SATV 21 April, Kathmandu: Their thumping win (59-19) over Malaysia secured them a berth in the top Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025, which also features Hong Kong, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates. The Tuskers will be hosting South Korea (June 14) and UAE (July 4), while their only away game against Hong Kong will be played on June 21. Should Sri Lanka win all these three matches, they’d be automatically qualified for the Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
However, should they finish second, they have to go on and participate in another play-off round. Realistically, Sri Lanka could finish second by beating the UAE and South Korea if they have all their superstars injury-free and play to their full potential. However, Saturday’s victory should not give a false confidence about toppling Asian giants like Hong Kong, although anything is possible in sports.
Sri Lanka has got a couple of months for their preparation. Especially, playing against New Zealand’s under-85 kg team should be a great experience. Sri Lanka played a very, very young team against Malaysia, which is full of talents but perhaps lacks a bit of experience.
This squad, though, is going to need players like Omalka Gunaratne, Adeesha Weeratunga and Tarinda Ratwatte against the big boys. Ratwatte is probably Sri Lanka’s best playmaker at the moment. The former Sri Lanka junior rugby skipper has come a long way since leading Trinity at inter-schools to be one of Sri Lanka’s best players at present. While wing three-quarter Ekanayake bagged the man of the match award for his stunning hattrick against Malaysia, one man who looked reborn was centre Danushka Ranjan, getting closer to his best form since making a comeback to rugby. For the last couple of decades or so, whenever Sri Lanka fifteens played international rugby, their forward pack consisted of players who were a bit bulky and experienced, but on Saturday Sri Lanka had a very young pack with players who made themselves a name during the inter-club league rugby tournament.
Perhaps it’s high time that the coaches and selectors continue to put faith in them. These are exciting times for a nation with such huge rugby heritage which has seen proper rugby sensations such as Hisham Abdeen, Chandrishan Perera, Nilfer Ibrahim, Nalaka Weerakkody, and Fazil Marija, but for the first time in many years, this young squad has an opportunity to make history against all the odds.
