Sri Lanka won the hosting rights for the Asian Five Nations Division One Tournament.
This decision was conveyed after the Asian Rugby Football Union Council Meeting which was attended by Mr. Lasitha Gunaratne, Vice President SLRFU. The tournament will take place from 6th to 14th April, 2013 with Havelock’s Stadium being selected as the host venue.
Asian Five Nations is the region’s premier rugby union tournament playing host to many countries across different divisions. The Division One tournament will see four nations participating; Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka missed out on promotion to the “Top 5” when they were beaten by The Philippines in last year’s division one play-off match played in Manila.
Sri Lanka will be banking on favorable home conditions in their campaign to get back into the Top 5. Sri Lankan won the Division One championship in 2010. Cheers were short lived as team Sri Lanka was relegated back in 2011 after finishing fifth after a close loses against UAE and Kazakhstan.
Sri Lanka has already selected a preliminary squad led by Navy SC’s Yoshitha Rajapakse. The team will be guided by newly appointed coach Ravin du Plessis.
Dates of the Tournament:
1. 7th April, 2013
2. 10th April, 2013
3. 13th April 2013.
*Two matches will be played on each day.
Asian heavyweights Japan, Hong Kong, Korea together with UAE and The Philippines will contest in the Top 5 this year.
Asian Rugby Football Union had also informed that under their grassroots development program their development coaches will conduct coaches and players educator programs to support the ongoing development activities conducted by SLRFU specially for the schools development program.
