NEXT Campus to power Kandy Tuskers and Next XV rugby players

Tuesday, 22 September 2026 04:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Kandy Tuskers have partnered with NEXT Campus to provide educational opportunities for players participating in the Next XV Rugby League, organised by Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR).

Under the partnership, all 140 Next XV players will be eligible for a scholarship of up to Rs. 1 million to pursue an undergraduate degree program at NEXT Campus in Sri Lanka.

The initiative is designed to help young rugby players develop their sporting careers while investing in their education and with it build long-term future careers.

Kandy Tuskers Co-Owner Tharanga Gunasekera said: “We want to make sure that our players have a pathway both on the rugby field and beyond it. Rugby teaches discipline, resilience, teamwork, and leadership, but a player’s journey should not end when they leave the field. This partnership with NEXT Campus gives our young players an opportunity to build a strong educational foundation alongside their rugby ambitions.”

Eligible players will have access to foundation and undergraduate programs, together with extended academic guidance, to help them balance their studies with training and competition.

NEXT Campus Chairman Dr. Dusty Alahakoon said: “Sport and education should go hand in hand. The qualities developed through rugby discipline, teamwork, resilience, and leadership are exactly the qualities that help young people succeed in education and their professional lives. We are proud to support the Next XV players and provide them with an opportunity to invest in their future.”

The partnership supports the Next XV Rugby League’s broader goal of creating a structured, sustainable platform for emerging rugby talent in Sri Lanka. By combining competitive rugby with access to education, it aims to help young players play, learn, and build a career, regardless of where their sporting journey leads.

The collaboration between the Kandy Tuskers, Next XV Rugby League, and NEXT Campus brings together sport, education, and opportunity under one message: The Kandy Tuskers are committed to building on Kandy’s rich rugby heritage and passionate supporter base while developing a modern, competitive rugby brand that connects players, fans, and the wider community.

With the Next XV Rugby League, Sri Lankan schools rugby will enter a franchise era which will create opportunities for the emerging rugby talent through a structured, competitive platform focused on player development on and off the field with the aim to select the Sri Lanka Under-19 squad of 40 players. In 2026, the Next XV franchise league will feature four franchise teams with 140 players drafted with eight matches scheduled at CR & FC from 19 September onwards.

NEXT Campus continues to transform the regional learning landscape by empowering the next generation of global leaders. In a strategic partnership with London Metropolitan University, NEXT Campus offers a comprehensive suite of internationally recognised undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs, bringing world-class UK education directly to local students.