SLR to host three international tournaments

By Asanka Gammanpila

Despite not having played international and domestic rugby for nearly nine months due to the pandemic, Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) is in line to host three Asian tournaments next year following the announcement of Asia Rugby’s 2021 rugby calendar on Tuesday.  

Sri Lanka is scheduled to host the Asian XV-a-side Division One men’s championship with the participation of UAE, Philippines and Singapore from 26 to 29 May at Race Course, Asian Sevens (men’s and women’s) third leg on 25 and 26 September at Race Course, and Asian Under-19 XV-a-side championship with the participation of host Sri Lanka, Taipei, South Korea and Hong Kong at Race Course.  

Due to the prevailing situation in the country, SLR does not have sufficient funds to meet expenses if they decide to send the National junior and senior men’s teams overseas under COVID-19 health guidelines. 

Sri Lanka juniors have four competitions in 2021: Two Under-19 XV-a-side championships (one in March which was postponed from 2020, and another in November); an Under-18 Sevens tournament in August; and Asia 7’s U-20 in October. 

When Ceylon Today contacted SLR, President Rizly Illyas said they will definitely take part in the Asian men’s and women’s 7’s, but face an uphill task with the junior tournaments as SLR have no confirmed sponsors. 

“We trust that with the new policies adopted by the Minister of Sports, and also our current sponsors, will give the much-needed support for our junior national teams, as they are our feeder base to the National squad - both 15’s & 7’s,” said Ilyas. 

He further added when SLR held discussions with Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa, he had requested SLR to speak to the current sponsors to further support and strengthen the junior national teams, and also to seek new sponsors. “Our juniors are the backbone of our senior sides under the new SLR regime, and under the watchful eyes of the National Sports Council we have benchmarked our teams to win medals and lift the status bar of our rugby profile in the Asian region,” added Illyas. 

According to Illyas, SLR is going to face huge task even to find funds to send the senior National teams on overseas tours and to keep players in training under a ‘bio secure bubble.’ “It is going to be a huge amount of money and it is very difficult for a non-profitable Sports Association like rugby to do so,” said Illyas.   

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By Asanka Gammanpila | Published: 2:00 AM Dec 17 2020