Sri Lanka national rugby union team

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.

Kingswood college, Kandy was the first to introduce Rugby at school level. 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 Main article: 1995 Rugby World Cup qualifying#Asia

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 Main article: 1999 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification

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 Main article: 2003 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification

;2007 World Cup Main article: 2007 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification

2010s

Asian Five Nations and World Cup qualifying; Main article: Asian Five Nations

2008 - 2010 Main article: 2008 Asian Five Nations division tournaments, 2009 Asian Five Nations division tournaments, 2010 Asian Five Nations division tournaments, 2011 Rugby World Cup – Asia qualification

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 Main article: 2011 Asian Five Nations, 2012 Asian Five Nations division tournaments, 2013 Asian Five Nations division tournaments, 2014 Asian Five Nations, 2015 Asian Rugby Championship Division Tournaments, 2016 Asian Rugby Championship Division Tournaments

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.

2020s

In the 2020s, the Sri Lanka national rugby union team continued to make strides in Asian rugby. In 2024, they won the Asia Rugby Division 1 Championship, defeating India 45-10 and Kazakhstan 45-7 in the final. This success led to a playoff match against Malaysia on April 19, 2025, which Sri Lanka won 59-19, securing their place in the top tier of the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men's Championship. This tournament is significant as the winner will qualify directly for the Rugby World Cup 2027, presenting a historic opportunity for Sri Lanka to make their World Cup debut. The team also hosted the New Zealand U85kg team for two matches in May 2025, providing valuable international experience despite losing both games.

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: Rodney Gibbs (2025)

Council Members

• SLR President - Nalin de Silva
• Deputy and Vice Presidents - Roshan Dean and S.W. Chang
• Secretary - Waruna de Silva
• Executive Director - Hamza Hidayathullah

Former coaches

• New Zealand George Simpkin (?-?)
• New Zealand Willie Hetaraka (September 2006-?)
• New Zealand Tavita Tulagaese (?-)
• New Zealand Rob Yule (March 2007–August 2008)
• South Africa Dawie Snyman (August 2008–April 2010)
• New Zealand John Carrington (2009)
• South Africa Johan Taylor (? -January 2011)
• New Zealand Ellis Meachen (January 2011–March 2012)
• South Africa Ravin Du Plessis (January 2013–?)
• Sri Lanka Inthi Marikar (2009–2010)
• Sri Lanka Leonard de Zilwa (2014–2015)
• Sri Lanka Tony Amit (?-?)
• South Africa Johan Taylor (2015–2019) ;Assistant coaches
• Samoa Tavita Tulagaese
• Sri Lanka C. P. Abeygunawardene
• South Africa Norman Laker (August 2008–April 2010)

Overall record

Main article: List of Sri Lanka national rugby union team results

Sri Lankan Test record against all nations as of 2013:

Upcoming Matches

July 2025

Recent results

Green background indicates a win. Red background indicates a loss. Yellow background indicates a draw.

References

References

1. Jones, Matt. "Sri Lanka end UAE's dreams of Asia Rugby Championship glory - Sport360 News".
2. "Archived copy".
3. [http://www.srilankarugby.com/rugby_history.html A 100 years of Unbroken Tradition!] {{webarchive. link. (2009-06-06)
4. "Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union".
5. [http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/matches/All_Blacks_Tour_1907/Game_4/Ceylon-vs-New_Zealand.html Match Report]
6. Thomas, Clem. (2005). "The History of The British and Irish Lions". Mainstream Books.
7. [http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/03/01/spo02.asp Sri Lanka to host Rugby Asiad in November this year] {{webarchive. link. (March 3, 2007)
8. "Sri Lanka is Asia's newest Top 5 team after winning HSBC Final". Heavens Game.
9. Ishak, Fadhli. (11 May 2016). "(Rugby) Malaysia upset Sri Lanka in Asian Rugby Championships". [[New Straits Times]].
10. (20 April 2025). "Dominant Win Over Malaysia Asia Rugby Emirates Men's Championship Playoff".
11. (24 February 2025). "Asia Rugby Unveils Exciting 2025 Calendar".
12. (4 May 2025). "Dominant New Zealand U85kg Outclass Sri Lanka".
13. (11 May 2025). "NZ U85kg side complete historic clean sweep".
14. "Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union". Srilankarugby.com.
15. (24 February 2025). "Asia Rugby Unveils Exciting 2025 Calendar".
16. "Rugby World Cup qualifying: UAE claim Sri Lanka scalp to move closer to Asia-Africa play-off {{!}} The National".
17. (22 June 2025). "Hong Kong 1 win from Rugby World Cup spot after 12-try rout of Sri Lanka; South China Morning Post".
18. (16 June 2025). "Sri Lanka rugby team can hold heads high despite defeat by South Korea | Daily FT".
19. (11 May 2025). "NZ U85kg side complete historic clean sweep".
20. (4 May 2025). "Dominant New Zealand U85kg Outclass Sri Lanka".
21. (20 April 2025). "Dominant Win Over Malaysia Asia Rugby Emirates Men's Championship Playoff".