2007 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification explained
In qualification for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, thirteen Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) nations compete for one full place, and one repechage place (Repechage 2, against Oceania 3). No Asian teams qualified for the quarter-finals in 2003, so none qualify automatically in 2007. Only Japan has been to the World Cup, participating in all five RWCs to date, with only one win in 1991 (England) against Zimbabwe, 52–8. Asia 1 will go into Group B with Australia, Wales, Fiji and Canada.
Format
The qualification structure was as follows:
- First round: 13 teams (divided into three divisions) played home-and-away in a round-robin style pool stage. The two highest-ranked teams in division one advance to the second round in the first division. Two teams from division two advance to the second round, and one team from division three advances to the second round via a play-off.
- Second round: 6 teams (divided into two divisions) were divided into three-team pools. Each team played home-and-away round-robin matches. The two highest-placed teams in division one advanced to the final round (three), while the best-placed team in division two would be the sole team advancing to the final round from their pool.
- Third round: 3 teams played a home-and-away round-robin match against one of each team. The pool winner qualified to the 2007 Rugby World Cup. The runner-up advanced to the repechage qualification phase.
First round
Division three
Pool B
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Division three play-off
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Second round
Division two
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