Asian Rugby Championship.

On 11 April, Chihito Matsui and Ryohei Yamanaka was added to the squad.

Hong Kong Hong Kong's squad for the 2015 Asian Rugby Championship.

Adrian Griffiths was added to the squad for the Round 5 game with South Korea.

Head coach: Andrew Hall

+ ForwardsPlayerPositionClub Lachlan Chubb Hooker Hong Kong Scottish Alex Harris Hooker Kowloon RFC John Aikman Prop Hong Kong Scottish James Cooper Prop Hong Kong Cricket Club Jack Nielsen Prop Hong Kong Cricket Club Jack Parfitt Prop Hong Kong Scottish Leon Wei Hon Sum Prop Valley RFC Bill Brant Lock Hong Kong Cricket Club Adam Butterfield Lock Hong Kong Football Club Jack Delaforce Lock Hong Kong Cricket Club Paul Dywer Lock Hong Kong Cricket Club Adrian Griffiths Lock Hong Kong Scottish Alex Baddeley Flanker Valley RFC Toby Fenn Flanker Valley RFC Matt Lamming Flanker Hong Kong Cricket Club Damian Bailey Number eight Hong Kong Cricket Club Nick Hewson (c) Number eight Valley RFC

+ BacksPlayerPositionClub Jaime Hood Scrum-half Hong Kong Football Club Cado Lee Ka-to Scrum-half Kowloon RFC Adam Rolston Scrum-half Valley RFC Chris McAdam Fly-half Kowloon RFC Ben Rimen Fly-half Valley RFC Niall Rowark Fly-half Hong Kong Football Club Gavin Hadley Centre Hong Kong Football Club Jonny Rees Centre Hong Kong Football Club Tyler Spitz Centre USRC Tigers RFC Max Woodward Centre Valley RFC Charlie Higson-Smith Wing Hong Kong Football Club Tom McQueen Wing Hong Kong Cricket Club Salom Yiu Kam Shing Wing Valley RFC Jean-Baptiste Aldige Fullback Valley RFC Alex McQueen Fullback Hong Kong Cricket Club

South Korea South Korea 31-man squad for the 2015 Asian Rugby Championship.

Andre Coquillard and Park Hwan were added to the squad for the Round 5 game with Hong Kong.

Head coach: Chung Hyung Seok

+ ForwardsPlayerPositionClub Kim Jeep Hooker KAFAC Na Kwan Young Hooker KAFAC Kim Min Kyu Hooker Sang Mu Shin Dong Won Prop Kintetsu Liners Kim Kwang Sik Prop Honda Heat Park Sung Ku Prop Kubota Spears Son Young Ki Prop Posco Kim Ho Bum Lock Kubota Spears Park Hwan Lock Kepco Han Kun Kyu Lock Kepco Youn Kwon Woo Lock Musashino Atlastars Jang Seok Hwan Lock Sang Mu Park Soon Chai Lock NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes Chang Sung Min Lock Korea Uni. Kim Hyun Soo Flanker Kepco Yun Il Han Flanker Dankook University Hwan In Jo Flanker Kepco Kim Jeong Min (c) Flanker Kepco Son Min Su Flanker Kyung Hee Uni. Lee Young Seung Number eight Hino Red Dolphins

+ BacksPlayerPositionClub Shin Ki Chul Scrum-half Korea Rugby Union Lee Myung Jun Scrum-half Sang Mu Park Wan Young Scrum-half Kepco Lee Eu Dum Fly-half Posco Lee Eu Tteum Fly-half Posco Oh Youn-hyung Fly-half Kepco Jegal Bin Centre NTT Communications Shining Arcs Kim Namuk Centre Kepco Kim Sung Soo (vc) Centre Kepco Kim Gwong Min Wing Kepco Park Han Gyul Wing Korea Rugby Union Chang Yong Heung Wing Yonsei University Andre Coquillard Fullback Korea Rugby Union Jang Seong Min Fullback Sang Mu Nam Young Soo Fullback Sang Mu

See also 2015 Asian Rugby Championship Division Tournaments

References