Asia Rugby cancels competitions fixtures for rest of 2020

Sri Lanka will need to wait till 2021 to host both the junior and senior XV-a-side events

By Shamseer Jaleel

Asia Rugby (AR), working with its Competitions Committee, Player Welfare and Medical Committee, relevant stakeholders and in line with the Return to Play Guidelines provided by World Rugby (WR), has cancelled all its competitions scheduled from 1 October to 31 December 2020.

After a comprehensive consultation process, and constructive dialogue with the prospective host unions, they have decided that the competitions slated to take place in quarter 4 of 2020 will not take place due to the ongoing issue of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decisions were taken by Asia Rugby EXCO in a meeting held on 29 July based on the unanimous recommendations received from Asia Rugby’s Medical Committee and Asia Rugby’s Competitions Committee who carefully and jointly reviewed all aspects of the matter before reaching their recommendations for EXCO to consider.

AR decision is based on the feedback from the Competitions Committee and COVID Working Group, which have followed the guidelines set by WR on the safe return to rugby, the relevant public authorities and the prevailing local and global travel and health guidelines. Former Thomian, CR & FC, CH & FC and national player plus the Past President of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) and Competitions Committee Chairperson Asanga Seneviratne said: “AR will continue to focus on delivering the competition format and activities for 2021, while working in full collaboration with all stakeholders to closely monitor the ongoing and challenging COVID-19 environment.”

This will see the Asia Rugby Championship Division 1 XV a side event and the Asia Rugby Under 19 XV a side event which were scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka during 2020 being postponed to the early part of 2021 once the COVID-19 health issue is under control.