Head-to-head
Played: 11 – Korea leads 11-0
Points for: Korea 735 / Malaysia 78 (avg. score: 67-7)
Highest score: Korea 135 (135-3 on 20 September, 1992) / Malaysia 16 (16-38 on 25 May, 2019)
Biggest winning margin: Korea 132 (135-3 on 20 September, 1992)
First met: 23 November, 1974 – Korea 41-0 Malaysia – Colombo, Sri Lanka
Last met: 25 May, 2019 – Korea 38-16 Malaysia – Bukit Jalil National Stadium, Kuala Lumpur
• This is the first match of the Asia Rugby Championship 2022, a competition which forms
part of the Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification process
• The tournament was due to be held in 2021 but was postponed due to COVID-19
• The winner will face Hong Kong to determine the side that progresses to meet Tonga in
the Asia/Pacific Qualifier on Australia’s Sunshine Coast on 23 July
• The winner of the Asia/Pacific Qualifier will take their place in Pool B at RWC 2023
alongside South Africa, Ireland, Scotland and the Europe 2 qualifier
• The loser will progress to the Final Qualification Tournament in November, a four-team
tournament that will determine the 20th and final qualifier for France 2023
• This will be Korea’s first test match for 1,071 days since they lost 64-3 to Hong Kong on 29
June, 2019
• This is seven days fewer than Malaysia, who played their last test on 22 June, 2019 – a 71-0
loss to Hong Kong in Kuala Lumpur
• Korea have scored at least 35 points in all 11 meetings with Malaysia, their lowest tally
coming in a 35-10 victory in April 2018
• That match was their first meeting for 22 years, since Korea won 112-5 in November 1996
• Malaysia’s promotion to the Asia Rugby Championship in 2017 saw them face Korea and
Hong Kong home and away in 2018 and 2019
• Their meetings with Korea in 2018 and 2019 were both at this venue, the Namdong Asiad
Rugby Stadium in Incheon
• Korea won 67-12 in 2018 and 52-14 a year later
• Malaysia are now coached by former All Black Rodney So’oialo, the veteran of 62 tests
having been appointed in September 2021
