AREMC 2026 Match 3 Preview: Korea vs Sri Lanka (Match Cancelled)

The final game of the AREMC 2026 is due to take place on Saturday, June 13, at the Namdong Asiad Rugby Stadium as Korea take on Sri Lanka to determine the runner-up for the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship, something neither team has achieved in the past two seasons.

Photo Credit – Asia Rugby – AREMC 2025 Korea vs Sri Lanka

(UPDATE – Sri Lanka reports suggested the team were having visa issues and, by Friday, 12th June, had not yet departed. SLR experienced the same issues sending their teams to the CASA 7s, so we are not sure what the reasons are.

There are rumours the match might not go ahead and that Sri Lanka may have to forfeit. KRU put out a notice on Friday to confirm the match had been cancelled due to SLR’s inability to get their visas in time. 

In 2022, Sri Lanka Rugby was fined USD $10,000 by Asia Rugby for not fielding a women’s 7s team – for official word from the regional governing body, see below.)

Asia Rugby Statement

Asia Rugby released the following statement following the cancellation:

“Asia Rugby regrets to announce that the final scheduled fixture of the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2026 between Korea and Sri Lanka, due to be played at Namdong Asiad Rugby Stadium in Incheon on Saturday, 13 June 2026, has been cancelled.

The decision follows confirmation that the Sri Lanka national team was unable to obtain the necessary travel visas required to enter Korea in time for the match.

Asia Rugby, together with Sri Lanka Rugby and Korea Rugby Union, explored a range of possible solutions to facilitate the fixture. However, despite the collective efforts of all parties, the visa process could not be completed within the required timeframe.

Following an assessment of the international rugby calendar, travel requirements, venue availability, and team commitments, Asia Rugby has determined that there is currently no suitable window available to reschedule the fixture within the 2026 competition cycle.

The Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2026 featured two highly competitive matches, including Hong Kong China’s dramatic 15-14 victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo and a 45-9 victory over Korea in Hong Kong China. With those results, Hong Kong China secured their seventh consecutive Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship title.

In accordance with the Competition Regulations, Korea will be awarded four competition points, and the match result will be recorded as a 20–0 victory for Korea. The official competition standings will be updated and published on the Asia Rugby website.

Asia Rugby will communicate any further competition-related decisions, if required, in accordance with the applicable competition regulations through its official channels. Member Unions, teams, and stakeholders should rely on information published on the official Asia Rugby website and direct correspondence from Asia Rugby.”

Match Preview

Both sides come off losses against Hong Kong China, who retained the title for the 7th consecutive time.

Sri Lanka has never defeated Korea, according to Sri Lanka Rugby (but World Rugby says they have a head-to-head of 10 games and Korea has won 9 and Sri Lanka once). The travelling Head Coach Dushanth Lewke, along with his management team and captain Lasindu Karunathilaka and vice-captain Tharindu Chathuranga, will be looking to make history for the Tuskers.

Both teams are capable of good attacking and running rugby, so it could be a high-scoring spectacle. That was the case last year, when Korea edged Sri Lanka in Colombo 38-34. The question marks will again be around the pack of the visitors and whether they can compete with the bigger and heavier Koreans. Both sides were also guilty of poor discipline and gave away far too many penalties.

Against HKCR, Korea and Sri Lanka started well, but eventually the champions had set-piece dominance at the scrum, and the lineout was used to good effect for the rolling mauls which led to points. Korea also faced a more experienced pack than Sri Lanka.

Lewke has selected some experienced players including Vimukthi Gamage, Hansitha Silva, Naveen Marasinghe, Mursheed Doray, Thenuka Nanayakkara and Gemunu Chethiya.

You can watch the highlights of the previous match between Korea and HKCR here.

Korea squad vs Sri Lanka – AREMC 2026 Match#3

TBC – they announced the team very late for the HKCR match.

Sri Lanka squad vs Korea – AREMC 2026 Match#3

There are changes in the squad to that which faced HKCR. In the front row, Vimukthi Gamage is the only player selected but has switched from tighthead to loosehead prop in just his second Test. The rest of the starting pack is the same.

The backline sees wholesale changes. There are starts for Himal Harsha at scrumhalf instead of Aruna Perera (among the reserves), with Isuru Umayanga at flyhalf. Pasinu Thakshila is on the left wing, with Arosh Rathnayake on the right wing.

Mursheed Zubair, who started at ten against HKCR, starts at fullback.

Shamika Kaushan (reserve prop) and Denuwan Wickramarachchi (starting flank), who both made their debut in the opening game, again feature.

Vimukthi Gamage, Pulasthi Dassanayaka, Hansitha Silva, Thilina Bandara, Naveen Marasinghe, Tharindu Chathuranga (Vice Captain), Denuwan Wickramaarachchi, Lasindu Karunathilake (Captain), Himal Harsha, Isuru Umayanga, Pasindu Thakshila, Thenuka Nanayakkara, Gamunu Chethiya, Arosh Rathnayake, Mursheed Zubair, Shamika Kaushan, Sabith Musheen, Nisal Silva, Shenal Adikaram, Udesh Madushanka, Viduna Amaneth, Dimuth Perera and Janith Chandimal.

Match Permutations

• Korea is ranked 38th compared to Sri Lanka’s 48th by World Rugby.
• Korea cannot improve on 38th place if they win but could fall to 42nd if they lose by 15 points.
• Sri Lanka will fall one place to 49th if they are beaten by more than 15 points.
• If Sri Lanka wins, they could climb as many as 10 places to 38th if the margin is more than 15 points.
• If Sri Lanka wins by fewer than 15 points, they will rise seven places. 37th is the highest Sri Lanka has ever been.

Match Officials Japan vs HKCR AREWC 2026

• Match Referee – Morgan White (Hong Kong China)
• AR1 – TBC
• AR 2 – TBC

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.

AREMC 2026 Schedule 

• Sunday 24 May 2026: Sri Lanka 14-15 Hong Kong China – Racecourse Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka – KO 15:00
• Sunday 7 June 2026: Hong Kong China 45-9 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

Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship News 2026

• Hong Kong China Seal 7th Straight AREMC Title with 45-9 Win Over Korea
• AREMC 2026 Match 2 Preview: Hong Kong China vs Korea
• AREMC 2026 Match 1 Preview: Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong China.
• Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championships (AREMC 2026) Tournament Preview.