AR XV a-side returns to Colombo after 7 long years

By Shamseer Jaleel

Asia Rugby XV a-side Division 1 Championship 2024 will kick off later this month at the Race Course ground in Colombo when Sri Lanka hosts the tournament with Qatar, Kazakhstan and India being the other three competing countries in the 4 nations event.

Originally, this year’s Asia Rugby Men’s Division 1 was to be contested between hosts, Sri Lanka, Qatar and Pakistan. Pakistan had to withdraw from this year’s competition. At the same time, the Asia Rugby Men’s Division 2 competition also ended up with only 2 teams, Kazakhstan and India, as Iran had to withdraw from this year’s competition.

The hosts, Sri Lanka participated in the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship in Division 1 five years ago, in 2019 which was held in Taipei where they lost in the semi-final to the Philippines by 39/22 but came back strongly to take 3rd place by beating the hosts, Taipei, 72/17. Since then, Sri Lanka has not been able to compete, firstly due to the cancellation of all rugby activities due to the pandemic and then due to Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) suspension by Asia and World Rugby (WR) over union governance issues.

SLR President Nalin De Silva said, “Sri Lanka Rugby is delighted to host the Asian Rugby Division 1 tournament, scheduled to be held from 30 April to 4 May in Colombo, after 7 long years since an Asian rugby event has taken place at the Colombo Racecourse Stadium. We are looking forward to welcoming Qatar, Kazakhstan and the Indian rugby teams to Sri Lanka. With 145 years of legacy and as one of the oldest rugby-playing nations in Asia, our players wish to display their natural talents and skills and also to share and strengthen our deep-rooted cultural ties through rugby, with the visiting Asian rugby teams”.

Tournament schedule as per AR

30 April

Kazakhstan vs Qatar  4 p.m.

Sri Lanka vs India 6 p.m.

5 May

3rd place play off

Losers of match 1 vs Losers of match 2  4 p.m.

Champions

Winners of match 1 vs Winners of match 2  7 p.m.