Sri Lanka to Host Asia Rugby U-19 Championship 2026

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) has secured the hosting rights for the Asia Rugby U-19 15-a-side Championship 2026, marking a historic return of elite age-grade international rugby to the island after more than two decades.

The last time Sri Lanka hosted this prestigious tournament was in 2000, when the Junior Tuskers, captained by Jivan Goonathilake, delivered a landmark performance by qualifying for the World Rugby U-20 Championship in Chile—a defining moment in the nation’s rugby history.

Now, 26 years later, Sri Lanka is set to welcome Asia’s finest young rugby talent, reaffirming its commitment to youth development, structured pathways, and high-performance excellence.