Negotiations on to stage 2008 Rugby Asiad in Colombo

By Lal Gunesekera

Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) are in the process of negotiating with their counterparts in South Korea, to stage the 2008 Rugby Asiad in Colombo instead of Seoul and for the postponed 2006 Asiad which was scheduled to have been played in Colombo this month to be staged in Seoul, next year (2007).

Speaking to the Sunday Observer, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the SLRFU, Dilroy Fernando, that the first option suggested to the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) was for Colombo to stage the postponed Asiad in January or February next year (2007), if a better environment prevails in the country.

The other option available is for Colombo to stage the Asiad in October or November next year before or after the final-rounds of the Rugby World Cup (RWC) to be staged in France.

Fernando also said that the SLRFU has made an offer to the South Korean RFU (SKRFU) to stage the postponed 2006 Asiad in Seoul early next year (2007) and for the SLRFU to stage the 2008 Asiad in Colombo, which was to be hosted by SKRFU.

He said: "The South Koreans have responded positively to our request for a swap, but the final decision regarding this matter will be taken at a Board meeting of the SKRFU on November 29. The Koreans have indicated that a couple of sponsors are keen on coming onboard if Seoul are to stage the 2006 Asiad next year (2007)."

Fernando further said that the draw made for the Colombo Asiad is yet valid if its to be staged in Colombo or Seoul. The Singer Asiad was earlier scheduled to have been played in Colombo from November 19 to 25, but was put off at the request of the International Rugby Board (IRB) after Hong Kong, Singapore and Arabian Gulf were reluctant to play in Sri Lanka due to the security situation prevailing in the country.

Now, the RWC qualifiers are to be played in Hong Kong, with Japan meeting Hong Kong on November 19, South Korea taking on Hong Kong on November 21 and Japan battling South Korea on November 25. Earlier, these games too were to be played in Colombo.

The other nine countries slotted to play in the Asiad for the Plate and Bowl categories were India, Arabian Gulf, Kazakhstan, Thailand, China, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.