ASIA NATIONS RUGBY: Division 3

Jakarta hosts its first major rugby tournament, the Asia Nations Division 3. Teams participating are Indonesia, Pakistan (relegated from Division 2 last year), Iran and Guam.

Day One-Semi Finals
09.06.2010
Guam v Iran
Pakistan v Indonesia

Previews

Pakistan Squad. Image thanks to Pakistan RFU

Pakistan has the most international experience of all the teams.Their first experience of international rugby was at the 2004 19th Asia Championship, held in Sri Lanka. Pakistan was in Pool C. Sri Lanka was their first opponent on the world stage; they lost 3-75. They also lost to India 3-56. Since then the game has developed rapidly in Pakistan and a healthy and competitive club competition thrives. Last year they crashed out of Division 2 losing both to China and India.

Guam first played test rugby in 2005 in a World Cup qualifying series against India, Kazakhstan and Malaysia. They drew their first test match 8-8 with India but lost with honour to the other more established rivals. Last year they defeated Indonesia 23-3 in Manilla but lost 0-25 to the Philippines who were promoted to Division 2.

Indonesia entered the world of international test rugby in 2006. Up until last year they have been involved in regional tournaments involving Cambodia, Laos and Brunei, winning most of their games. Last year they lost heavily to both Guam and Iran in the Division 3 Asia Nations Competition. There being no Division 4 Indonesia stayed put. The pressure will be on to improve against the same teams as last year, and hold their place.

Iran is the newest team on the world scene in this group. Their progress has been nothing short of amazing. They defeated Pakistan twice and India once in their first year! They took part in a regional tournament in 2008, defeating both Kygyzstan and Uzbekistan. Last year they entered the Asia Nations competitions for the first time playing in Division 3 in Manilla. They lost their first test match ever, going down 0-15 to eventual winner Philippines. They then defeated Indonesia 48-13 to showcase what Iran has to offer international rugby.

Previous Encounters
Guam and Iran have not played each other before.
Pakistan v Indonesia have not played each other before.

GWC Rugby Rankings
Asia Table-Iran 14th, Pakistan 15th, Guam 16th, Indonesia 17th
IRB only ranks Guam

Predictions
Iran by 14 v Guam
Pakistan by 7 v Indonesia

Teams

Guam Squad
Paul Claros (captain) (Para Todu)
Anthony "TJ" Ada (Para Todu)
Gerard Aguon (Para Todu) *
John Arceo (Taupiri Rugby Club, New Zealand)
Edward Calvo (Para Todu)
Vinson Calvo (Para Todu)
Leonard Calvo (Para Todu)
Billy Chennaux (Para Todu)
Michael Cruz (Para Todu) *
Paul Eustaquio (Taupiri Rugby Club, New Zealand)
Zeb Howser (Para Todu)*
Robert Leon Guerrero (Para Todu)
Jesse Manglona (Para Todu) *
Randy Mendiola (Para Todu)
Brandon O'Mallan (St Pauls Collegiate, New Zealand)
Earl Pascual (Para Todu)
Sixto Quintanilla (Southern Rugby) *
Stephen Santos (Para Todu)*
Christopher Sgro (Para Todu)
Matthew Toves (Southern Rugby)
Sakiusa Vaka (Guam Rugby Club)
Peter Walls (Guam Rugby Club)
William Williams (Para Todu)
* New cap
Head Coach Willie Hetaraka
Assistant coach Christopher Luman
Manager Neil Paynter
Team doctor Tom Mick.

Pakistan
“PRU President Fawzi Khawaja announced the following 32-member squad, which is to be whittled down to 24 for the tournament”.

Adnan Niazi
Aftab Qureshi
Ahmed Mumtaz
Amrez Hamid
Anwaar-Ul-Haq Zafar
Azmat Khan Niazi
Billal Butt
Durani Haroon
Fouzan Wain
Hammad Safdar
Imran Rashid
Junaid Malik
Khalid Bhatti
Mansoor Rehan
M. Junaid Liaqat
M. Babar
M. Manan Naseem
Muneeb Baqapuri
Omer Shafqaat
Romail Ashraf
Saad Arif
Sahir Aslam
Sair Riaz
Salman Majeed Wain
Shakeel Ahmed
Syed Xeeshan Rizvi
Taimur Zia Butt
Umer Islam
Umer Usman
Waqar Javaid
Waseem Abbas
Zaheer Niazi.
Head Coach Rizwan Malik
PRU President Fawzi Khawaja
National Team Manger Khuram Haroon
Doctor Rashid Malik

“In Indonesia the Pakistan team will also get coaching from international coaches led by Mr. frank Haden, former coach of the Scotland national team and brand ambassador for HSBC working on Rugby development in Asia”

http://www.pakistanrugby.com/

Final 24 not yet known.

Indonesia and Iran have not yet sent their squad details to me.