Only one Asia Rugby Sevens tournament in 2021

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Asia Rugby (AR) Sevens for 2021 will be worked off in UAE on November 19 and 20 with only one tournament in this year’s calendar.

The proposed first leg which was to take place in South Korea in September was cancelled, with AR’s original plan to hold events in China and Sri Lanka as well.

The UAE event in November will host 16 Men’s and Women’s teams with the two segments running concurrently.  This event will act as an Asian Qualifier for the Rugby Sevens World Cup 2022 to be held in South Africa and as a ranking tournament for the Asian Games 2022 which will be held in Hangzhou – China next year.

There will be an invitational sevens tournament taking place in Colombo organized by Sri Lanka Police and Sri Lanka Air Force which is scheduled to take place at Police Park during the month of October. According to reliable sources this event will be used as a yard stick for the sevens outfit selection for the Asia Rugby Sevens 2021 which is to take place in UAE. According to sources, Sri Lanka Police, Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Navy, CH & FC and Havelock SC have confirmed their participation in this tournament. 

The last event organized by Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) was the Inter Club XV a side event which ended in February 2020. The Clifford Cup for the same year could not take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Both CH & FC and Sri Lanka Air Force featured in the Commanders Cup rugby event which took place in Ratmalana over two legs.