NZ Under 85 kg to tour SL for two matches

Friday, 4 April 2025 01:43 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Dialog Axiata Vice President Brand and Media Harsha Samaranayake (centre right) handing over cheque to Asia Rugby Chairperson of Sport and Environment Committee Group Captain (Rtd.) Nalin De Silva (centre left) in presence of New Zealand High Commissioner to Sri Lanka David Pine, National Sports Council Chairman Priyantha Ekanayake, Dialog Axiata Head of Brands – Master Brand and Strategy, Brand and Media Aaqib Reyal, Asia Rugby Chairman, Competitions and High-performance Asanga Seneviratne, and Chief Operator of this historical event Inthisham Marikar – Pic by Upul Abayasekara

Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), with the support of Dialog Axiata PLC, is set to host a landmark rugby tour featuring the New Zealand Under 85kg national team.

This historic series will see two matches played against the Sri Lankan outfit.

The tour, initiated by an invitation from SLR, will feature games on 4 May at Nittawela Rugby Stadium and on 10 May, at the Race Course Grounds in Colombo. Both the matches will be live on Dialog Television’s ThePapare TV HD and via livestream on ThePapare.com and the Dialog ViU App.

While New Zealand is renowned for its rugby prowess, Sri Lanka holds a unique connection to the sport. Rugby legend Sir Colin Meads played his first game in an All Blacks jersey in Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in 1955, adding historical significance to this tour.

This series provides Sri Lankan players with a rare chance to compete against technically superior opponents from a nation synonymous with rugby excellence. The experience will be invaluable in enhancing their skills and understanding of world-class rugby strategies.

The Sri Lanka Tuskers will field an open-weight team, but with a key restriction: all Sri Lankan prop forwards must weigh below 105kg. This measure ensures player safety while maintaining a competitive balance. Interestingly, the Under 85kg division is not currently played anywhere in Asia, making this tour a pioneering moment for the region.

The New Zealand team, officially established in 2024, represents an important step in developing weight-restricted rugby. At the time of its formation, New Zealand Rugby hinted at an international tour, which has now materialised as this Sri Lankan series.

Beyond the matches, former World Cup-winning All Blacks coach Sir Graham Henry will conduct an interactive session titled Fire-side with Sir Graham Henry on 7 April at Cinnamon Grand Hotel, moderated by Scotty Stevenson.

The Sri Lanka Tuskers enter this series in strong form, having won the Asia Rugby Division 1 title in 2024. Their upcoming fixtures include a crucial promotion-relegation match against Malaysia in April 2025.

With Dialog Axiata’s continued support for multiple sports in Sri Lanka, including rugby, this tour marks another milestone in the nation’s sporting journey. Rugby enthusiasts eagerly anticipate this thrilling contest between Sri Lanka and New Zealand’s rising talents.

Dialog Axiata is the Title Sponsor with Sri Lanka Air Lines, Cinnamon Grand and Access also propping up for this tour. (SJ)

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