After a lapse of 4 years, the National XV A Side Rugby outfit will once again enter the fray in this annual regional event, this time as hosts. Having won this competition on 3 previous occasions in 2010, 2013 & 2015, the Tuskers will be going all out to win their 4th title this year.
In the year 2008, Asia Rugby (the regional governing body for Rugby in Asia – formally known as the Asian Rugby Football Union) introduced a new annual Rugby tournament based on a Promotion/Relegation system, whereby countries were grouped into various divisions & based on their performance, with the winners being promoted and the bottom placed team relegated. This competition replaced the previously held Bi-Annual Asiad Tournament in order to ensure that teams in the region had regular matches against teams with equal strength with the opportunity to go up the rankings in Asia.
‘The.Papare’ looks back at how the Tuskers have performed over the years in this Asian Tournament.
2008
In the inaugural tournament held in Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka was placed in Division 1 (i.e. the 2nd Tier) along with host Chinese Taipei, Singapore & China. However, China withdrew at the last moment due to Visa issues, leaving the other 3 teams to battle for honours. The Tuskers started the tournament by drawing with Singapore 20 points, all but went down to Chinese Taipei 35 – 23. In the other game Singapore just beat the host by 23 – 22, which meant that Singapore were promoted to the Asian 5 Nations Tournament while China were demoted to Division 2 due to their non-participation. Chinese Taipei & Sri Lanka retained their places in Division 1 for another year.
Standings:
1. Singapore – 8 points
2. Chinese Taipei – 7 points
3. Sri Lanka – 3 points
2009
The Tournament saw host Arabian Gulf (demoted from the previous year’s Asian 5 Nations Tournament) taking on Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka & Thailand (promoted from Division 2). The Tournament was played on a knock out basis, with Arabian Gulf taking on Thailand in one playoff game, while Chinese Taipei taking on Sri Lanka in the other game. The winners advanced to the promotion playoff, while the losers battled each other to avoid relegation. The results are as follows:
- Playoff Match 1: Chinese Taipei beat Sri Lanka 36 – 24
- Playoff Match 2: Arabian Gulf beat Thailand 36 – 17
- Relegation Playoff: Sri Lanka beat Thailand 51 -17
- Promotion Playoff: Arabian Gulf beat Chinese Taipei 44 – 24
While Arabian Gulf was promoted back to the Asian 5 Nations competition, Thailand was demoted to Division 2 again, with Sri Lanka & Chinese Taipei retaining their Division 1 status for the 2nd year running.
2010
Singapore hosted the tournament, with the other teams participating being Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei & Malaysia (Promoted from Division 2). The tournament was again played on a knock out basis, with Chinese Taipei taking on Sri Lanka in one playoff, game while Singapore (Demoted from the Asian 5 Nations Tournament) took on Malaysia in the other playoff game. Following are the results:
- Playoff Match 1: Sri Lanka beat Chinese Taipei 37 – 07
- Playoff Match 2: Singapore beat Malaysia 22 – 20
- Relegation Playoff: Malaysia beat Chinese Taipei 35 -08
- Promotion Playoff: Sri Lanka beat Singapore 23 – 16
Sri Lanka created history by beating Singapore in the Promotion Playoff final to qualify for the Asian 5 Nations Tournament in 2011 for the first time. Chinese Taipei was demoted to Division 2 as a result of losing the relegation playoff to Malaysia.
2011
The Asian 5 Nations Tournament is played on a round robin format, with all teams playing 2 matches each on a home & away basis. Sri Lanka’s entry into this top tier Asian Tournament started well enough with a draw against the UAE at home 13 all. However, the Tuskers could not live up to expectations for the remainder of the tournament and were demoted back to the Division 1 segment for 2012. Following were the Sri Lankan team’s results in this tournament:
- Sri Lanka drew with UAE 13 all
- Sri Lanka lost to Hong Kong 03 – 48
- Sri Lanka lost to Kazakhstan 18 – 34
- Sri Lanka lost to Japan 13 -90
Standings:
- Japan – 24 points
- Hong Kong – 18 points
- UAE – 8 points
- Kazakhstan – 6 points
- Sri Lanka – 3 points
2012
The tournament was hosted by the Philippines, who were promoted from Division 2. The tournament also included Kazakhstan, Singapore & Sri Lanka who came down from the Asians 5 Nations Tournament played in 2011. The competition was played on a round robin format. Below are the results of the Tuskers’ performances at this Division 1 Tournament:
- Sri Lanka beat Chinese Taipei : 36 – 08
- Sri Lanka beat Singapore : 35 -10
- Sri Lanka lost to Philippines : 18 – 28
Philippines qualified for the Asian 5 Nations Tournament in 2013 as a result of topping the standings and remaining unbeaten, while Singapore was demoted to Division 2 after losing all their games. Sri Lanka & Chinese Taipei retained their status in the Division 1 segment for another year.
Standings:
- Philippines – 18 points
- Sri Lanka – 12 points
- Chinese Taipei – 7 points
- Singapore – 1 point
2013
Sri Lanka hosted this edition of the Asian Division 1 Tournament, which was again played on a round robin format. The other participating teams were Kazakhstan (demoted from the Asian 5 Nations Tournament), Chinese Taipei and Thailand (promoted from Division 2). The Tuskers put on a sterling display of fast open Rugby to beat all other teams convincingly to annex the trophy. Their results in this tournament are as follows:
- Sri Lanka beat Chinese Taipei : 39 – 08
- Sri Lanka beat Thailand : 45 -07
- Sri Lanka beat Kazakhstan : 49- 18
With this performance, Sri Lanka gained promotion to the top tier Asian 5 Nations Tournament for the second time, while Thailand were demoted to Division 2 once again after a tense battle to avoid relegation with Chinese Taipei & Kazakhstan.
Standings:
- Sri Lanka – 18 points
- Kazakhstan – 6 points
- Chinese Taipei – 6 points
- Thailand – 5 point
2014
The Tuskers struggled in the 2014 Asian 5 Nations tournament, losing all their games in the competition. While suffering heavy defeats to the top 3 Asian teams, the Lankans went down in a close contest against the Philippines. Below are their results:
- Sri Lanka lost to Korea 03 – 59
- Sri Lanka lost to Hong Kong 10 – 41
- Sri Lanka lost to Japan 10 -132
- Sri Lanka lost to Philippines 25 -26
As a result of this performance, Sri Lanka were demoted to the Division 1 Tournament for 2015. However, the Philippines too were demoted to Division 1 as Asia Rugby decided to limit the top tier competition (renamed as the ‘Asian Rugby Championship’) to 3 teams from 2015 onwards, where these 3 teams would play each other on a home & away basis. As a result Japan, Hong Kong & Korea qualified to play in that tournament since they were the top 3 teams in this final Asian 5 Nations Tournament.
Standings:
- Japan – 24 points
- Hong Kong – 18 points
- Korea – 12 points
- Philippines – 6 points
- Sri Lanka – 1 point
2015
Sri Lanka, Kazakhstan, Singapore & hosts Philippines participated in this tournament which was played on a knock out basis, with the winners advancing to the promotion playoff while the losers competed with each other to avoid relegation to Division 2. Below are the results:
- Playoff Match 1: Sri Lanka beat Kazakhstan 35 – 14
- Playoff Match 2: Philippines beat Singapore 20 – 17
- Relegation Playoff: Kazakhstan beat Singapore 32 – 12
- Promotion Playoff: Sri Lanka beat Philippines 27 – 14
The Tuskers emerged victorious in the Division 1 Tournament for the 3rd time and had the opportunity to play against Korea (who finished 3rd in the Asian Rugby Championship) for the opportunity to play in the Top Tier Asian competition in 2016. However, Sri Lanka decided to forego this chance & decided to remain in the Division 1 segment.
2016
This round robin tournament was hosted by Malaysia, who were promoted from Division 2 and also included Philippines, Singapore & defending champions Sri Lanka. Following are the results of the Tuskers’ performances at this Division 1 competition:
- Sri Lanka beat Singapore: 33 – 17
- Sri Lanka lost to Malaysia : 42 -17
- Sri Lanka beat Philippines : 25 – 21
Malaysia emerged victorious in this tournament, with the Tuskers taking the Runners Up spot, followed by Philippines & Singapore. Singapore was demoted to Division 2 after ending at the bottom of the table.
Standings:
- Malaysia – 11 points
- Sri Lanka – 9 points
- Philippines – 7 points
- Singapore – 5 points
2017
Malaysia once again hosted the tournament, which was played on a round robin format featuring the following as defending champions – Philippines, Sri Lanka & UAE (Promoted from Division 2). The Tuskers’ results were as follows:
- Sri Lanka beat Philippines: 24 – 13
- Sri Lanka beat UAE : 33 – 17
- Sri Lanka lost to Malaysia : 22 – 09
Malaysia retained the title, pushing the Tuskers to 2nd place, with the Philippines and UAE taking 3rd & 4th place respectively on the points table.
Standings:
- Malaysia – 14 points
- Sri Lanka – 9 points
- Philippines – 5 points
- UAE – 0 points
2018
Sri Lanka and UAE pulled out of the Asian Division 1 Tournament, which resulted in host nation the Philippines playing a two match series against the newly promoted Singapore for the title. The outcomes of these two matches are as follows:
- Match 1 – Philippines beat Singapore: 32 – 24
- Match 2 – Philippines beat Singapore: 38 – 12
As a result of winning both matches, the Philippines annexed the title for this year.
Hong Kong comfortably won the Asian Rugby Championship title (Top tier), overcoming South Korea and the newly promoted Malaysia while remaining unbeaten to continue their quest for World Cup qualification. The format of the tri-nations series was a double round robin, where the three teams played each other twice on a home and away basis. South Korea emerged Runners Up, beating Malaysia in both games.
2019
The 2019 tournament was hosted by Chinese Taipei and played on a knock out basis, with the winners advancing to the promotion playoff and the losers competing with each other to avoid relegation to Division 2. Along with Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka, Philippines & Singapore participated. The results are as follows:
- Playoff Match 1: Philippines beat Sri Lanka 39 – 22
- Playoff Match 2: Singapore beat Chinese Taipei 18 – 13
- Relegation Playoff: Sri Lanka beat Chinese Taipei 72 -17
- Promotion Playoff: Philippines beat Singapore 29 – 21
While Philippines gained promotion to the Asian Rugby Championship competition, Chinese Taipei ware demoted to Division 2, with Singapore & Sri Lanka retaining their Division 1 status.
There was no Division 1 Tournament played in the years 2020, 2021 & 2022.
2023
Sri Lanka did not participate in last year’s tournament as it was under suspension by Asia Rugby, while Singapore withdrew from participating. The team chosen to replace them, which was the Philippines opted out as well. This resulted in Pakistan hosting the UAE for a two match series to decide on the Division 1 champions. The outcomes of these two matches are as follows:
- Match 1 – UAE beat Pakistan: 95 – 00
- Match 2 – UAE beat Pakistan: 95 – 03
With the UAE comfortably winning both matches & the title, they qualified for the Asian Rugby Championship in 2024.
2024
Sri Lanka will host this year’s Division 1 Tournament, which will see the participation of Qatar, Kazakhstan and India. The competition will be played on a knockout basis, with the winners advancing to the promotion playoff and the losers competing against each other to avoid relegation to Division 2. Pakistan, who was originally slated to participate in a three way tournament with Qatar & Sri Lanka, pulled out, resulting in Kazakhstan and India being promoted to make it a four team event. Below are the fixtures which will be played at the Race Course Grounds in Colombo.
- Playoff Match 1: Qatar vs. Kazakhstan (30th April 2024)
- Playoff Match 2: Sri Lanka vs. India (30th April 2024)
- Relegation Playoff: Loser of Playoff Match 1 vs. Loser Playoff Match 2 (4th May 2024)
- Promotion Playoff: Winner of Playoff Match 1 vs. Winner of Playoff Match 2 (4th May 2024)
In Summary…
Sri Lanka has done reasonably well in Asia’s Tier 2 competition (i.e. Division 1) since this new tournament format was introduced. The Tuskers have won this championship on 3 occasions (2010, 2013 & 2015), emerged runners up on 2 occasions (2012 & 2016), finished in third place on 2 occasions (2008 & 2009) and did not participate in 2018 & 2023, while competing in the Tier 1 competition (i.e Asian 5 Nations tournament) on a couple of occasions in 2011 and 2014. Sri Lanka is also the only country other than the Top 3 Asian nations (i.e Japan, Hong Kong & Korea) that has not played below Division 1 since this new annual tournament format was introduced by Asia Rugby.
Here’s ThePapare wishing the Tuskers all the very best to make it tournament win number 4 in the 2024 edition!!!
