Format for Asiad confirmed

by Lal Gunesekera

For the first time in the history of Asian rugby, the Cup champions of the Asiad to be staged in Colombo in November will qualify the play in the Rugby World Cup (RWC) finals in France next year (2007).

Down for decision in the cup category are the games Japan vs Hong Kong on November 19, Hong Kong vs South Korea on November 22 and Japan vs South Korea on November 25. These games are to be worked off at Longden Place.

For the rest of the tournament to be worked off from November 17 to 25 (Plate and Bowl), three countries (China, Kazakhastan and Vietnam) has yet to confirm their participation, though 12 countries have done so (Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Arabian Gulf, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Pakistan and even Iran).

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), Dilroy Fernando, told the Sunday Observer that the format was confirmed at a Council meeting of the ARFU in the Philippines earlier this month, with five countries each in the Plate and Bowl if only 12 compete, but otherwise six each. Each team will play two games in their group with the group leaders meeting in the finals (Plate and Bowl).

The second placed team in each group will play for the third place play-off.

Fernando further said that the SLRFU has been successful in securing 50 per cent of the sponsorship with Singer (Sri Lanka Limited) as the main sponsor. The others are Mobitel, Carlsberg, Casilan Galadari (official hotel) and Zeppelin.

Meanwhile, the inaugural ARFU Division VI tournament is to be staged in Kampuchea from June 27 to July 1 with Fernando being invited as IRB Trainer of Match Officials and Match Referee to conduct workshops and training sessions. This tournament is part of the 2006 Asian Nations Series featuring Test matches between national sides of Brunei, Kampuchea, Indonesia and Laos.