• SLR targets first-ever medal at 2026 Asian Games
• International sevens lined up for March 

Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) President Pavithra Fernando has said that a system of central contracts will be introduced to the nation’s sevens players who will go into training targeting the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.

He said subsequently that the game’s domestic governing body would expand the contract system to cover the 15-a-side squad as well, noting that these measures were being implemented with the intention of bringing the country’s players in line with global rugby requirements.

“We intend to fully professionalise the systems with the input of coaches from overseas,” he told the media during a pre-season press conference held in Colombo on Wednesday (12).

“The target is to form two separate squads for sevens and 15s by 2027. We will introduce the contracts so these players will be available for national duty without having any other binding commitments,” he added.

The 2025-’26 Inter-Club ‘A’ Division Rugby Tournament sponsored by Maliban kicked off on Friday (14) with Dialog Axiata operating as the Telecommunications Partner.

Fernando stated that as part of their long-term plans to enhance performance, Sri Lanka would host two international sevens tournaments in March next year, with one to be held in Kandy and the other in Colombo.

He added that the two legs would presumably feature three invited international teams who would provide Lankan players with world-class exposure. The SLR President stressed that from the two editions, 22 players would be selected for national contracts.

“They will then be placed on a six-month professional training programme under a strength and conditioning coach from New Zealand. This will mark the start of the high-performance pathway preparing our athletes for the Asian Games late next year and in pursuit of our first team medal at the games,” he said.

Fernando, a past national skipper, said that without having two separate squads, it would be futile for Sri Lanka to compete effectively at international level against teams “who are ahead of us”.

He pointed out that the current international rugby calendar had been made for two separate teams and bemoaned the fact that certain local players had been playing rugby non-stop since 2023.

“You simply cannot do this. Not in this particular era. The intensity levels are so high and you need adequate rest; this is the reason for the exceedingly high number of injuries. This also makes player performances dip. But hopefully in two years’ time, we will have separate squads as well as the contracts in full swing.”

SLR Deputy President Shanitha Fernando, who also spoke, insisted that the grand finals module introduced for the first time to crown the new league champions of the 2025-’26 season had come to stay. He had been asked whether it was being tried on a trial basis.

Both the SLR President and his deputy maintained that the grand finals concept had not been foisted upon the clubs, but instead introduced with the aim of overcoming ‘dead rubbers’ and the motive of maintaining crowd interest right up to the season finale.

(JK)