- Wax lyrical of Japan and HK China’s progress
- New Emirates Club Sevens Cup in the offing
Asia Rugby (AR) President Qais Al Dhalai categorically put to bed suggestions of any possible penalties imposed on Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) by the sport’s continental controlling body, during a live Town Hall session from Dubai on Monday (20).
Sri Lanka forfeited its Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Rugby Championship match against South Korea at Incheon on 12 June with the match being officially cancelled as the ‘Tuskers’ were unable to secure the necessary travel visas.
As the match could not be rescheduled, Asia Rugby recorded it officially as a 20-0 default victory and awarded four competition points to host nation South Korea.
“The simple answer is Sri Lanka did not withdraw,” Al Dhalai told The Daily Morning Sports, during the live stream on YouTube.
“There is a withdrawal policy in AR. And if a team withdraws for less than 10 weeks before a match, then there is a financial penalty on the Union concerned. But what happened here is a different story.”
He stated that people have tried to mix things up since the cancellation of the fixture. “The match was scheduled to happen on time, on a specific date, and in a specific city. And due to unexpected circumstances and due to the delay in issuance of the visas of the Sri Lankan delegation to South Korea, this match could not happen.”
He continued “So basically there is no further action from Asia Rugby and it is what it is. And if a Union is willing to play its scheduled match and for some reason the visas were delayed and not issued there is nothing Asia Rugby could do about it. This matter was discussed at Ex-Co of AR and the policy is clear. Simple answer, no further action.”
Al Dhalai also backed Japan’s inclusion in World Rugby’s inaugural inter-hemisphere competition which kicked off early this month and said the product was six-years in the making of the WR Council of which he is also a member.
He opined that the Nations Championship and the Nations Cup for the world top 24 nations had been mooted to balance the Northern Hemisphere (Six Nations) and Southern Hemisphere calendars.
He then argued that Japan deserved its place in the Nations Championship as the ‘Brave Blossoms’ are ranked in the top 12.
“Whether they win, lose or draw is irrelevant,” he observed. “The simple answer is yes they (Japan) deserve it. I will always support Japan and I will do the same to Hong Kong, UAE, Sri Lanka and Malaysia. I want them to challenge HK China. When we have a close competition then the performance levels rise. And If you don’t have a close competition then every year you’ll have big scores, and it will not be enjoyable for the viewership, for sponsors etc.”
Al Dhalai commended Hong Kong China for having qualified for the first time for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia behind Japan and noted that he was proud that HK China had beaten Uruguay 42-40 in Montevideo in a Nations Cup match on 18 July.
The AR president added that Emirates Sevens Asia Rugby Clubs Cup will be one of the newest tournament’s due to kick off in October-November this year and predicted it would become a ‘very attractive event’ for clubs in the continent.