Korea Rugby Union and Sri Lanka Rugby Conclude Joint Youth Boys Training Camp

The Korea Rugby Union invited players from Sri Lanka Rugby and conducted joint training in Korea at the KRU’s expense, but the well-intended programme didn’t pass without criticism as the SLR only selected boys from two schools.

Photo Credit – KRU

The ‘Developing Country Player Invitation Joint Training’ was initiated by the Korea Rugby Union, and they invited a Sri Lankan U14 youth national team from 17-22 December to conduct joint training with Korea’s promising players at the Jincheon Athletes’ Village, which is a sports village under the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee.

Among several chat groups and in Sri Lankan media, the selection process and name used as a Sri Lankan National youth rep team were disputed and discussed after the union, under new leadership with President Pavithra Fernando, made the decision not to have an open trial and selected representatives only from Wesley and Zahira Colleges.

The reasoning from the SLR was that it was the most practical approach, given the limited time frame, as the two were the top-performing teams of the recent season. The high-performance training and exposure programme was meant to be a historic first for the Junior Tuskers, but not everyone in Sri Lanka was pleased.

However, Sri Lanka Rugby said, “This joint training is particularly meaningful as it is the first official overseas training program in the history of the Sri Lankan youth national team. We would like to express our gratitude to Korea for its cooperation through this joint training, and we believe that this exchange will be an important turning point in the development of rugby in both countries.”

The KRU said via Korean media that the camp included a total of 53 individuals, with 18 Sri Lankan representatives (14 players and 4 coaches) and 35 from Korea (30 players and 5 coaches).

The Korean team was comprised of players from Gyeongsan Middle School, Gwangju Mujin Middle School, Namseong Middle School, Daejeon Gayang Middle School, Baejae Middle School, Bucheon G Sports Club, Seoul National University of Education Middle School, Siheung G Sports Club, Yangjeong Middle School, Iribuk Middle School, and Ilsandong Middle School, who were selected through the player selection process held in November.

The KRU added that it hoped to build a sustainable youth sports exchange network with Sri Lanka and gradually pursue mid- to long-term cooperation plans, such as expanding exchanges between coaches and players.”

The hosts covered the costs of all of the SLR representatives (flights, accommodation, transport, meals, and venue) as the camp included a match between Korea and Sri Lanka.

Photo Credit – SLR

Korea Rugby Union and Sri Lanka Rugby Forging New Paths

Both Unions are under new leadership and looking to forge new paths, but neither has been without obstacles.

Sri Lanka Rugby has been in domestic courts and faced bans from Asia Rugby and World Rugby, but after electing a new board and president in October 2025, it has also established a Sri Lanka Rugby Players Association (SLRPA), while Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha is the new Chairperson of the new SLR Rugby Foundation.

There are even promises that a system of central contracts will be introduced to the nation’s sevens players who will go into training targeting the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan – this follows the men and women competing in the Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2025, in which the men finished a commendable third.

Photo Credit – Asia Rugby – Korean Women 7s Team 2025 – AREST

In Korea, their elections were held in January 2025, and Sim Yeong Bok was voted into office, succeeding Choi Yoon. He has also received criticism for focusing on the 7s program at the demise of 15s rugby, with the domestic 15s season also seeing disruptions.

The KRU did for the first time since 2019, send a women’s 7s team to compete in an international tournament (competing at the Asia Rugby Sevens Trophy 2025 in Oman), and has recently invited and paid for a Fiji development squad to train in Korea.

Their 7s men’s team have also started preparations for the 2026 Asian Games, while the KRU signed a MoU with the newly formed South East Asian Rugby Federation (SEARF).

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