Asian Rugby Sevens finalists to book RWC 2018 berth

By Shamseer Jaleel

The much-awaited Asian Rugby Sevens 2017 will kick off in Hong Kong in early September. 

The second leg will move to South Korea before the third and final leg is played in Colombo in October. 

Asian Rugby will change its venues next year after the three-year opportunity given to Hong Kong, South Korea and Sri Lanka.

This year Asian Rugby Sevens finalists will get a rare opportunity to book their berth for the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 in San Francisco. All eight quarterfinalists from the Rugby World Cup (RWC) Sevens 2013 in Moscow (New Zealand, England, Fiji, Kenya, South Africa, Wales, Australia and France) qualified automatically for the 2018 edition of the tournament as did host team the US. Under the agreed qualification process, the top four teams outside of those nine at the 2016-17 series will book their place in San Francisco, meaning that Scotland, Canada, Argentina and Samoa have already confirmed their places. The remaining 11 places will be filled by teams through regional competitions from June 2017 to April 2018 as follows: Europe - two teams, Asia – two teams, Africa - two teams, North America – one team, South America – two teams and Oceania = two teams.

Mercantile Rugby from 21-23 July 

By Shamseer Jaleel 

The Mercantile Rugby Football Association (MRFA) will conduct the 47th edition of the Mercantile Rugby Sevens and 2nd Women’s Tag Rugby Sevens at the Racecourse Rugby Grounds from 21-23 July.

Entries will close on 12 July and the captains’ briefing will take place on 5 July at CR&FC. The draw for the groups will be held on 17 July. 

Access Group are the defending Cup Champions with Nation Lanka Finance winning the Plate, John Keells ‘B’ winning the Bowl and Brandix Essentials accounting for the Shield. Ceylon Tobacco won the inaugural Women’s Tag Rugby Sevens.