30 September 2019 – It was down to the Points Difference between 3 teams to decide one team to be relegated while another 2 will remain for the 2020 Asia Rugby 7s Series. Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore all ended the Series with 7 points after 3 series as all 3 teams took turn to finish 6th, 7th and 8th.
The 3rd Series in Sri Lanka saw Malaysia finished last as they lost to the host, Sri Lanka in the 7th/8th match, 7 – 17. Singapore grabbed the 6th spot as they lost to Hong Kong but that proved not much different as the result saw Singapore relegated from the 2020 Series.
Malaysia will have to thank their outstanding performance in the first two Series especially in China which saw Malaysia finished 6th ahead of Singapore and Sri Lanka. Malaysia lost all the matches in Sri Lanka.
The overall standing saw Malaysia in 7th just above Singapore. It is base on the points difference throughout the Series.
The order of Points Difference after 3 series.
Sri Lanka – 231
Malaysia – 348
Singapore – 391
Japan, as expected took home the overall winner as they showed their dominance, winning all 3 series by some fine margin. They overcame Thailand in the final of the 3rd Series.
Malaysia will have 2 teams, Men and Women competing in the same year for the first time ever as the Men team made immediate return to the Series, having won the Asia Rugby 7s Trophy earlier this year in Indonesia.
Both team however need to shift their focus to the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines at the end of the year with the Men is set to retain the gold while the Women team will be wishing to go better from the Bronze that they won back in 2017.
Photos courtesy of Malaysia Rugby Union www.malaysiarugby.my
