The first-ever tour to Sri Lanka by New Zealand Rugby’s Under-85kg national team is set to go ahead as initially envisaged this May, The Daily Morning Sports learns.
This is following World Rugby’s (WR) extension of the deadline to Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) by four months, to resolve its governance issues.
The tour was somewhat thrown into doubt, after NZR had announced details of the tour last November, in view of a deadline imposed on SLR to sort out its governance matters, before 31 January.
If Sri Lanka had been slapped with a suspension by WR, all international engagements of its national team would have come to a shuddering halt.
Hence it was anybody’s guess, as to what would have become of the NZ Under-85 kg national team’s maiden tour of the island-nation.
However, following timely submissions made to the sport’s global controlling body by the Sports Ministry officials headed by its Director General (DG) Shemal Fernando, to extend the deadline to resolve the SLR crisis, WR has granted a final four-month grace period-which has cleared the decks for the said tour to go ahead. The WR deadline is now set to be in effect from 15 February to 15 June.
The matches are to be played on 4 May at Nittawela, Kandy and the second six days later at Race Course grounds in Colombo, under floodlights.
The matches are to be officiated by a referee from New Zealand and a local referee, with further details to be released in due course.
After receiving an invitation from the South Asian country early last year, it was announced the New Zealand Under 85 kg team will play two fixtures against the Sri Lankan men’s team, also known as the Tuskers.
NZR’s General Manager of Community Rugby Steve Lancaster was quoted as saying in media reports that it was a great opportunity to continue building on the importance of the grade nationally and to take weight-grade rugby to a developing rugby nation.
“It’s exciting to confirm this inaugural tour for our Under 85 kg national team, and playing against an open-weight national side will be a great challenge for them,” he had said.
“We have also worked closely with the New Zealand High Commission in Sri Lanka in establishing the tour and are extremely grateful for their help in supporting the tour and promoting rugby in the region.”
Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya had also noted what a significant milestone this tour would be.
“This occasion promises to energise the nation’s rugby enthusiasts as they witness a powerhouse of the sport take on our National Team in two thrilling matches. We look forward to celebrating this historic occasion together, uniting through our shared passion for the game,” said Dr Amarasuriya.
New Zealand Barbarian Rugby Club has partnered with NZR in providing support to select and assemble the team.
Club Captain Peter White said: “The NZ Barbarian Rugby Club is committed to growing rugby in New Zealand and are proud of our long-term association with, and promotion of, weight restricted rugby. We are excited by the selection of this team which provides the opportunity for players from the grade to play international rugby and most importantly for these trail blazers to make lifelong friendships by touring together.”