Qualifying for the 2019 Rugby World Cup for Asia Rugby will begin in May 2016 and end in April 2018, where the winner of the qualification process will advance to an inter-continental play-off series against the winner of Round 3 of the Oceania qualification process in June 2018.
Contents
Format
The Asia Rugby Championship, governed by Asia Rugby, will be the regional qualification tournament for Rugby World Cup 2019, with Divisions 2, 1 and the Top 3 being involved in the process. The teams competing in the 2016 Divisions 1 and 2 will act as Round 1, with the winner of Division 2 being promoted to Division 1, for the second regional qualification round in 2017. While the teams competing in Division 1, will be contesting against each other to earn the right to remain in Division 1 for the second regional qualification round, with the team placed bottom being eliminated from Rugby World Cup contention.
2017 saw Divisions 1 and the top 3 act as Round 2, with the winner of Division 1 advancing to the Top 3 Challenge play-off against the loser of Top 3 tournament. The winner of that play-off will progress to the third and final round of Asian qualification.
In 2018, the winner of the 2018 Asian Rugby Championship (excluding Japan - not listed in qualification process), will advance to a inter-continental play-off series for repechage berth.
Entrants
Ten teams will compete for the 2019 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification. Shown in parentheses are the teams world rankings prior to the first Asian qualification match on 8 May 2016.
Round 1
The first round consisted of ten matches between 8 teams. The winner of the Asian Rugby Championship Division 2 (Round 1A), advanced to the second round and was promoted to division 1 for 2017, while the top three teams in division 1 (Round 1B), remained in the division advancing into the second round.
On 10 April 2015, Kazakhstan who were meant to compete in the 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 (Round 1B) withdrew from the competition and Rugby World Cup contention. Singapore were therefore promoted up to Division 1 and Thailand replaced Singapore in Division 2.
Round 1A: 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division 2
The 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division 2 tournament was contested by four teams in a knockout format. The tournament was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Round 1B: 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division 1
The 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 tournament was contested by four teams in a round robin format. The tournament was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Round 2A: 2017 Asian Rugby Championship Division 1
The 2017 Asian Rugby Championship Division 1 tournament will be contested by four teams in a round robin format. The tournament will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Round 2 Final
Teams and fixture to be decided.
Round 3
Teams and fixtures to be decided.