Kandy fans given cold shoulder in hosting AR 4 game

By Shamseer Jaleel

In a move that has stunned the local rugby community the Asia Rugby Top 4 games featuring Sri Lanka national XVs side will bypass Nittawela entirely, despite the Kandy region being home to the largest and most passionate rugby supporter base in the country.

With fixtures against South Korea and the UAE scheduled to be played at Colombo’s Racecourse, and the remaining game against Hong Kong designated as an away match, Kandy fans find themselves sidelined. 

This decision has sparked disappointment among the loyal supporters of the sport in the hill country, who have been instrumental in sustaining Sri Lanka’s rugby culture for more than three decades.

Historically, Kandy has produced the majority of national players and consistently demonstrated unmatched attendance and enthusiasm at domestic and international fixtures. 

The omission of Nittawela as a venue, despite its rich rugby traditions and strong fan engagement, appears to be a significant oversight by the organisers. 

In stark contrast, the recent New Zealand Under 85KG clash was thoughtfully hosted in Kandy under the direction of NZ and SL Coordinator for the Nea Zealand tour, Inthi Marikar, who not only brought the game to the hill capital but also made it accessible to all by waiving gate fees. 

That decision was met with overwhelming appreciation and saw excellent attendance - clear evidence of the region’s undying rugby spirit with the Nittawela Ground packed to full capacity two hours before kick-off.

Given this context, it is only fair and strategic that at least one of the remaining home games particularly the UAE fixture be shifted to Nittawela. 

Doing so would not only honour the contributions of Kandy’s rugby faithful but also help generate essential gate revenue through modest ticketing, ensuring financial sustainability while keeping the game close to its strongest base. With a reasonable gate can cover some cost as well.