AREMC 2026 Match 1 Preview: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong China

The Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship (AREMC) 2026 kicks off in Colombo, Sri Lanka, at the Race Course Stadium on Sunday, 24th May, as the Tuskers host the six-time consecutive defending champions, Hong Kong China.

Feature Photo Credit – HKCR AREMC 2025 HKCR vs Sri Lanka

As we have said in our tournament preview, it’s a tournament that could spring some surprises, as all three competing nations have new coaches and new squads with dozens of players set to earn their first caps.

The visiting Hong Kong China side remains the favourites and the highest-ranked team competing, but these fixtures are a potential banana peel.  They have never lost to Sri Lanka in 9 matches and have an average winning score of 47-10. In the 2025 AREMC, they ran out comfortable 78-7 winners in a match they dominated and scored 12 tries in, but this is a very different team they have sent to Sri Lanka

Neither of the two hat-trick scorers, nor Paul Altier, who contributed 26 points through two tries and eight conversions, is in the matchday squad, which features 17 players in the 23-man squad who will potentially make their debut.

The six players who have been capped are: prop James Holmes (3), second row Patrick Jekinson (13), known as the ‘Human Calculator’, he will be a key cog and leader for the team, Tang Man Chun, outside backs Charles Higson-Smith (17) & Dylan McCann (1), and flyhalf or fullback Dylan White.

HKCR Head Coach Logan Asplin said, “Players that play in Sri Lanka will likely play the same amount of minutes as they may play in two games in Japan. It is an opportunity for guys with the ARC squad if they perform exceptionally well against Sri Lanka. They’ve got an opportunity to go and become a leader and likely play 80 minutes.”

He added, “For some of them, that will be their Hong Kong debut. We never degrade the jersey. Our players are big on that. This fixture is still a test cap, and they will approach it that way.”

USRC Tigers Club Coaching Officer Nigel Hotham is in the role as Head Coach of the Men’s XVs AREMC squad and is supported by other Club Coaching Officers. Prop Dean Squire has been appointed captain, and centre David Bennett vice-captain (both uncapped).

The hosts played the New Zealand Under-85kgs team in 2026 in a two-match series and lost both matches, 27-16 and 25-10. Their pack struggled last year, and in patches against the NZ U85s they did as well, which will be a concern. Their ability to attack with the ball in hand is their biggest asset, but they still scored the fewest tries in the AREMC last season.

The challenge for the new Head Coach, Dushantha Lewke, is that he doesnt have 21 players available who are tied up with the 7s High Development programme, but he has had success in the 15s this season by winning the domestic double at CR & FC. His club’s forwards coach, Henry Terrance, is also the national team forwards coach, while Lakala Perera is the Backs Coach.

Lasindu Karunathilake and Tharindu Chathuranga were announced as captain and vice-captain of the Tuskers back in April, with Karunathilake having led CR & FC to an historic double crown, winning both the Maliban Inter-Club Rugby League and the Clifford Cup.

Local Sri Lankan media reported that forwards Shamika Kaushan of Air Force Sports Club, Hansika de Silva and Denuwan Wickramarachchi of Navy Sports Club, as well as backs Kaveesha Kaluarachchi, winger Pasindu Bandara and fullback Yuwan Pathirana are all set to debut.

Sri Lanka Squad vs Hong Kong China – AREMC 2026 Match#1

Viduna Amaneth, Naham Hemachandra, Shenal Adhikaram, Kaveesha Kaluarachchi, Sabith Musheen, Venura Kodagoda, Yuwan Pathirana, Pasindu Bandara, Thenuka Nanayakkara, Chirantha Kaluarachchi, Gemunu Chethiya, Mursheed Doray, Nuwan Perera, captain Lasindu Karunathilaka, Denuwan Wickramarachchi, vice-captain Tharindu Chathuranga, Naveen Marasinghe, Thilina Bandara, Hansitha de Silva, Shamika Kaushan and Vimukthi Gamage.

Hong Kong China Squad vs Sri Lanka – AREMC 2026 Match#1

1 Thomas CONCU* 2. TANG Man Chun 3. David BENNETT* (VC) 4. Patrick JENKINSON 5. Glenn HUI* 6. Dana FOURIE* 7. Joseph KNIGHT* 8. Dean ROSSOUW* 9. Emanuel LAI* 10. Oliver PYLE* 11. Huw ALEXANDER* 12. Barnaby HORBERRY* 13. Dean SQUIRE* (C) 14. Charles HIGSON SMITH 15. Dylan McCANN 16. NG Siu Lung* 17. James HOLMES 18. Struan MAIN* 19. Connor O’BYRNE* 20. Oliver CLARKE* 21. Anthony COEBERGH* 22. Dylan WHITE 23. Alexander MOSES*

*Potential debutant

Match Permutations

• Hong Kong China (23rd) cannot improve their rating with a victory over Sri Lanka.
• If Sri Lanka wins, Hong Kong China could drop at least two places.
• Sri Lanka will jump at least eight places to 40th with a first-ever win over Hong Kong China.

Match Officials Japan vs HKCR AREWC 2026

• Match Referee – James Fairbourn (UAERF)

How To Watch Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2026

All of the matches will be broadcast/streamed via Asia Rugby socials and RugbyPassTV for international audiences.
You can watch the 2025 AREMC match between the two sides below:

AREMC 2026 Schedule 

• Sunday 24 May 2026: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong China – Racecourse Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka – KO 15:00
• Sunday 7 June 2026: Hong Kong China vs Korea – Hong Kong – HKFC, KO 16:30 – Tickets will be available soon via HKCR.
• Saturday 13 June 2026: Korea vs Sri Lanka – Namdong Asiad Rugby Stadium, Incheon, Korea – KO 15:00

Asian XV Rugby News 2026

• Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championships (AREMC 2026) Tournament Preview.
• Hong Kong China Rugby Men’s XV Squads Confirmed for AREMC 2026 Opener & Japan Select XV Tour.
• Sri Lanka Rugby Announces National Coaching Teams for 2026.
• Asian International Rugby Tournaments 2026.