2014 Asian 5 Nations - Divisional Tournaments

[usausa]

I made a separate thread for the A5N Divisional tournaments only because it is not a RWC Qualifier and felt it would be inappropriate to place it in the other thread.

Based off ARFU facebook page it looks like Div1 is reverting back to a semi-final/final format (opposed to round robin like last 2 years - used as RWC qualifying)...what a shame. (Source: https://www.facebook.com/events/1480292528849492)

Apr 23, 730pm (local) is Singapore at UAE in one semi-final for Div 1. From the Gulf Rugby Paper, shared onto ARFU's wall:

The Bill McLaren events are over, the season has officially ended and the M&Y have even had their last weekend training, so now it is time for the International matches to take the stage.
For Qatar, we wait for May, but for the UAE it is Wednesday the 23rd of April.
UAE will be playing Singapore at the 7evens at 7.30 pm, in what is becoming an ever more historical footnote in the history of UAE and Gulf rugby.
What happens after this game in terms of A5N hierarchy at this stage, no one is at all sure, but the players themselves will not be overly concerned. Such new beginnings for the UAE will also be one step at a time and Singapore will be a tricky enough encounter as it is.
The squad has been officially announced and within contains 5 Emirati players,
The 24-man squad, representing the UAE against Singapore on Wednesday is;

Forwards:
Ali Ghulam Shaheen
Adam Telford Jebel Ali Dragons
Jay Danielson Abu Dhabi Saracens
Mohamed Hassan Arabian Knights
Rossouw van Dijk Arabian Knights
Joe Cooper Jebel Ali Dragons
Mark Weissenborn Dubai Hurricanes
Graham Murphy Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Pete Sampson Abu Dhabi Saracens
Riaan Boshoff Abu Dhabi Saracens
James Parker Dubai Hurricanes
Chris Jones-Griffiths Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Daniel Minks Jebel Ali Dragons

Backs:
Cyrus Homayoun Jebel Ali Dragons
Adel Alhendi Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Neil Robert Pommerel Abu Dhabi Saracens
Mohammad Alawi Shaheen
Ray Gilburt Jebel Ali Dragons
Jono Bester Xodus Wasps
Michael Lancaster Xodus Wasps
Charlie Sargent Dubai Exiles
Chris Burch Dubai Hurricanes
Gareth Armstrong Xodus Wasps
James Elliot-Square Dubai Hurricanes

We wish them all the best and congratulate the many debut players for UAE International duty.

The other Div 1 semi final is May 10th in Hong Kong, Kazakhstan vs. Chinese Taipei. Most likely this is the curtain raiser for the Hong Kong-South Korea match.

While UAE may be favorite because of Top 5 experience, they have went with a number of new players so anything is possible. Singapore isn't too shabby a side either, wouldn't be surprised if this is a 10-15 point game.
Kazakhstan is the favorite over Chinese Taipei and my favorite to win this division.

 

[usausa]

Contrary to what ARFU calendar has posted, Division 2 is scheduled for May not April. Fixtures as follows:

Schedule for Division 2 in Doha:

20 May - 17:30 Malaysia - Iran / 19:30 Qatar - Thailand
23 May - 17:30 3rd place / 19:30 final

 

[usausa]

Also, to keep up with other Asian thread I posted on, the format looks like it's changing after this year.

Starting next year the A5N format is changing. I'll post what I pasted in the FIRA forums detailing the future:

submitted proposal to HSBC USD 8-900K including TV, in hope would be acceptable, but HSBC have reverted too much. TG suggests we need budget allowing for minimum USD 100K from HSBC and TG will get more and thinks USD500K is possible. HSBC will not want ***le sponsor rights in A5N 2014, so host unions can attract their own finance sector sponsors.
TG in discussions with other potential sponsors. But they will likely come on board in 2015 under revised competitions format.

Claude Atcher has told TG of potential TV coverage from Malaysia. TG: unless TV is sponsored, there will be no TV coverage.
Hence cost of Top 5 + Divs 1-3 = USD 467K TV was USD 400K in past years; Sean Moore trying to bring that down to USD 200K.
TG: ARFU can perhaps use some (200K?) of its reserves for this, or to upload whatever footage is available to You Tube etc. But should be last resort.
AS: Setanta would take any footage.
MO: IRB will be keen that last match in Tokyo (perhaps with the RWC trophy on show) be televised.

2014 will be last year in this format for Divs 3-5 with no automatic promotion or relegation from Div 3, 4 5 upwards and potential demotion from Div 2 for non-IRB full member unions, unless sponsorship can be found to support the ARC

Potential 2015 Men"s 15s Format for "Asian Rugby Championship" (USD 350K budget)
Top 3: Japan, Korea, HK (Home & Away = 6 matches) = USD 45K
Promotion/Relegation match = 7.5K
HP: Above unions additional cross-regional tests (June and Nov player release windows). Sri Lanka hosts Serendib Cup.
Under current A5N rankings, Divisions below would be:
Div 1: Philippines, Sri Lanka, UAE, Kazakhstan (one location = 6 matches) = USD 75 + 7.5x3 = 97.5K
Followed 2 weeks later - after last (coinciding) day of Top 3 and Div 1 – by a repechage promotion/relegation match hosted by the highest IRB ranked union (to play in Top 3 the following year).
Div 2: Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia (one location = 1v4; 2v3 + LvL ; WvW) = 50 + 22.5 = 72.5
=USD222, 500 leaving USD 126.5
Regional Groups, examples:
Div 3A: Iran, Qatar, Guam, Indonesia,
Div 3B: India, Lebanon, Laos, Pakistan
Div 3C1/2: 2 Regional permutations of: China, Uzbekistan. . .Cambodia, Brunei, Mongolia, Afghanistan
Other competitions in 2014
3. AR7S (men"s 7s)
IRB grant is USD 91K
TG will commit USD 100K from HSBC
Total 191K (minus 36 for referees at 3x12) = 155
For cost reasons back to 3 ranking rounds in 2014 with 11 core teams + 1 wild card (host)
Then, for instance, Thailand 7s becomes development level 7s tournament alongside UAERF"s West Asia 7s allowing for most competitive team to become 11th core team in following year"s series
USD 25 hosting fee x 3 = 75K
2K per 11 teams travelling = 22K x 3 = 66K
=141K total

*TG is Trevor Gregory, president of ARFU Executive Committee.
*AS is Asanga Senaviratne, Honorary (Honorable?) Secretary General.
*MO ???

These were from the ARFU Executive Meeting document annexes, that of course now require a login to access, but I think I still have it saved on my downloads if someone is interested in reading the notes, interesting stuff on many topics.



Forgot to add in previous posts, there is a possibility that ALL IF NOT MOST of the A5N games will be streamed and archived on youtube like end of last 15s season and for all of 7s season, making ARFU pretty much the leader in that area. Will post more info when I get it, but here's the channel:
https://www.youtube.com/user/asian5nationstv

 

[usausa]

Sooooo no live streaming like last year, nothing yet on twitter from ARFU or Asian5Nations accounts, trying to find an account to follow...right when ARFU seemingly were headed in the right direction and starting to become one of the better federations it takes 2 steps backwards.

ARFU did "release" the structure of the comp. No dates on matches but locations and teams, which we already knew. Division 1 now is joke too, only 2 matches. The UAE-Singapore match and Kazakhstan-Chinese Taipei in 2 weeks. The winners of these matches will be in the new "Division 1" along with the 2 lowest sides in the Top 5 next year while the 2 losers will go to Division 2. Who the hell decided 2 matches at the second tier of Asian rugby (1 for each team) was at all acceptable?

 

[usausa]

Singapore 7-5 UAE after 20'
Singapore 19-10 UAE halftime
Singapore 27-13 UAE after 60'
Singapore 30-13 UAE final

 

[usausa]

Singapore - 30
T: 12/13 Edward Carne, 11/14 Luke McCabe (3)
C: 9 Suhaimi Amran (2)
P: 9 Suhaimi Amran, Stuart Lakin
YC: 4/5 Murray Wyllie (1st half)

UAE -13
XV:
1. Riaan Boshoff 2. Pete Sampson 3. Graham Murphy 4. Mark Weissenborn 5. Joe Cooper 6. Mohannad Shaker 7. Jay Danielson 8. Adam Telford 9. Gareth Armstrong 10. Chris Burch 11. Charlie Sargent 12. Jono Bester 13. Neil Pommerel 14. Adel Alhendi 15. Cyrus Homayoun.

T: 12 Jono Bester, 13 Neil Pommerel
P: 11 Charlie Sargent

Man of match for UAE: Captain #8 Adam Telford, captain played 3 positions in game (according to a tweet from Sean Hurley @seanhurls), honorable mention was winger Charlie Sargent. Not official award.

Score evolution: 7-0, 7-5, 7-10, 12-10, 19-10 (halftime), 22-10, 22-13, 27-13, 30-13

 

[lynam1104]

Good on singapore, been coached by a few players on their team hope they do well and give promotion a shot.

 

[bakakumon]

http://asian5nations.com/

Finally the website got updated withe descriptions of various teams