Northampton Saints to play Asia Pacific Lions at Racecourse on 28 August

Thursday, 14 May 2026 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Northampton Saints CEO Julia Chapman (centre left) and Asia Pacific Lions Founder and Director Saabir Cader exchange the historic MoU

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Asia Pacific Lions have confirmed a historic international rugby clash against English Premiership giants Northampton Saints, with the two sides set to meet in Colombo on 28 August 2026.

The announcement followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding in England, marking a major milestone for rugby in the Asian region.

The much looked forward fixture will be played at the Racecourse International Stadium and is expected to attract strong international interest along with a packed stadium.

Asia Pacific Lions, an elite invitational side featuring leading players from Asia and the Pacific, will take on the former Gallagher Premiership champions and 2025 Investec Champions Cup finalists in what is being hailed as one of the biggest rugby events ever staged in Sri Lanka.

Asia Pacific Lions Founder and Director Saabir Cader described the agreement as a defining moment for rugby in Asia. He stated that partnering with a club of Northampton Saints’ calibre underlined the long-term vision of the Asia Pacific Lions project while creating valuable opportunities for regional players and supporters.

APL Director of Rugby and Australian rugby legend David Campese highlighted the importance of exposing Asian players to top-level competition. He said the match would showcase the passion, diversity, and growing talent of rugby across Asia and the Pacific on the global stage.

Northampton Saints CEO Julia Chapman said the club was delighted to formalise the agreement and begin an exciting international venture in Sri Lanka. Saints Director of Rugby Phil Dowson added that international touring would strengthen the squad through exposure to new conditions and cultures while helping grow the game globally.

Sri Lanka Rugby President Pavithra Fernando welcomed the development, noting that Sri Lanka’s successful hosting of New Zealand’s recent Under-85kg tour demonstrated the country’s ability to stage world-class rugby events.

The tour is powered by DASA GROUP UK with Aitken Spence serving as the official travel partner.