Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on April 2010

John Kirwan knows a thing or two about the Rugby World Cup. The former All Black winger is already a veteran of four tournaments, having represented New Zealand in 1987 and 1991, coached Italy in 2003 and then Japan in 2007. With the HSBC Asian Five Nations just around the corner, he’s getting tantalizingly close to notching up a fifth: this year’s A5N will double as a qualifying tournament for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, and Kirwan’s side looks set for a comparatively easy ride. Japan will have to travel just once—to South Korea on May 1—before playing Arabian Gulf, Kazakhstan and Hong Kong on home turf at Tokyo’s Chichibunomiya Stadium.

Though Japan ran away with the title in both 2008 and 2009, Kirwan won’t be taking any chances this year. “The most important thing is to secure that qualification, so I will take the best team available,” he said in March, when his initial squad was announced. “We are totally committed to our first goal, which is getting to the World Cup.”

First held in 2008, the A5N is now the largest annual regional rugby tournament in the world. A total of 28 countries and territories take part, which are divided into an elite group, four divisions and a regional competition. Games are held all over Asia—in places such as New Delhi, Dubai and Phnom Penh—but the main focus is on the top group. Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Kazakhstan and Arabian Gulf are fighting it out for Asia’s automatic World Cup spot in Pool A (alongside New Zealand, France, Tonga and Canada), with the runners-up looking to book the final spot in New Zealand via the repechage system.

“The competition for the runner-up spot is equally fierce, as Asia’s No. 2 will have a chance to continue on the road to New Zealand with a match against South American challengers Uruguay in July,” said Japan Rugby Football Union Chairman Nobby Mashimo at the launch event for the tournament in Hong Kong. The winner of that game will then play either Tunisia or Romania for the final spot in New Zealand.

With an increasing number of its countrymen playing in the Top League—including Sanyo Wild Knights’ Yu Young-nam and Honda Heat’s Yang Young-hun—South Korea is sure to be Japan’s toughest opponent in the A5N. However, the team underperformed in last year’s tournament, eventually finishing third behind Kazakhstan. The latter, meanwhile, were dealt a blow when they were forced to move their game against Japan to Tokyo because of the lack of a suitable stadium in the Kazakh capital of Astana. However, they should still be in the mix come the end of May.

Hong Kong toured Europe in November in preparation for the A5N, and seemed to have benefited from the experience when they beat Wales in the Hong Kong Sevens in March. However, they will still find it tough to improve on last year’s record of one win and three losses. The Arabian Gulf, playing their final competition as a combined team before each of the region’s nations go it alone, are likely to be on the receiving end of some cricket scores. But Kirwan’s Japan remains the team to beat.

2010 HSBC Asian 5 Nations

Japan vs. Hong Kong. May 22, 2pm. ¥1,300-¥4,000. Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Gaienmae. Tel: 03-3401-3290.

Hundreds of free tickets to the A5N are up for grabs at www.metropolis.co.jp/HSBCrugby