Japan top S. Korea to clinch Asia Rugby Championship

FUKUOKA (May 9) – Japan walked off with the Asia Rugby Championship on Saturday despite still having a game to play as they beat South Korea 66-10 at Level-5 Stadium.

Kenki Fukuoka scored a hat-trick of tries, Karne Hesketh bagged a brace and there were additional five pointers from Ryu Koliniasi Holani, Luke Thompson, Harumichi Tatekawa, Kensuke Hatakeyama and Ayumu Goromaru, who also kicked eight conversions, as the Brave Blossoms produced their best display of the tournament.

Jegal Bin, who plays his rugby in Japan for NTT Communications Shining Arcs, crossed for South Korea’s only try with Park Hang Yul adding a conversion and Oh Youn Hyung kicking a penalty.

Fukuoka, who hadn’t played for Japan since June 2014, scored with his first touch following a great cross kick from Yu Tamura in the first minute.

The visitors drew level 10 minutes later when Jegal intercepted a loose pass from Goromaru, but it was all Japan after that.

Playing at a much quicker pace than last week, the forwards provided plenty of ball and with Hesketh running powerfully at 13, the Brave Blossoms ran in four more tries in the first half to lead 31-7 at the break.

The second half started slowly as some of the players started to suffer from the hard training the team has put in of late, but the replacements eventually did their job allowing Japan to score a further five tries.

Japan have a bye next week, while South Korea and Hong Kong fight it out for second place, before they wrap up their ARC campaign in Hong Kong on May 23.