All Blacks under 85kg. weight restricted team to take on Sri Lanka Tuskers in historic two Tests. – BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE. (eLanka Sports Editor).
Sri Lanka Rugby will be the focus of interest worldwide when they host a historic visit by a weight restricted All Blacks contingent that will test the locals skill in a two Test series.
The cricket mad nation that is also passionate about its Rugby Union, will be pitted against a under 85 kg New Zealand team, a concept aimed at levelling competition between all Rugby playing nations around the world.
This series is a pioneering venture that gives players of smaller stature, for example in Asia, the opportunity of matching their skill against the best Rugby Union nations in the world.
A few years ago, former Rugby Australia Chairman Dilip Kumar teamed up with former Wallabies coach Bob Dwyer with an idea of expanding the world game by introducing a under 80 kg weight restricted competition under the purview of the International Rugby Board (IRB).
But the idea failed to gain the backing or support of the controlling body.
Undaunted by the knock back, the duo persisted with the idea and it now appears that a breakthrough in the thinking appears to be making headway.
The Kiwis are heading to Sri Lanka for a two match series.
Initially, the Sri Lankans will be allowed a weight limit of no greater than 105 kgs. against the 85 kg restricted visitors who are obviously more skilled.
The two Sri Lankan props cannot exceed 105 kg. the rest may have to be within the stipulated restriction.
Excited Sri Lanka Rugby Union officials have begun a massive drive to promote the visiting New Zealanders who have thrown more clout into it by bringing iconic All Blacks former coach Sir Graham Henry into the mix to bolster the launch.
Two games have been scheduled at Nittawela on May 4 and at the Racecourse ground in Colombo on May 10.
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There is high anticipation that record crowds will throng the venues to witness the historic event in Sri Lanka Rugby.
Dialogue Axiata and Sri Lankan Airlines have thrown their weight behind the tour sponsoring the important event.
Sri Lanka’s performances will hinge on the success of the ongoing progress of this revolutionary project. They recently won the Asian Division 1 tournament last year.
Meanwhile, the expanded upcoming World Cup gives the Lankans a fighting chance of making it to the top rung of world rugby. But the path ahead is certainly not a cake walk against the other Asian heavyweights.
Japan, who are an automatic inclusion to the elite teams in World rugby, will not feature in Sri Lanka’s quest to enhance their hopes of climbing the ranks.
