Sri Lanka eyes Asia Rugby Top 4

At the Sri Lanka rugby team jersey presentation (from left) Hassan Sinhawansa (SLR Events Coordinator, Group Capt. (Rtd) Nalin de Silva (SLR President-elect), Teshan Galhenage of Gordone, Shemal Fernando, Competent Authority SLR, and Asanga Seneviratne of Asia Rugby Pic. by Pradeep Dilrukshana     

By Shamseer Jaleel  

Sri Lanka will face Malaysia in a crucial playoff on April 19 with a spot in the Asia Rugby Top 4 Championship on the line. The high-stakes encounter promises fierce competition as both teams battle for a place among Asia’s rugby elite. A press conference with this regard took place at the Colombo Hilton.  
A victory for Sri Lanka would secure them home games against South Korea and UAE, while their clash against Hong Kong would be played away. This is a golden opportunity for the Sri Lankan Tuskers to return to top-tier Asian rugby after a challenging few seasons of rebuilding.  
The winner of the Asia Rugby Top 4 Championship will gain automatic qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Meanwhile, the runner-up will face the Pacific Islands runner-up in a final qualifying round, offering another path to the global stage. It is a unique opportunity for Asian rugby as there is a possibility of three teams locking horns in the next Rugby World Cup in Australia as Japan already qualified for the world event.  
Sri Lanka’s squad has shown encouraging form, with promising talent and experienced heads combining under a focused game plan. The support of passionate home fans and strategic preparation will be key against a physical Malaysian side.  
This vital match is supported by sponsors Gordone, Power World, Prima Kottu Mee, Hilton Colombo, and The Papare, showing strong backing for Sri Lankan rugby as the team chases World Cup dreams.  
Sri Lanka National players under the watchful eyes of Head Coach Sanath Martis commenced coaching sessions with Dushanth Lewke handling the forwards while Saliya Kumara looking after the three quarters with Tharaka Algama being the Trainer of the outfit. There will be a selection game today at Havekock Park before the final squad of 30 will be selected.  
Speaking to Daily Mirror, Martis said “After a long season some players are injured. This is a normal situation in rugby as a contact sport. The good news is youngsters will get the opportunity to wear the national jersey and we have many more games coming up. After the Malaysian game we have two matches against New Zealand and later once we qualify for AR4 we have three more XV-a-side games - two at home and one away in Hong Kong.”