The air at the CR & FC grounds in Longdon Place was electric last weekend as the island’s rugby enthusiasts gathered to witness the first leg of the Sri Lanka Rugby Sevens Tournament 2026 (Clubs). While local clubs battled fiercely for supremacy, it was the Dubai-based outfit, UUDS Tuskers, who stole the show, displaying unmatched talent and spectacular performance to clinch the cup title with an unbeaten run.
From the kickoff, the Tuskers demonstrated why they were the team to beat. Armed with Fijian power and grit, they navigated the tournament with solid defense and attacking flair, ultimately cementing their status as the undisputed champions of the first leg.
In the preliminary round, the teams were drawn into the following groups:
Mens Club Pools
- Group A: Havelock SC, Police SC, Army SC
- Group B: UUDS Tuskers, CH & FC, Sri Lions
- Group C: CR & FC, Air Force SC, Navy SC
In addition to the men’s tournament, the women’s segment also featured the participation of the tri-forces outfits, highlighting the commitment of Sri Lanka rugby towards the growth of women’s rugby sevens with the objective of being an Asian powerhouse in the near future. With the same objective, eight provincial women’s teams under franchiser names were in the fray for the glory by targeting the grassroots-level women’s rugby development in outstation areas.
Women’s Clubs: Navy SC, Army SC, Air Force SC
Womens Provincial Tournament Pools
- Group X: Western Worriers, North Western Blacks, Uva Tigers, Central Gladiators
- Group Y: North Western Stallions, North Central Eagles, Uva Knight, Southern Sharks
Men’s Club Segment
After the group stage of the men’s club tournament, UUDS Tuskers and CR & FC emerged as the unbeaten group leaders and qualified for the Cup/Plate semifinals. Further, Havelock SC also qualified for the Cup/Plate semifinals as group A’s top-seeded team with one victory and a tied game against Army SC. The remaining position of the Cup/Plate semifinals was awarded to CH & FC for their spirited effort, being the best runner-up team among three groups.
Men’s Club Semifinal Thrillers
The path to the final was paved with high-intensity clashes. In the first Cup/Plate semifinal, the foreign giants, UUDS Tuskers, faced off against a formidable Havelock SC side. The Tuskers dominated the first half, breaching the Havelock defence line to score three unconverted tries.
After the lemons, Stephan Sivaraj ignited a flicker of hope for the Park Club, scoring a magnificent opening try. However, the Tuskers remained unshaken. Responding to the challenge, they continued their solid performance to shut down any chance of a comeback, securing their spot in the final with a convincing 32 – 07 victory.
The second semifinal was a classic encounter between arch-rivals CR & FC and CH & FC. In a game that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats, the score was squared at seven all by halftime. In the second half, CR & FC found another gear and conquered the game, scoring three crucial tries to knock out the CH & FC outfit and earn their ticket to the finals.
Meanwhile, CH & FC outclassed Havelock SC with five unanswered tries in the Plate Final. In the bowl final, the airmen’s attack was too heavy for the sailors as they sank by 34 – 12 points. After a thrilling contest, the Police SC outfit ran away with the Shield Championship after edging out Army SC by 14 – 05 points. Hence, the other side, Sri Lions, had to be satisfied with the wooden spoon yet again this season.
Navy SC women beat Army and Air Force in the group stage to reach the finals of the women’s club competition. In a match that swung back and forth, Navy SC eventually edged out their rivals, Air Force SC, in a nail-biting finish, securing a 17-14 victory to lift the coveted Cup title.
In the women’s development rugby competition (provincial), the Western Warriors managed to beat the Central Gladiators with a score of 12 – 05 to lift the cup championship. Further, North Western Blacks defeated their sistering outfit, the North Western Stallions, with a margin of just four points.
The Final: A Clash of Titans
The much-anticipated final clash lived up to its billing. UUDS Tuskers drew first blood through Kavindu de Costa, who touched down in the right corner. CR & FC responded swiftly; Heshan Madhumadhawa scored the first try for the home team through a quick tap taken on the 5-metre mark. Kushan Tharindu nailed a brilliant conversion to swing the momentum, bringing CR & FC into the lead.
However, the lead was short-lived. Just before the short whistle, the Tuskers struck back, pouncing on a gap in the CR defence to level the scores and head into the break with momentum.
The second half was a masterclass by the Dubai side. UUDS Tuskers made a strong statement, unleashing an onslaught of four tries that left the CR defence scrambling. While CR managed to plant a consolation try, it was too little too late. At the long whistle, the UUDS Tuskers, powered by Fijian flair, were crowned champions with a thumping 34–12 victory.
While the six Fijians in the champion outfit provided the explosive power, it was the integration of home-grown talents that truly optimised the enthusiasm of the fans gathered at Longdon Place. Players such as Kushan Indunil, Kavindu de Costa, Rinesh Silva, Hirantha Perera, Dulaj Perera, and Chethana Rajarathna featured prominently, showcasing their skills on the big stage.
As the sun set on Longdon Place, the UUDS Tuskers stood tall as the kings of the first leg, setting a high standard for the remainder of the tournament.
Results of the finals
Men’s Club Event finals
- Cup final: UUDS Tuskers 34 – 14 CR & FC
- Plate final: CH & FC 33 – 00 Havelock SC
- Bowl final: Air Force SC 34 – 12 Navy SC
- Shield final: Police SC 14 – 05 Army SC
Women’s Cup final: Navy 17 – 14 Air Force
Mens Club, Cup/Plate semifinals
- UUDS Tuskers 32 – 07 Havelock SC
- CR & FC 24 – 07 CH & FC
Women’s Provincial Tournament –
- Cup final: Western Warriors 12 – 05 Central Gladiators
- Plate final: North Western Blacks 21 – 17 North Western Stallions
- Bowl final: Uva Knights 37 – 00 Southern Sharks
- Shield final: Uva Tigers 05 – 00 North Central Eagles
. While local clubs battled fiercely for supremacy, it was the Dubai-based outfit, UUDS Tuskers, who stole the show, displaying unmatched talent and spectacular performance to clinch the cup title with an unbeaten run. ){kind=link}