Sri Lanka national rugby union team

Sri Lanka

Nicknames| Tuskers, Brave Elephants[1]
Emblem| Elephant
Union| Sri Lanka Rugby
Head coach| Sanath Martis
Captain| Suhiru Anthony
Most caps| Srinath Sooriyabandara {74}

First colours

Second colours

|

World Rugby ranking
Current|  40 (as of 17 March 2025)
Highest| 37 (29 June 2015)
Lowest| 64 (26 April 2004)
First international
All Ceylon 6–33 New Zealand
(12 September 1907)
Biggest win
Sri Lanka 75–3 Pakistan
(27 October 2004)
Biggest defeat
Japan 129–6 Sri Lanka
(8 October 2002)
World Cup
Appearances| 0

The Sri Lanka national rugby union team, known as the Tuskers, represents Sri Lanka in men's international rugby union. The team has yet to make their debut at the Rugby World Cup. They have the longest tradition of organised club rugby in Asia, dating back to 1879, which was just 8 years after the founding of the world's first rugby union in England.[2] They regularly compete in the Asian Five Nations tournament and are currently in Division I. In the 2010 tournament, they made it to the finals beating Chinese Taipei 37 to 7.

## History

[edit]

national team in 2014

See also: Rugby union in Sri Lanka

### Early years

[edit]

Sri Lanka Rugby has a long history, dating back to the days of British colonialism.

Colombo Football Club was the first rugby club in Sri Lanka, established on 28 June 1879.[3]

The first recorded school rugby game was between Kingswood College, Kandy and Trinity College, Kandy in 1906. Rugby having been introduced to Kingswood College in 1893 by the founder of school, Edmund Louise Blaze, a former student of Trinity College, Kandy.

The nation's first "national" match was on 12 September 1907 and involved an All Ceylon team against the professional All Blacks (the New Zealand rugby league team) under rugby union rules on their 1907–1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Australia and Great Britain.[4] The professional All Blacks won the match 33-6.[5] The Ceylon Rugby Football Union was founded 10 August 1908. In 1974 it changed its name to the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union.[3]

### 20th century

[edit]

In 1932 the Ceylon RFU XV won the All India Cup at all India Rugby Football Tournament

Both the 1930 and the 1950 British Lions tour to New Zealand and Australia played unofficial matches in Ceylon on their way home.[6]

Mahesh Rodrigo, better known as an international cricketer, also captained the national team.

World Cup qualifying
1995 World Cup

Main article: 1995 Rugby World Cup qualifying § Asia

In 1994, Sri Lanka entered into their first World Cup qualification tournament for a spot at the 1995 Rugby World Cup. They were drawn in Group A with Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia. After only losing by five points to Malaysia, they would concede 92 more points against the other two teams in the group to finish bottom of the group with no points.

1999 World Cup

Main article: 1999 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification

In 1997, Sri Lanka participated in the opening round of 1999 Rugby World Cup qualifying. After defeating Thailand and Singapore in the opening round, they next took on Chinese Taipei and Malaysia with the winner going through to the third round. After knocking off Malaysia by 22 points in Kuala Lumpur in their opening match, they would be eliminated after losing to Chinese Taipei 31-27 which gave Chinese Taipei the spot into the third round.

### New millennium

[edit]

The furthest they have made was to Round 2 of the Asian qualifying competition for the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France. The Sri Lanka rugby team performed above expectations during the qualifying campaign for the World Cup, and saw their world ranking improve from 68th to 43rd place, and its Asian ranking improve to fifth place.[7]

World Cup qualifying
2003 World Cup

Main article: 2003 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification

2007 World Cup

Main article: 2007 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification

### 2010s

[edit]

Asian Five Nations and World Cup qualifying;

Main article: Asian Five Nations

2008 - 2010

Main articles: 2008 Asian Five Nations division tournaments, 2009 Asian Five Nations division tournaments, 2010 Asian Five Nations division tournaments, and 2011 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification

2008 was the first year of Asian Five Nations, which replaced the ARFU Asian Rugby Championship and the ARFU Asian Rugby Series. At the Divisional tournament Sri Lanka finished third, drawing against Singapore and losing to Chinese Taipei. The Chinese team withdrew from the tournament due to lack of visa availability and were relegated to Division Two.

In 2009 Sri Lanka again finished third in the Divisional tournament defeating Thailand (51-17) in the 3rd-place final, remaining in Division One.

Sri Lanka won Division One of the 2010 Divisional tournament beating Singapore (23-16) in the final, thereby winning promotion to the 2011 Asian Five Nations for the first time.[8]

2011 - 2016

Main articles: 2011 Asian Five Nations, 2012 Asian Five Nations division tournaments, 2013 Asian Five Nations division tournaments, 2014 Asian Five Nations, 2015 Asian Rugby Championship Division Tournaments, and 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division Tournaments

Despite a drawn match with United Arab Emirates (13-13), Sri Lanka lost its remaining three matches in the 2011 Asian Five Nations tournament and finished last, resulting in its demotion out of the Asian Five Nations.

In the 2012 Division tournament the team won two matches but were defeated by the Philippines, which meant Sri Lanka missed out on promotion and remained in Division One.

At the 2013 Division tournament held in Colombo, Sri Lanka were successful in winning all three of its matches earning a promotion to the Asian Five Nations.

In 2014 Sri Lanka lost all four of its matches in the Asian Five Nations and were relegated back to Division One.

At the 2015 Division tournament held in the Philippines in May, Sri Lanka beat the Philippines 27-14 to become the champions of the Asian Division 1, resulting in the team qualifying to compete in a challenge match, in June, against the third ranked Asian team and a potential spot in the 2016 Asian Championship. Due to financial reasons, the challenge game was cancelled with South Korea remaining in the tri-nations division and Sri Lanka in the Division 1 competition for 2016.

In 2016 Sri Lanka finished second at the Division tournament held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in May. Sri Lanka defeated both Singapore and the Philippines but lost to hosts Malaysia.[9]

## Home grounds

[edit]

* Colombo Racecourse International Arena (Main Ground)
* CR & FC Grounds – Colombo 7
* CH & FC Grounds – Colombo 7
* Police Grounds – Colombo 5
* Army Grounds – Galle Face
* Nittawela rugby stadium– Kandy
* Air Force Grounds – Ratmalana
* Navy Grounds – Welisara
* Havelock Park– Havelock Town
* Maligawa Grounds - Kurunegala
* Bogambara Stadium \- Kandy
* Peoples' Park - Anuradhapura
* Slim Line Grounds — Pannala
* Vincent Dias Stadium - Badulla
* Army Grounds — Anuradhapura

## Players

[edit]

### Current squad

[edit]

Backs  | Player | Position | Club

|
|

Heshan Jansen | Scrum-half | Kandy SC
Kavindu De Costa | Scrum-half | CR&FC
Thenuka Nanayakkara | Fly-half | CR&FC
Tarinda Ratwatte | Centre | KandySC
Akash Madushanka | Centre | Police SC
Hirantha Perera | Centre | Police SC
Dinal Ekanayake | Wing | KandySC
Sachith Silva | Wing | Police SC
Zubair Dore | Fullback | CR&FC
Hirusha Nethmina | Fullback | Kandy SC
Forwards  | Player | Position | Club

|
|

Pulasthi Dasanayake | Hooker | CH&FC
Venura Kodagoda | Hooker | CR&FC
Janidu Fernando | Prop | Havelock SC
Charith Silva | Prop | CH&FC
Dushmantha Priyadharshana | Prop | Sri Lions SC
Faiz Abdulla | Prop | Havelock SC
Suhiru Anthony | Lock | CR&FC
Raveen de Silva | Lock | CR&FC
Tharindu Chathuranga | Flanker | Kandy SC
Adeesha Weerathunga | Flanker | CR&FC
Lahiru Thilakarathne | Flanker | Police SC
Lasindu Karunathilake | Number 8 | CR&FC
Shashika Fernando | Number 8 | Air Force SC

## Officials

[edit]

### Coaches

[edit]

* Head Coach:  Sanath Martis (2024)

### Council Members

[edit]

* SLR President - Nalin de Silva
* Deputy and Vice Presidents - Roshan Dean and S.W. Chang
* Secretary - Waruna de Silva
* Executive Director - Hamza Hidayathullah[10]

### Former coaches

[edit]

* George Simpkin (?-?)
* Willie Hetaraka (September 2006-?)
* Tavita Tulagaese (?-)
* Rob Yule (March 2007–August 2008)
* Dawie Snyman (August 2008–April 2010)
* John Carrington (2009)
* Johan Taylor (? -January 2011)
* Ellis Meachen (January 2011–March 2012)
* Ravin Du Plessis (January 2013–?)
* Inthi Marikar (2009–2010)
* Leonard de Zilwa (2014–2015)
* Tony Amit (?-?)
* Johan Taylor (2015–2019)

Assistant coaches

* Tavita Tulagaese
* C. P. Abeygunawardene
* Norman Laker (August 2008–April 2010)

## Overall record

[edit]

Main article: List of Sri Lanka national rugby union team results

Sri Lankan Test record against all nations as of 2013:

Team  | Region  | Span  | Mat  | Won  | Lost  | Draw  | %  | For  | Against  | Diff

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

Arabian Gulf | Asia | 2003–2007 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00 | 36 | 100 | -64
British and Irish Lions | Europe | 1930–1950 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00 | 6 | 99 | -63
China | Asia | 1998–2007 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 | 152 | 79 | +73
Chinese Taipei | Asia | 1990–2013 | 11 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 36.36 | 251 | 285 | -34
England | Europe | 1971 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00 | 17 | 74 | -57
Hong Kong | Asia | 1980–2011 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0.00 | 68 | 308 | -240
India | Asia | 2002–2004 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 108 | 32 | +76
Japan | Asia | 1972–2011 | 10 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0.00 | 59 | 792 | -733
Kazakhstan | Asia | 2002–2013 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 25.00 | 163 | 241 | -78
Laos | Asia | 1974 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 39 | 3 | +36
Madagascar | Africa | 2013 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 12 | 17 | -5
Malaysia | Asia | 1972–2007 | 15 | 11 | 4 | 0 | 73.33 | 402 | 176 | +226
New Zealand | Oceania | 1907 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 6 | 33 | -27
New Zealand Maori | Oceania | 1926 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 6 | 37 | -31
Pakistan | Asia | 2004 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 75 | 3 | +72
Papua New Guinea | Oceania | 1992 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.00 | 35 | 46 | -11
Philippines | Asia | 2012 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 18 | 28 | -10
Poland | Europe | 2013 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | 26 | 25 | 1
Singapore | Asia | 1972–2012 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 58.33 | 211 | 155 | +56
South Korea | Asia | 1972–2002 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0.00 | 56 | 432 | -376
Thailand | Asia | 1970–2013 | 14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 64.28 | 398 | 290 | +108
United Arab Emirates | Asia | 2011 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 13 | 13 | 0
Total: 22 | 4 | 1907–2013 | 109 | 43 | 63 | 3 | 39.44 | 2157 | 3252 | -1195

### Upcoming fixtures

[edit]

### Recent results

[edit]

Date 4 May 2024  | Tournament 2024 Asia Rugby Division 1 Championship final  | Location Colombo  | Venue Racecourse stadium  | Opponent Kazakhstan  | Result win  | Score 45-7  | Date 30 April 2024  | Tournament 2024 Asia Rugby Division 1 Championship  | Location Colombo  | Venue Racecourse Stadium  | Opponent India  | Result Win  | Score 45-10

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2019  | Friendly | Kuala Lumpur | Bukit Jalil National Stadium |  Malaysia | Loss  | 26-31
1 June 2019  | 2019 Asian Rugby Championship division 1 | Taipei | Municipal Stadium |  Chinese Taipei | Win  | 72-17
29 May 2019  | 2019 Asian Rugby Championship division 1 | Taipei | Municipal Stadium |  Philippines | Loss  | 22-39
14 May 2016  | 2016 Asian Rugby Championship division 1 | Kuala Lumpur | Royal Selangor Stadium |  Philippines | Win  | 25-21
11 May 2016  | 2016 Asian Rugby Championship division 1 | Kuala Lumpur | Royal Selangor Stadium |  Malaysia | Loss  | 17-42
8 May 2016  | 2016 Asian Rugby Championship division 1 | Kuala Lumpur | Royal Selangor Stadium |  Singapore | Win  | 33-17
9 May 2015  | 2015 Asian Rugby Championship division 1 | Bocaue, Bulacan | Philippine Sports Stadium |  Philippines | Win  | 27–14
6 May 2015  | 2015 Asian Rugby Championship division 1 | Bocaue, Bulacan | Philippine Sports Stadium |  Kazakhstan | Win  | 35-14

Green background indicates a win. Red background indicates a loss. Yellow background indicates a draw.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Jones, Matt. "Sri Lanka end UAE's dreams of Asia Rugby Championship glory - Sport360 News". sport360.com. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
2. ^ "Archived copy". www.asian5nations.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
3. ^ a b A 100 years of Unbroken Tradition! Archived 2009-06-06 at the Wayback Machine
4. ^ "Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union". www.srilankarugby.com. Archived from the original on June 6, 2009.
5. ^ Match Report
6. ^ Thomas, Clem; Thomas, Greg (2005). The History of The British and Irish Lions. Mainstream Books. pp. 89–99\. ISBN 1-84596-030-0.89-99&rft.pub=Mainstream+Books&rft.date=2005&rft.isbn=1-84596-030-0&rft.aulast=Thomas&rft.aufirst=Clem&rft.au=Thomas,+Greg&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Sri+Lanka+national+rugby+union+team" class="Z3988">
7. ^ Sri Lanka to host Rugby Asiad in November this year Archived March 3, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
8. ^ "Sri Lanka is Asia's newest Top 5 team after winning HSBC Final". Heavens Game. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
9. ^ Ishak, Fadhli (11 May 2016). "(Rugby) Malaysia upset Sri Lanka in Asian Rugby Championships". New Straits Times. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
10. ^ "Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union". Srilankarugby.com. Archived from the original on 2011-12-04. Retrieved 2011-12-02.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sri Lanka national rugby union team.

* 2007 Rugby Asiad
* Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union official web site
* List and results of all IRB sanctioned international rugby games played by Sri Lanka[permanent dead link‍]

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