Asia Rugby Men’s Division 1 concluded with host Sri Lanka crowned as the champions
The final match drew a crowd of over 20,000 spectators, with the grandstand at full capacity. The Tuskers dominated the game, delivering a thrilling performance.
Sri Lanka opened the scoring with a try by Zubair Dore ten minutes into the first half. Maintaining their momentum, they added points steadily, while Kazakhstan relentlessly attacked but struggled to convert opportunities. By halftime, the Tuskers had amassed 31 points.
They continued their dominance into the second half, with Heshan Jansen scoring a try at 56 minutes. Captain Magamedrasul Magomedov salvaged a consolation try for Kazakhstan, preventing a shutout. The final score was 45-7
Qatar narrowly missed securing a spot in the final against host Sri Lanka after a fiercely contested semi-final against Kazakhstan. Despite a slow start, Qatar entered the game with fervor, only to be outpaced by the relentless Kazakh side.
In their match against India, Qatar looked very strong at the half and the score was Qatar 26-6. Despite India’s valiant comeback attempt in the second half, they ultimately succumbed to Qatar, with a final score of Qatar 34 -25.
The tournament, hosted at the historic Racecourse Ground in Colombo, embraced eco-consciousness by being designated as a green event. Asia Rugby collaborated with Sri Lanka Rugby to introduce the “TRY-A TREE” initiative, committing to planting a tree for every try scored in Asia Rugby Tournaments. In the Division 1 tournament, trees were earmarked for planting based on points accumulated. Remarkably, after just the first day, an impressive 119 trees had already found new homes.
Continuing its commitment to sustainability, Asia Rugby, in partnership with Sri Lanka Rugby, organised educational sessions during the week. Local children, along with team managers from all four unions, participated in a demonstration highlighting the vital role of honey bees in the ecosystem.
