The 2024 Asia Rugby Championship is the eighth annual rugby union series for the top-level Asia Rugby nations. Hong Kong, South Korea, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates shall compete in the 2024 series. Other Asian nations played in the lower division tournaments.
The format of the series is a single round-robin where the four teams play each other once. The team finishing on top of the standings at the end of the series is declared the winner. The team finishing at the bottom of the standing are relegated to the 2025 Asia Rugby Division 1. The competition will begin on 1 June 2024 and will conclude on 22 June 2024.
Hong Kong entered the competition as reigning champions, having won the competition for the fourth time in 2023. The United Arab Emirates were promoted from the 2023 Asia Rugby Division 1.
Teams The teams involved, TeamStadiaCoachCaptainWorld Rugby RankingHome stadiumCapacityLocationStartEndHong Kong Football Club Stadium2,750Hong Kong Andrew DouglasJoshua Hrstich24th24thIncheon Namdong Asiad Rugby Field4,968Incheon Lee Myung GeunLee Jin Kyu30th33rdUPM Stadium3,000Serdang Farid Syazwan Abu Bakar Mohamad Nasharuddin Isamil50th56thThe Sevens Stadium15,000Dubai Jacques BenadeMatthew Mills60th52nd
Squads
Malaysia squadNamePositionCapsClubAzam Fakhrullah Bin Abd RazakLoosehead Prop Terengganu Muhammad Abrar Bin ZanuddinAmirul Mukminin Bin AmizanHooker New Perlis Nabil Ikhwan PutrajayaMohd Nurazman Ramli PDRMMohammad Azri Mohd Kamal RosnanTighthead Prop MSS KelantanAmierul Harith PutrajayaAiman Hakeem JohorHarith El Iskander Shah Mohd ShukriLock PutrajayaSuhalkal Suhaimi NS Wanderers RCMuhammad Sameer Muhammad Sani Surinder Terengganu Mohad Shobrey Bin Amok Sabah Mohamad Syahmi Afiq Bin Edan PDRMSyarif Nurhidayat MuzhaimeyFlanker PutrajayaSamuel Rentap Meran Terengganu Shah Izwan MSS KelantanAmin JamaluddinNumber 8 New Perlis Amirul Aiman Ihsan Abas Sabah Razali RamlanScrumhalf PutrajayaMohamad Nasharuddin Isamil Terengganu Lee James ChapmanFlyhalf PDRMMohd Fairuz Ab Rahman Sabah Nareen Fitri Terengganu Muhammad Zharif Affandi Mohamed ZahibCenter Terengganu Hakim Abu Hassan PutrajayaZulkiflee Bin Azmi PDRMKamal Hamidi Malaysia SevensAzwan Zuwairi PDRMMohd Daim Bin ZainudinOutside Back New Perlis Adam Ariff MSS KelantanAhmad Zulhilmi Azizad JohorHarith lqbal Terengganu Harry Preston Leicester Lions RFCAnwarul Hafiz Bin Ahmad PDRM
South Korean SquadNamePositionCapsClubYang Keun SeobLoosehead Prop0 Hyundai GlovisShin Ji Min0 OK Financial Group OkmanKim Tae Woo0 Korea Armed Forces Athletic CorpsChoi Ho YoungHooker4 Korea Armed Forces Athletic CorpsLee Seung Eun0 Hyundai GlovisPark Gun Woo0 OK Financial Group OkmanPark Ye ChanTighthead Prop3 Hyundai GlovisWon Jung Ho2 Hyundai GlovisSeo Tae Pung 0 Korea Armed Forces Athletic CorpsKim Sang JinLock5 OK Financial Group OkmanPark Joon Beom2 Hyundai GlovisLee Hyeon Je0 Hyundai GlovisSeo Jong Soo0 Korea Armed Forces Athletic CorpsYoo Jae HoonBack row9 OK Financial Group OkmanKim Yo Han4 Hyundai GlovisHwang Jeong Wook1 Hyundai GlovisKim Chan Ju0 Hyundai GlovisYoo Gi Jung 0 OK Financial Group OkmanHeo Jae JunScrumhalf0 Hyundai GlovisKang Min Jun0 OK Financial Group OkmanJung Bu HyonFlyhalf1 Hyundai GlovisKo Seung Jae0 OK Financial Group OkmanMun Jeong HoCenter6 Hyundai GlovisLee Jin Kyu0 Hyundai GlovisLee Yong Un 0 OK Financial Group OkmanJeong Yeon SikOutside Back15 Hyundai GlovisShin Min Su 1 Hyundai GlovisKim Chan Deul0 OK Financial Group OkmanBaek Jong Eun1 Hyundai Glovis
United Arab Emirates SquadNamePositionCapsClubLukas WaddingtonProp4 Dubai Exiles RFCPieter Killian2 Dubai Exiles RFCRiaan Barnard2 Barrelhouse RCSunia Laladidi0 Abu Dhabi HarlequinsMoeneeb GalantHooker2 Dubai Exiles RFCDavid Gairn2 Dubai Exiles RFCEsekaia DranibotaLock2 Dubai Tigers RFCJonathan Harris2 Jebel Ali DragonsJaen BotesBack row10 Dubai Exiles RFCMatthew Mills (c)4 Dubai Exiles RFCEpeli Davetawalu2 Dubai Exiles RFCMarcus Guerin0 Dubai Tigers RFCIan Surtees0 Jebel Ali DragonsChris McKee0 Abu Dhabi HarlequinsCarel ThomasScrumhalf2 Dubai Exiles RFCAndrew Semple0 Abu Dhabi HarlequinsJamie GavinFlyhalf0 Jebel Ali DragonsHandre Snetler0 Dubai Exiles RFCSakiusa NaisauCenter4 Dubai Tigers RFCRory Arthur0 Dubai Exiles RFCLiam CaldwellOutside Back0 Dubai Tigers RFCJustin Walsh0 Dubai Exiles RFCEmosi Vecenaua0 Dubai Sharks RFCMatt Richards0 Jebel Ali DragonsConnor Kennedy0 Dubai Exiles RFC
Preparation Hong Kong China Hong Kong China spent the 22–28 April in Canberra at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in preparation for the 2024 Asia Rugby Championship and to help create a professional environment for the group. They ended the tour with a match against the ACT Brumbies Runners as a curtain raiser for the 2024 Super Rugby matchup between ACT Brumbies and Hurricanes at Canberra Stadium in Canberra.
Team details FB 15 Nate CarrollRW 14 Matias JensenOC 13 Hudson CreightonIC 12 Austin AndersonLW 11 Ben O’DonnellFH 10 Declan MeredithSH 9 Klayton ThornN8 8 Baden GodfreyOF 7 Luke ReimerBF 6 Ed KennedyRL 5 Nick FrostLL 4 Lachlan ShawTP 3 Rhys van NekHK 2 Liam BowronLP 1 Harry VellaReplacements: 16 Davea Teoteo 17 Sam Sahyoun 18 Sila Titiuti 19 Will Sankey 20 Deveraux Tapelu 21 Alex Smit 22 Wally Wentzel 23 Clay Uyen24 Sam McLachlan25 Silas Pilot26 Alex Kerr Coach: Dan Hooper FB 15Dylan WhiteRW 14Alex MosesOC 13Jack MorrisIC 12Tom HillLW 11Will PandayFH 10Matteo AvitabileSH 9 Pat Joe LaidlerN8 8 Joshua Hrstich (c)OF 7 Hugh McCormick-HoustonBF 6 Tyler McNuttRL 5 Jamie PincottLL 4 Jonnathan KennyTP 3 Zac CinnamondHK 2 John McCormick-HoustonLP 1 James HolmesReplacements: PR16Rory Cinnamond PR17Sunia Fameitau PR18Faizal Solomone Penesa LK19Dana Fourie BR20Dean Rossouw FH21Nathan De Thierry FB22Dylan McCann CE23Benjamin Axten-BurrettBR24Luke Van der SmitPR25Ben HigginsHK26Jude HardingWG27Murray BrechinCE28Jack AbbottFB29Shiven DukhandeCoach: Andrew Douglas
Malaysia Malaysia played a practice match against local side Tueto Wear Selection Team, and played a cross border friendly match against Singapore on 11 May. The game was uncapped.
Standings 2024 Asia Rugby Championship ChampionsRelegation to 2025 Asia Rugby Division 1 Pos.TeamMatchesPointsBonus pointsTotal pointsPlayedWonLostDrawnForAgainstDiff.1330018918 +17131523210103103 02103312094108 -14374303030187 -15700Points were awarded to the teams as follows: Win — 4 points; Draw — 2 points; 4 or more tries — 1 point; Loss within 7 points — 1 point; Loss greater than 7 points — 0 points
Fixtures Week 1
FB15Paul AltierRW14Sebastian BrienOC13Benjamin Axten-BurrettIC12Tom HillLW11Charles Higson-SmithFH10Matteo AvitabileSH9Pat Joe LaidlerN88Luke van der SmitOF7James SawyerBF6Joshua Hrstich (c)RL5Kyle SullivanLL4Jamie PincottTP3Zac CinnamondHK2John McCormick-HoustonLP1Rory CinnamondReplacements:HK16Alexander PostLP17Chukwudi EdisonTP18Faizal Solomona PenesaLK19Callum McCulloughBR20Tyler McNuttSH21Camill CheungCE22Jack NevilleOB23Harry SayersCoach: Andrew DouglasFB15Matt RichardsRW14Emosi VecenauaOC13Rory ArthurIC12Justin WalshLW11Sakiusa NaisauFH10Jamie GavinSH9Andrew SempleN88Jaen BotesOF7Matthew Mills (c)BF6Epeli DavetawaluRL5Marcus GuerinLL4Esekaia DranibotaTP3Riaan BarnardHK2David GairnLP1Pieter KillianReplacements:LP16Sunia LaladidiTP17Lukas WaddingtonHK18Moeneeb GalantBR19Chris McKeeBR20Liam CaldwellOB21Connor KennedySH22Carel ThomasLK23Jonathan HarrisCoach: Jacques Benade FB15Baek Jong EunRW14Jeong Yeon SikOC13Mun Jeong HoIC12Lee Jin Kyu (c)LW11Lee Yong UnFH10Jung Bu HyonSH9Kang Min JunN88Hwang Jeong WookOF7Kim Chan JuBF6Kim Yo HanRL5Lee Hyeon JeLL4Seo Jong SooTP3Won Jung HoHK2Choi Ho YoungLP1Kim Tae WooReplacements:LH16Shin Ji MinHK17Park Gun WooTH18Seo Tae PungLK19Kim Sang JinBR20Yoo Jae HoonSH21Heo Jae JunFB22Kim Chan DeulFH23Ko Seung JaeCoach: Lee Myung GeunFB15Anwarul Hafiz Bin AhmadRW14Ahmad Zulhilmi AzizadOC13Zulkiflee Bin AzmiIC12Muhammad Zharif Affandi Mohamed Zahib LW11Mohd Daim Bin ZainudinFH10Lee James ChapmanSH9Razali RamlanN88Amirul Aiman Ihsan AbasOF7Samuel Rentap MeranBF6Syarif Nurhidayat Muzhaimey (c)RL5Harith El Iskander Shah Mohd ShukriLL4Muhammad Sameer Muhammad Sani SurinderTP3Mohamad Syahmi Afiq Bin EdanHK2Amirul Mukminin Bin AmizanLP1Mohammad Azri Mohd Kamal RosnanReplacements:16Mohd Nurazman Ramli17Azam Fakhrullah Bin Abd Razak18Muhammad Abrar Bin Zanuddin19Mohad Shobrey Bin Amok20Suhalkal Suhaimi21Mohamad Nasharuddin Isamil22Mohd Fairuz Ab Rahman23Ahmad Azhad Rifqi RedzuanCoach: Farid Syazwan Abu Bakar
Week 2
FB15Anwarul Hafiz Bin AhmadRW14Muhammad Harith Iqbal Bin Bin Muhammad AhnarOC13Muhammad Azwan Zuwairi Bin Mat ZiziIC12Muhammad Hakim Bin Abu HassanLW11Muhammad Kamal Hamidi Bin Mohd RaihanFH10Lee James ChapmanSH9Mohamad Nasharuddin Isamil (c)N88Amirul Aiman Ihsan AbasOF7Suhalkal SuhaimiBF6Syarif Nurhidayat MuzhaimeyRL5Mohad Shobrey Bin AmokLL4Muhammad Sameer Muhammad Sani SurinderTP3Mohamad Syahmi Afiq Bin EdanHK2Amirul Mukminin Bin AmizanLP1Mohammad Azri Mohd Kamal RosnanReplacements:16Mohd Nurazman Ramli17Azam Fakhrullah Bin Abd Razak18Muhammad Abrar Bin Zanuddin19Harith El Iskander Shah Mohd Shukri20Mohamad Amin Jamaluddin21Razali Ramlan22Mohammad Nzareen Fitri Bin Nasrudin23Zulkiflee Bin AzmiCoach: Farid Syazwan Abu BakarFB15Matteo AvitabileRW14Paul AltierOC13Jack NevilleIC12Benjamin Axten-BurrettLW11Sebastian BrienFH10Glyn HughesSH9Pat Joe LaidlerN88Joshua Hrstich (c)OF7Pierce MacKinlay-WestBF6Tyler McNuttRL5Callum McCulloughLL4Kyle SullivanTP3Faizal Solomona PenesaHK2Alexander PostLP1Rory CinnamondReplacements:HK16Calum ScottLP17Chukwudi EdisonTH18Zac CinnamondLK19Jamie PincottSH21Camill CheungCE22Murray BrechinCE23Tom HillCoach: Andrew Douglas FB15Connor KennedyRW14Sakiusa NaisauOC13George HippersonIC12Liam CaldwellLW11Tobias OakeleyFH10Jamie GavinSH9Andrew SempleN88Jaen BotesOF7Matthew Mills (c)BF6Epeli DavetawaluRL5Marcus GuerinLL4Esekaia DranibotaTP3Riaan BarnardHK2David GairnLP1Pieter KillianReplacements:LH17Lukas WaddingtonHK18Moeneeb GalantN819Chris McKeeSH22Carel ThomasFH24Handre SnetlerFB27Matt Richards29Diarmuid CarrLK31Jonathan HarrisCoach: Jacques BenadeFB15Baek Jong EunRW14Jeong Yeon SikOC13Mun Jeong HoIC12Lee Jin Kyu (c)LW11Lee Yong UnFH10Ko Seung JaeSH9Kang Min JunN88Yoo Jae HoonOF7Kim Chan JuBF6Kim Yo HanRL5Seo Jong SooLL4Lee Hyeon JeTP3Won Jung HoHK2Choi Ho YoungLP1Kim Tae WooReplacements:HK16Lee Seung EunLH17Shin Ji MinTH18Seo Tae PungLK19Kim Sang JinBR20Hwang Jeong WookSH21Heo Jae JunFH22Kim Chan DeulOB23Kim Hyun JinCoach: Lee Myung Geun
Week 3
FB15Matt RichardsRW14Sakiusa NaisauOC13George HippersonIC12Liam CaldwellLW11Tobias OakeleyFH10Jamie GavinSH9Andrew SempleN88Chris McKeeOF7Matthew Mills (c)BF6Epeli DavetawaluRL5Marcus GuerinLL4Jaen BotesTP3Riaan BarnardHK2Moeneeb GalantLP1Pieter KillianReplacements:HK16David GairnPR17Lukas WaddingtonLK18Jonathan HarrisBR19Emosi VecenauaOB20Justin WalshFB21Connor Kennedy22Gareth NewmanPR23Sunia LaladidiCoach: Jacques BenadeFB15Anwarul Hafiz Bin AhmadRW14Ahmad Zulhilmi AzizadOC13Muhammad Azwan Zuwairi Bin Mat ZiziIC12Muhammad Hakim Bin Abu HassanLW11Zulkiflee Bin AzmiFH10Lee James ChapmanSH9Mohamad Nasharuddin Isamil (c)N88Mohamad Amin JamaluddinOF7Samuel Rentap MeranBF6Syarif Nurhidayat MuzhaimeyRL5Mohad Shobrey Bin AmokLL4Muhammad Sameer Muhammad Sani SurinderTP3Muhammad Abrar Bin ZanuddinHK2Amirul Mukminin Bin AmizanLP1Mohammad Azri Mohd Kamal RosnanReplacements:16Mohd Nurazman Ramli17Azam Fakhrullah Bin Abd Razak18Mohamad Syahmi Afiq Bin Edan19Harith El Iskander Shah Mohd Shukri20Suhalkal Suhaimi21Razali Ramlan22Mohammad Nzareen Fitri Bin Nasrudin23Henry Christian PrestonCoach: Farid Syazwan Abu Bakar