Asia Rugby Championship

Annual rugby union competition

Asia Rugby ChampionshipRecent season or competition
2025 Asia Rugby Championship

Sport| Rugby union
Formerly known as| Asian Five Nations
Instituted| 1969
2008 (as Asian Five Nations)
2015 (ARC)
Governing body| Asia Rugby
Holders|  Hong Kong (6 titles)
Most titles|  Japan (25 titles)
Website| asiarugby.com/championship

The Asia Rugby Championship, or ARC, is an annual rugby union competition held amongst national rugby sides within the Asia Rugby region.[1] The competition was originally known as the Asian Rugby Football Tournament when founded in 1969, and was called the Asian Five Nations from 2008 to 2014.

The winner of the competition's top division is recognised as the rugby champion of Asia. The top division, sometimes referred to as the Tri Nations, includes the top three Asian teams each season. Division 1 includes the next four teams and Division 2 includes the next four. Division three is further divided geographically, with each of the West, East and South Central divisions including three teams.

Japan is the most successful team, securing 25 out of a possible 30 titles since 1969. They have not participated in the series since 2017.

## History

[edit]

The competition was formed as the Asian Rugby Football Tournament in 1969.[1] Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Thailand contested the inaugural Asian title. Japan were the champions on that occasion.

The tournament was held biennially for the most of its first four decades. It wasn't until 1982 that South Korea became the second team to win the title. The number of teams participating varied from year to year, with as many as 12 teams competing as other Asian teams joined the competition. From 1969 to 1996, there was a single division split into two groups. But in 1998, a second division was introduced as the game began to grow in Asia.

In 2003, a second Asian competition called the Asian Rugby Series was formed. The Asian Rugby Series ran alongside the Rugby Championship to help determine divisional allocations for the Asian Rugby Championship. With more teams competing, a third division was added to the Rugby Championship in 2004. The dual competitions ran until 2007.

Asian Five Nations Logo

### Asian Five Nations (2008–14)

[edit]

In 2008, the ARFU merged the Rugby Championship and Rugby Series into the Asian Five Nations. The competition became an annual championship and a promotion-relegation format was introduced. The winner of Division 2 replaced the loser of Division 1, and the winner of Division 1 replaced the loser of the Five Nations. For its inaugural years, no Division 3 took place, though several regional divisions were implemented across Asia. During the time of this competition, the main Five Nations division was dominated by Japan, South Korea and Hong Kong; the only three teams never to have been relegated to a lower division.

### Asia Rugby Championship (2015 onward)

[edit]

The competition was revamped again for the 2015 season as the Asia Rugby Championship. Under the new format, the top three teams formed a Tri nations division. A promotion-relegation challenge was instituted whereby the Division 1 winner had to defeat the Tri nations third place-getter to gain promotion for the next season.

## Format

[edit]

The current format sees the competition separated into various divisions, with a promotion and relegation format operated into each division. However, this only applies to Division 1 through 3, as the loser of the Tri Nations Division will play a play-off match against the winner of Division 1 to determine the third Tri Nations team for the following year. Where as the winners of Division 2 will automatically replace the loser of Division 1, and the two bottom placed teams in Division 2 will both be relegated down to one of the three regions in Division 3; West, East or South Central. Each of the three regions are made up three teams, and as of 2015, only the winners of the South Central and East divisions can be promoted to Division 2. This is because, the teams competing in the West region, are not considered as full members by World Rugby.

In 2015 in the main Tri Nations division, each team played each other on a home and away basis, picking up 5 points for a win and 3 for a draw. 2 additional points are up for grabs through bonus points, but in order to earn them, teams need to score 4 or more tries in a match, or when losing, lose by 7 points or less. In 2016 the points awarded were changed to 4 points for a win and 1 point for a draw with bonus points the same. For all Divisions, 1 through to 3, nations will only play each other once, with one of the included teams hosting all matches at home. These teams will also aim to pick points up for a win or draw, and gain bonus points. For all divisions, the team with the most table points wins their respective divisions, and if possible, earns promotion to the next division.

## Current divisions

[edit]

As of 2025, the competition divisions are:

| ARC

Hong Kong
South Korea
Sri Lanka
United Arab Emirates
| Division 1

India
Kazakhstan
Malaysia
Qatar

## Previous winners

[edit]

### All-time summary

[edit]

As of the 2025 Asia Rugby Championship.

Rank| Team| Champion| Runner‑up| Third place| Total

|
|
|
|
|

1|  Japan| 25| 5| 0| 30
2|  Hong Kong| 6| 8| 15| 29
3|  South Korea| 5| 17| 9| 31
4|  United Arab Emirates| 0| 2| 1| 3
5|  Kazakhstan| 0| 2| 0| 2
6|  Thailand| 0| 1| 3| 4
7|  Sri Lanka| 0| 1| 0| 1
8|  Malaysia| 0| 0| 4| 4
9|  Chinese Taipei| 0| 0| 3| 3
10|  Singapore| 0| 0| 1| 1
Totals (10 entries)| 36| 36| 36| 108

### Asia Rugby Championship

[edit]

Year  |  Edn | Host •

Teams

| Final placings

|
|
|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |
Asian Rugby Tournament  | Winner  | Runner-up  | Third  | Fourth
1969 | I  | Tokyo | 5  |  Japan |  Hong Kong |  Thailand |  Taiwan
1970 | II  | Bangkok | 7  |  Japan |  Thailand |  Hong Kong |  Singapore
1972 | III  | Hong Kong | 7  |  Japan |  Hong Kong |  Thailand |  Singapore
1974 | IV  | Colombo | 8  |  Japan |  Sri Lanka |  South Korea |  Malaysia
1976[2] | V  | Tokyo | 8  |  Japan |  South Korea |  Chinese Taipei |  Thailand
1978 | VI  | Kuala Lumpur | 7  |  Japan |  South Korea |  Singapore |  Thailand
1980 | VII  | Taipei | 8  |  Japan |  South Korea |  Hong Kong |  Chinese Taipei
1982 | VIII  | Singapore | 8  |  South Korea |  Japan |  Hong Kong |  Malaysia
1984 | IX  | Fukuoka | 8  |  Japan |  South Korea |  Chinese Taipei |  Thailand
1986 | X  | Bangkok | 8  |  South Korea |  Japan |  Thailand [3] |  Chinese Taipei
1988 | XI  | Hong Kong | 8  |  South Korea |  Japan |  Hong Kong |  Chinese Taipei
1990 | XII  | Colombo | 8  |  South Korea |  Japan |  Hong Kong |  Thailand
1992 | XIII  | Seoul | 8  |  Japan |  Hong Kong |  South Korea |  Thailand
1994 | XIV  | Kuala Lumpur | 8  |  Japan |  South Korea |  Hong Kong |  Chinese Taipei
1996 | XV  | Taipei | 7  |  Japan |  South Korea |  Hong Kong |  Chinese Taipei
Asian Rugby Champs Div I  | Winner  | Runner-up  | Third  | Fourth
1998 | XVI  | Singapore | 4  |  Japan |  South Korea |  Hong Kong |  Chinese Taipei
2000 | XVII  | Aomori | 4  |  Japan |  South Korea |  Chinese Taipei |  Hong Kong
2002 | XVIII  | Bangkok | 4  |  South Korea |  Japan |  Hong Kong |  Chinese Taipei
2004 | XIX  | Hong Kong | 4  |  Japan |  South Korea |  Hong Kong |  Chinese Taipei
2006 | XX  | Hong Kong | 3  |  Japan |  South Korea |  Hong Kong | —
Asian Five Nations  | Winner  | Runner-up  | Third  | Fourth
2008 | XXI  | round-robin
home

away | 5  |  Japan |  South Korea |  Hong Kong |  Kazakhstan
2009 | XXII  | 5  |  Japan |  Kazakhstan |  South Korea |  Hong Kong
2010 | XXIII  | 5  |  Japan |  Kazakhstan |  Hong Kong |  Arabian Gulf
2011 | XXIV  | 5  |  Japan |  Hong Kong |  United Arab Emirates |  Kazakhstan
2012 | XXV  | 5  |  Japan |  South Korea |  Hong Kong |  United Arab Emirates
2013 | XXVI  | 5  |  Japan |  South Korea |  Hong Kong |  Philippines
2014 | XXVII  | 5  |  Japan |  Hong Kong |  South Korea |  Philippines*
Asia Rugby Championship  | Winner  | Runner-up  | Third  | Fourth
2015 | XXVIII  | home
and
away | 3  |  Japan |  Hong Kong | †  South Korea | —
2016 | XXIX  | 3  |  Japan |  Hong Kong | †  South Korea
2017 | XXX  | 3  |  Japan |  Hong Kong | †  South Korea
2018 a | XXXI  | 3  |  Hong Kong |  South Korea | †  Malaysia
2019 a | XXXII  | 3  |  Hong Kong |  South Korea | †  Malaysia
2022 | XXXIII  | play-off | 3  |  Hong Kong |  South Korea | †  Malaysia | —
2023 | XXXIV  | 3  |  Hong Kong |  South Korea | †  Malaysia
2024 | XXXV  | round-robin
home

away | 4  |  Hong Kong |  United Arab Emirates |  South Korea | *  Malaysia
2025 | XXXVI  | round-robin
home

away | 4  |  Hong Kong |  United Arab Emirates |  South Korea | *  Sri Lanka

Notes:

^* Relegated to the division below

^† Able to be challenged by the winner of the division below to play in a promotion-relegation play-off.

^a Japan—as hosts of the 2019 Rugby World Cup–did not defend their Asia rugby Championship title in 2018 to allow the Tri Nations competition to form part of the 2019 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification process. Instead of returning to the trinations for 2019, Japan played the Pacific Nations to prepare for the World Cup.

### Division tournaments

[edit]

Year  | Div | Host •

Teams

| Final placings

|
|
|

|  |  |  |  |  |  |
ARC Divisions  | Winner  | Runner-up  | Third  | Fourth
1998 | 2 | Singapore | 6  |  Singapore |  Sri Lanka |  Thailand |  Malaysia
2000 | 2 | Ōwani | 4  |  Singapore |  China |  Sri Lanka |  Thailand
2002 | 2 | Bangkok | 7  |  Thailand |  Arabian Gulf |  Singapore |  Kazakhstan
2004 | 2 | Hong Kong | 4  |  Singapore |  Thailand |  Kazakhstan |  Arabian Gulf
3 | 4  |  China |  Sri Lanka |  India |  Pakistan
2007 | 2 | Colombo | 6  |  Kazakhstan |  Sri Lanka |  China |  Chinese Taipei
3 | 3  |  Iran |  India |  Pakistan | —
Asian Five Nations Divisions  | Winner  | Runner-up  | Third  | Fourth
2008 | 1 | Taiwan | 4  | § Singapore |  Chinese Taipei |  Sri Lanka | ‡  China
2 | Thailand | 4  | § Thailand |  Malaysia |  India |   Pakistan
P | Guam | 3  | § Philippines | § Guam |  Brunei | —
C | Sri Lanka | 3  | § Iran |  Uzbekistan |  Kyrgyzstan
SE | Indonesia | 3  | § Indonesia |  Laos |  Cambodia
2009 | 1 | Dubai | 4  | § Arabian Gulf |  Chinese Taipei |  Sri Lanka | ‡ Thailand
2 | Malaysia | 4  | § Malaysia |  China |  India | ‡ Pakistan
3 | Philippines | 4  | § Philippines |  Guam |  Iran |   Indonesia
C | Uzbekistan | 3  | § Uzbekistan |  Kyrgyzstan |  Mongolia | —
SE | Laos | 3  | § Laos |  Brunei |  Cambodia
2010 | 1 | Singapore | 4  | § Sri Lanka |  Singapore |  Malaysia | ‡ Chinese Taipei
2 | India | 4  | §  Philippines |  India |  Thailand | ‡ China
3 | Indonesia | 4  | § Iran |  Pakistan |  Guam |   Indonesia
4 | Kazakhstan | 4  | § Jordan |  Uzbekistan |  Almaty Select  |   Mongolia
2011 | 1 | South Korea | 4  | § South Korea |  Singapore |  Philippines | ‡ Malaysia
2 | Thailand | 4  | § Chinese Taipei |  Thailand |  Iran | ‡ India
3 | Indonesia | 4  | § China |  Guam |  Indonesia |   Pakistan
4 | Dubai | 4  | § Qatar |  Lebanon |  Jordan |   Uzbekistan
5 | Cambodia
& Laos | 2  | § Laos |  Cambodia | —  | —
2012 | 1 | Philippines | 4  | § Philippines |  Sri Lanka |  Chinese Taipei | ‡ Singapore
2 | Malaysia | 4  | § Thailand |  Malaysia |  Iran | ‡ China
3 | Indonesia | 4  | § India |  Guam |  Indonesia | ‡ Pakistan
4 | Dubai | 4  | § Qatar |  Lebanon |  Jordan |   Uzbekistan
5 | Cambodia | 3  | § Laos |  Brunei |  Cambodia | —
2013 | 1 | Sri Lanka | 4  | § Sri Lanka |  Kazakhstan |  Chinese Taipei | ‡ Thailand
2 | Malaysia | 4  | § Singapore |  Malaysia |  Iran | ‡ India
3 | 4  | § Qatar |  Guam |  Indonesia |   China
4 | Dubai | 4  | § Lebanon |  Pakistan |  Uzbekistan |   Laos
5 | Cambodia | 2  | § Cambodia |  Brunei | —  | —
2014 | 1 | Dubai &
Hong Kong | 4  |   Kazakhstan
Singapore | ‡ United Arab Emirates
‡ Chinese Taipei
2 | Qatar | 4  |   Malaysia |  Qatar |  Iran |  Thailand
3E | Laos | 4  |   China |  Guam |  Indonesia |  Laos
3W | Pakistan | 4  |   Lebanon |  Uzbekistan |  India |  Pakistan
4 | Brunei | 3  |   Mongolia |  Cambodia |  Brunei | —
ARC Divisions  | Winner  | Runner-up  | Third  | Fourth
2015 | 1 | Philippines | 4  |   Sri Lanka |  Philippines |  Kazakhstan | ‡ Singapore
2 | Malaysia | 4  | § Malaysia |  United Arab Emirates | ‡ Chinese Taipei | ‡ Thailand
3E | Indonesia | 3  | § Guam |  China |  Indonesia | —
3SC | Uzbekistan | 2  | § Uzbekistan |  India | —
3W | Lebanon | 3  |   Lebanon |  Iran |  Jordan
2016 | 1 | Malaysia | 4  |   Malaysia |  Sri Lanka |  Philippines | ‡ Singapore
2 | Uzbekistan | 4  |   United Arab Emirites |  Thailand |  Guam | ‡ Uzbekistan
3E | Thailand | 2  |   Laos |  Indonesia | —  | —
3WC | Qatar | 3  |   Qatar |  Lebanon |  Iran
3W | Jordan | 3  |   Jordan |  UAE Shaheen  |  Saudi Arabia
2017 | 1 | Malaysia | 4  | § Malaysia |  Sri Lanka |  Philippines |   United Arab Emirates
2 | Taiwan | 4  | § Singapore |  Thailand |  Chinese Taipei |   India
3W | Uzbekistan | 3  |   Lebanon |  Uzbekistan |  Iran | —
2018 | 1 | Philippines | 2  |   Philippines |  Singapore | —
2 | Thailand | 3  | § Chinese Taipei |  Thailand |  India
3E | Brunei | 3  |   Guam |  China |  Brunei
3C | Kazakhstan | 4  |   Kazakhstan |  Pakistan |  Mongolia |  Kyrgyzstan
3W | Lebanon | 4  |   Lebanon |  Iran |  Qatar |  Jordan
2019 | 1 | Taipei | 4  |   Philippines |  Singapore |  Sri Lanka |  Chinese Taipei
2 | Thailand | 4  |   United Arab Emirites |  Thailand |  Kazakhstan | ‡ Guam
3ES | Indonesia | 3  |   China |  India |  Indonesia | —
3C | Pakistan | 2  |   Pakistan |  Uzbekistan | —
3W | Qatar | 3  |   Qatar |  Lebanon |  Jordan
2022 | 2 | Pakistan | 2  |   Pakistan |  Thailand | —  | —
3C | Kyrgyzstan | 4  |   Kazakhstan |  Uzbekistan |  Mongolia |  Kyrgyzstan
3W | Al Ain | 2  |   Qatar |  Iran | —  | —
3S | India | 3  |   India |  Bangladesh |    Nepal
2023 | 1 | Pakistan | 2  |   United Arab Emirates |  Pakistan | —  | —
2 | Qatar | 3  |   Qatar |  Kazakhstan |  India
2024 | 1 | Sri Lanka | 4  |   Sri Lanka |  Kazakhstan |   Qatar |  India

Notes:

^‡ Relegated to the division below.

^§ Won promotion, or the right to a challenge play-off for promotion, to the division above.

## See also

[edit]

* Asia Rugby Women's Championship
* ARFU Asian Rugby Series – a former competition that merged with the ARC to become the Asian Five Nations in 2008.
* Asia Rugby
* Rugby union in Asia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "History". Asia Rugby. 2016. Archived from the original on 21 October 2016. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
2. ^ "Asian Championship 1976". Rugby Archive. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
3. ^ "Asian Championship 1986". Rugby Archive. Archived from the original on 2018-06-24. Retrieved 1 April 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* Asia Rugby
* ARFU Asian 5 Nations
* New structure announced
* World Rugby

* v
* t
* e

Asia Men's Rugby Championship

Current teams
(2025)|

| ARC|

* Hong Kong
* South Korea
* United Arab Emirates
* Malaysia
* Sri Lanka

|

Division 1|

* Qatar
* Kazakhstan
* India

Tournaments|

| ARC (since 2015)|

* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024
* 2025

|

ARC divisions (since 2015)|

* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Past Tournaments|

| ARC (1969–2007)|

* 1969
* 1970
* 1972
* 1974
* 1976
* 1978
* 1980
* 1982
* 1984
* 1986
* 1988
* 1990
* 1992
* 1994
* 1996
* 1998
* 2000
* 2002
* 2004
* 2006–07

|

ARS (2003–2007)|

* 2003–04
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007

A5N (2008–2014)|

* 2008
* Div.
* 2009
* Div.
* 2010
* Div.
* 2011
* Div.
* 2012
* Div.
* 2013
* Div.
* 2014
* Div.

* v
* t
* e

Asia Rugby Championship winners

* 1969:  Japan
* 1970:  Japan
* 1972:  Japan
* 1974:  Japan
* 1976:  Japan
* 1978:  Japan
* 1980:  Japan
* 1982:  South Korea
* 1984:  Japan
* 1986:  South Korea
* 1988:  South Korea
* 1990:  South Korea
* 1992:  Japan
* 1994:  Japan
* 1996:  Japan
* 1998:  Japan
* 2000:  Japan
* 2002:  South Korea
* 2004:  Japan
* 2006:  Japan
* 2008:  Japan
* 2009:  Japan
* 2010:  Japan
* 2011:  Japan
* 2012:  Japan
* 2013:  Japan
* 2014:  Japan
* 2015:  Japan
* 2016:  Japan
* 2017:  Japan
* 2018:  Hong Kong
* 2019:  Hong Kong
* 2022:  Hong Kong
* 2023:  Hong Kong
* 2024:  Hong Kong

* v
* t
* e

International rugby union competitions

* World Rugby
* Africa
* Asia
* Europe
* North America
* South America
* Oceania

Worldwide|

| Men|

* World Cup
* Nations Championship
* World Cup Sevens
* Sevens Series
* U20 World Championship
* U20 Trophy

|

Women|

* World Cup
* World Cup Sevens
* Sevens Series
* Rugby X
* WXV

Multi-sport events|

* Olympic Games (7s)
* Asian Games
* Commonwealth Games (7s)
* Mediterranean Games
* Pacific Games (7s)
* Pan American Games
* World Games

Intercontinental|

* Americas Pacific Challenge
* Nations Cup
* Pacific Nations Cup
* Pacific Rugby Challenge
* The Rugby Championship
* Pacific Four Series
* Arab Rugby Sevens Men's
* Arab Rugby Sevens Women's
* The Rugby Championship U20

Continental|

| Africa|

* Rugby Africa Cup
* Rugby Africa Women's Cup
* Africa Men's Sevens
* Africa Women's Sevens
* U20 Barthés Trophy

|

Asia|

* Asia Rugby Championship
* Asian Sevens Series
* Asia Rugby Women's Championship
* Asia Rugby Women's Sevens Series
* U19 Championship

Europe|

* Six Nations
* Europe International
* Women's Six Nations
* Europe Women's
* Europe Sevens
* Europe Women's Sevens
* U20 Six Nations
* U20 Championship
* U18 Championship
* U18 Sevens
* U18 Women's Sevens

Oceania|

* Oceania Men's Championship
* Oceania Women's Championship
* Oceania Sevens
* Oceania Women's Sevens
* U20 Championship

North America|

* RAN Championship
* Americas Rugby Championship
* Americas Rugby Challenge
* RAN Women's Championship
* RAN Sevens
* RAN Women's Sevens

South America|

* South American Championship
* Americas Rugby Trophy
* Sudamérica Sevens
* Sudamérica Women's Sevens
* U20 Championship

Defunct|

* Olympic Games (15s)
* Pacific Games (15s)
* World Games (7s)
* Churchill Cup
* Crescent Cup
* Pacific Rim Championship
* Pan American
* Serendib International Cup
* Super Cup
* Tbilisi Cup
* U-19 World Championship
* U-21 World Championship
* Women's Nations Cup
* IRB Women's Sevens Challenge Cup
* South Pacific Championship
* Super 10
* ARFU Asian Rugby Series

* Women's international rugby
* World Rugby Rankings
* World Rugby Awards

* v
* t
* e

Asian Championships

Olympic sports|

| Team sports|

* Basketball
* Men
* Women
* 3x3
* Beach volleyball
* Curling
* Field hockey
* Men
* Women
* Football
* Men
* Women
* Handball
* Men
* Women
* Ice hockey
* Rugby sevens
* Men
* Women
* Volleyball
* Men
* Women
* Water polo

|

Individual sports|

* Alpine skiing
* Archery
* Athletics
* Outdoor
* Indoor
* Race walking
* Marathon
* Cross country
* Badminton
* Boxing
* Canoeing
* Cycling
* Fencing
* Figure skating
* Gymnastics
* Judo
* Rowing
* Sailing
* Shooting
* Speed skating
* Sport climbing
* Swimming
* Table tennis
* Taekwondo
* Weightlifting
* Wrestling

Non-Olympic sports|

| Team sports|

* Australian rules football
* Men
* Women
* Baseball
* Men
* Women
* Baseball5
* Beach handball
* Beach soccer
* Cricket
* Men
* Women
* Fistball
* Floorball
* Futsal
* Men
* Women
* Indoor hockey
* Men
* Women
* Kabaddi
* Kho kho
* Korfball
* Lacrosse
* Netball
* Roller hockey
* Rugby union
* Men
* Women
* Softball
* Men
* Women
* Mixed – Slow-pitch

|

Individual sports|

* Chess
* Individual
* Team
* Darts
* Karate
* Para-badminton
* Para table tennis
* Ski mountaineering
* Snooker
* Squash
* Individual
* Team
* Surfing
* Wushu

*[ Edn]: Edition
*[Div]: Division
*[P]: Pacific-Asia Regional Division
*[C]: Central Asia Regional Division
*[SE]: South East Asia Regional Division
*[3E]: 3 East
*[3W]: 3 West
*[3SC]: 3 South Central
*[3WC]: 3 West Central
*[3C]: 3 Central
*[3ES]: 3 East South
*[3S]: 3 South
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[ARC]: Asia Rugby Championship
*[ARS]: ARFU Asian Rugby Series
*[A5N]: Asian Five Nations