Sri Lanka to host Asia Rugby U-19 Championship in 2026

Sri Lanka Rugby has secured the hosting rights for the Asia Rugby Under-19 Top 4 tournament, bringing the elite junior competition back to the island after a gap of 26 years, officials confirmed on Friday.

Sri Lanka last hosted the tournament in 2000, when the home side finished third and qualified for the Junior Rugby World Cup in Chile the following year.

The upcoming edition will mark a first for Kandy, which is set to host the Asia Rugby Under-19 Top 4 XV-a-side tournament for the first time. Widely regarded as Sri Lanka’s rugby capital, Kandy is known for its strong school and club rugby traditions and consistently high spectator support.

The tournament will feature four of Asia’s strongest emerging rugby nations at junior level — Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, South Korea and Chinese Taipei.

(Newswire)