The Indonesian Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is set to kick off the first international series of the HSBC Asian Five Nations this Saturday at Pelita Harapan University Sports Stadium in Karawaci, Tangerang.

Three teams from Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia will take part in the three-day event, part of a regional test sanctioned by the International Rugby Union (IRU) to welcome in the New Zealand Rugby World Cup in 2011.

"Starting this year, the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) will have the Asian Five Nations as a new form of its tournament, with Indonesia chosen to host the maiden series," Indonesian rugby union spokesman Fikri Al Azhar told reporters.

The Asian Five Nations tournament comprises 25 countries divided into a Main Division, Division I, Division II and Development Divisions based on each country's skills in rugby.

Indonesia is grouped in the lowest skill level, the Development Division, along with Laos and Cambodia.

IRFU chairman Andrew Nugroho hoped the Indonesian team could win all its matches.

"We've selected the best Indonesian rugby players from across the country to face this test," he said.

The Saturday match will see Cambodia play Laos, followed by Indonesia and Laos on July 15.

The last match is on July 19, featuring Indonesia versus Cambodia.

Rugby was introduced in Indonesia in the 1970s. In 2004, the IRFU was founded. Last year, the national team, the Rhinos, went unbeaten in its international debut against Laos, Cambodia and Brunei Darussalam.

The country has 15 teams in 10 provinces, including Aceh, East Kalimantan, Bali, Papua and Jakarta. It also has five annual tournaments, such as the Jakarta 10s, the Bali International 10s and the Papua 10s.

Popular

Policymakers to rethink single-day general election format

Authorities raises Halmahera volcano alert level to highest

Indosat showcasing Indonesia's Digital Literacy Initiative at the Global DTC Workshop