Sri Lanka booked their place in the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025 with a dominant 59-19 victory over Malaysia in the playoff encounter, held at the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo.
Host nation Sri Lanka are on a mission to secure their place in the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025, following a dominant campaign in the Asia Rugby Division One tournament last year. Their opponents, having finished winless at the bottom of the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2024, arrived with hopes of redemption. Under sweltering heat and humid conditions, the two sides clashed in a high-stakes battle for qualification.
- Asia Rugby President meets Sri Lankan Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports
- Sri Lanka Tuskers team to face Malaysia in Playoff match named
- Ratwatte to lead Sri Lanka Tuskers against Malaysia
- WATCH – Sri Lanka Practice Session ahead of Malaysia Match in Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025
- WATCH – Malaysia Practice Session ahead of Sri Lanka Match in Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025
The home side wasted no time setting the tone, launching an early attack with dominant rolling mauls. A well-executed platform from the forwards allowed quick ball out to center Danushka Ranjan, who broke through before offloading to Skipper Nigel Ratwatte, and then to Mursheed Zubair, who sent winger Janindu Dilshan over the line for the opening try. (SL 05-00 MAS)
Malaysia responded immediately by turning over a Sri Lanka scrum and earning a penalty. Opting for another scrum, No. 8 Etonia Vaga powered through three defenders to score, with Muhammad Amirul Aqil converting to put the visitors ahead. (SL 05-07 MAS)
Sri Lanka continued to concede penalties, but fortunately for the hosts, Muhammad Amirul Aqil missed three attempts at goal. The Malaysian forwards applied pressure with some powerful carries, but the Sri Lankan defense held firm and forced a turnover. Taking play into the Malaysian 22, Sri Lanka executed a clinical maul to gain ground before spreading the ball wide. Danushka Ranjan once again found space and crossed the line, with Mursheed Zubair adding the conversion. (SL 12-07 MAS)
With momentum on their side, Sri Lanka continued to dominate possession and territory. From a central scrum, a sharp 8-9 move between Lasindu Karunathilake and Heshan Jansen created space for Akash Madushanka, who shrugged off a defender to score. Zubair slotted over the conversion. (SL 19-07 MAS)
The backs kept firing, this time off a scrum just outside the 22. Another 8-9 play opened the lane for winger Dinal Ekanayake, who sliced through the defense and stepped inside for Sri Lanka’s fourth try, once again converted by Zubair. (SL 26-07 MAS)
On the brink of Half Time, Sri Lanka launched a quick counter from inside their own half as Ratwatte broke away and linked with Nizran Nillar. Janindu Dilshan brought the ball inside the 5-meter line before it was spread wide to Naveen Marasinghe, who bulldozed over for another score. Zubair’s perfect kicking continued as Sri Lanka closed the half firmly in control.
Half Time: Sri Lanka 33 (5T,4C) – Malaysia 07 (1T,1C)
Sri Lanka came out firing in the second half, launching a counter-attack from their own 22. Mursheed Zubair sparked the move, sending Danushka Ranjan slicing through the Malaysian line before collecting the return pass and offloading to Dinal Ekanayake, who fended off the final defender to score his second try. Zubair added the extras to mark a perfect start after the break. (SL 40-07 MAS)
The tries kept flowing as a turnover by Thilina Bandara set the stage for another sweeping backline move. Crisp passing from right to left sent Ekanayake blazing down the wing again, rounding the last defender to complete his hat-trick. Zubair remained flawless from the tee, slotting his sixth conversion. (SL 47-07 MAS)
After sustained defensive effort, Malaysia finally hit back with a counter-attack. Muhammad Amirul Aqil combined with his backs to enter the 22, before scrum-half Mohamad Nasharuddin sent it wide to the powerful No. 8 Etonia Vaga, who crashed over in the corner. Mohammad Nazreen Fitri added the extras with a pinpoint conversion. (SL 47-14 MAS)
However, Sri Lanka struck immediately from the restart. Malaysia tried to go wide, but Skipper Syarif Nurhidayat’s long pass was intercepted by Janindu Dilshan, who ran in untouched for his second. Zubair nailed another difficult conversion from the corner. (SL 54-14 MAS)
Malaysia kicked for touch following a no-arms tackle penalty by Sri Lanka, setting up an attacking lineout. They threw to the third pod, and No. 8 Etonia Vaga, acting as scrum-half, spotted a gap between the first and third pods, powering through to complete his hat-trick, offering a consolation for the visitors. (SL 54-19 MAS)
After tireless work throughout the match, Sri Lanka’s forwards finally got their reward. Kicking to the corner from a penalty, they executed a textbook rolling maul, powering Dahan Wickramarachchi over the line for a well-deserved try—capping off a resounding victory as the Sri Lankan Tuskers booked their place in the Asia Rugby Men’s Championship 2025.
Full Time: Sri Lanka 59 (9T,7C) – Malaysia 19 (3T,2C)
Player of the Match: Dinal Ekanayake (Sri Lanka)
Points Breakdown
Sri Lanka 59
Janindu Dilshan 2T, Danushka Ranjan 1T, Akash Madushanka 1T, Dinal Ekanayake 3T, Naveen Marasinghe 1T, Dahan Wickramarachchi 1T, Mursheed Zubair 7C
Malaysia 19
Etonia Vaga 3T, Muhammad Amirul Aqil 1C, Mohammad Nazreen Fitri 1C
