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Sri Lanka

Nicknames	Tuskers, Brave Elephants
Emblem	Elephant
Union	Sri Lanka Rugby
Head coach	Aaron Dunne
Captain	Srinath Sooriyabandara
Most caps	Srinath Sooriyabandara {74}
First colours Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	40 (as of 22 July 2024)
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. 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

Early years

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.

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. The professional All Blacks won the match 33-6. The Ceylon Rugby Football Union was founded 10 August 1908. In 1974 it changed its name to the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union.

20th century

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.

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

World Cup qualifying

1995 World Cup

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

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

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.

World Cup qualifying

2003 World Cup

2007 World Cup

2010s

Asian Five Nations and World Cup qualifying;

2008 - 2010

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.

2011 - 2016

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.

Home grounds

• 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

Current squad

Officials

Coaches

• Head Coach: Aaron Dunne (2023- )

Council Members

• SLR President - Rizly Illyas
• Deputy and Vice Presidents - Group Capt Retd. Nalin De Silva and Rear Admiral Udaya Hettiarachchi
• Secretary - SSP Nizam Jamaldeen
• Executive Director - Hamza Hidayathullah

Former coaches

• 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

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

Recent results

Date	Tournament	Location	Venue	Opponent	Result	Score
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

References

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 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.
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

• 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

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