2015 Rugby review: Division I win in Philippines the only highlight

By Shamseer Jaleel

Looking back at the year 2015 in the field of rugby football, Sri Lanka’s senior men’s team, led by Fazil Marija, ending as the Division I champions in Philippines is the only highlight. Unfortunately there will be no promotion to the top three where Asian giants Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea play each other in a round robin on a home and away basis.

From 2016 onwards, the Asian Division I champions will be playing the last placed team in the top three (2016) on a home and away basis to decide the promotion and relegation for 2017. So Sri Lanka will need to repeat their good performance once again this year in order to have a top three spot in 2017.

Sri Lanka beat Kazakhstan (35-14) and in the finals Philippines (27-15) in the Division I event in Manila. The outfit was coached by South African and former Kandy Head Coach Johan Taylor. A few years back, Taylor took Sri Lanka to victory in Division I in Singapore. Locally, to support the XV players, there was the Serendib Cup which took place in 2014 but not conducted by the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) due to not having proper sponsors.

This helped the players who are involved in the longer version of the game since World Rugby ranks the teams and have this tournament which gives a good outing for the players.

Sri Lanka got former England player Matt Turner as the Head Coach of the Sevens team and once again Fazil Marija led the team and ended his leadership career in the Sevens games in Colombo. Sri Lanka was once again so close yet so far when they came within winning range against Japan in the Colombo leg before losing focus and conceding the game 26-19 in a tense battle.

This was the first Asian Sevens tournament recognised by the Asian Rugby Football union (ARFU) conducted in Sri Lanka, which took place at the beautiful Race Course rugby grounds. Sri Lanka, overall, achieved number four position in the Asian Sevens event which took place in China, Thailand and Colombo. Japan won the event with Hong Kong being runner-up and South Korea ending on number three.

Sri Lanka took wing to Hong Kong in November to play for the single berth at the Rio Olympics 2016 under their new leader, former Thomian player, Sudarshan Muthuthanthri. Sri Lanka ended on number four which allowed them to get another go at it in Monte Carlo in June 2016 when another 15 sides along with Sri Lanka who ended in top four in other regions will battle it out. Chile, Ireland, Germany, Canada, Hong Kong, Morocco, Mexico, Russia, Samoa, South Korea, Spain, Tonga, Tunisia, Uruguay, Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka will play in Monte Carlo.

The Sri Lanka Under20 rugby players featured in Malaysia and Hong Kong in the two-legged Sevens event. They ended as runners-up in one of the tournaments, led by, Petrite, Kevin Dixon.

Sri Lanka took wing to Singapore in order to secure a berth in the Junior World Rugby Tournament (JWRT) in Zimbabwe. Sri Lanka beat hosts Singapore and Taipei but could not beat Hong Kong in a close game due to some poor kicking. Former Isipathana player Omalka Gunaratne led the national outfit with veteran Sanath Martis in charge of the outfit. Sri Lanka’s only participation at this level was back in Chile (2001).

Sri Lanka women’s rugby did not have a good year though they had former England Women’s Sevens player Katt Merchant and S. W. Chang to support them. With a proper sponsor and time with the girls, they will be a force to be recognised in world rugby. SLRFU will need to support these girls and have a talent search program through the sports officers appointed all over the Island.

Club rugby kicked off sans any overseas players with eight leading clubs locking horns. Defending league and Clifford Cup champions Kandy Sports Club are leading after week five with Havelocks SC, Navy SC and CR&FC also having a chance for the trophy.