Sri Lanka vs UAE Preview – Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025
rugbyasia247
Posted On July 3, 2025
The Sri Lanka Tuskers will host the UAE on Friday, 4 July 2025 the Racecourse Ground in Colombo, looking for their first win in the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship. The United Arab Emirates will need to win to try and secure second place and keep their own RWC 2027 dreams alive.
Feature Photo Credit – Asia Rugby
The UAE lost their opening game against Hong Kong China at home 10-43 but upset Korea in Incheon in the second round 38-36 to sit on 5 log points. The Tuskers have lost both games, losing narrowly to Korea 34-38 in Colombo, before a heavy loss in Hong Kong 7-78. Their two losing bonus points from the opening leg see them sit at the bottom of the table.
Neither team can win the title, but for the UAE to secure the runner-up spot for the second consecutive year would be a massive achievement and if they beat the Tuskers and Korea doesn’t win on the final weekend, the UAE would follow the RWC 2027 repechage route which involves a Play-Off clash against the second-best team in the Rugby Africa Men’s Cup 2025. The winner of that would progress to the Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai, UAE, from 8-18 November.
Sri Lanka will be trying to win to avoid finishing at the bottom of the table. If they do end last, they would again play in the Asia Rugby Emirates Playoff Match to compete in the Championship in 2026 (with the opposition and further details TBC).
Local Sri Lankan media have bemoaned the loss of key personnel to sickness and injuries, with some senior players opting not to train with the Tuskers, and the team which runs out to try and preserve their top-tier status could well be a second-string XV side.
Tharinda Ratwatte captains the side once again, and back-rower Lasindu Karunathilake is vice-captain for the hosts. It has not been confirmed if interim Kiwi Head Coach Rodney Gibbs will stay on after the AREMC.
Photo Credit – Mr Wu – Sri Lanka Tuskers – AREMC 2025
The UAE have gone for a settled team and the same starting 1-11 that beat South Korea in the second round will start against Sri Lanka. At #12 (centre), Justin Walsh is replaced by James Crossley. There is also a slight change to the back three with Jack Stapley, Niko Voloavola (who scored a hat-trick against the Koreans) and Gerard Pieterse starting.
UAE Head Coach Jacques Benade will need his whole squad to keep their discipline as they have been poor with conceding yellow cards over the past 12 months.
A shorthanded team will be exposed by the agile and dangerous Tuskers backs – but if their pack can get dominance, which they should based on what we have seen across the opening two rounds, the visitors should be able to secure a win in Colombo.
- Referee: Craig Chan (HKCR)
- Assistant Referees: Matt Rodden, Sunny Lee (HKCR)
- TMO: Simon Dodd (UAERF)
- Performance Reviewers: Dilroy Fernando, Dewi Rowlands
You can find out more about the RWC 2027 pathway here.
Match Permutations – Sri Lanka vs UAE
Sri Lanka is ranked 40th, and the UAE have climbed to 43rd according to the World Rugby rankings.
- The UAE are currently at an all-time high of 43rd, and could continue to climb the rankings if they beat Sri Lanka.
- A UAE win will see them enter the top 40 for the first time and become the higher-ranked of the two nations.
Sri Lanka Squad vs UAE – July 4 2025
01) Malitha Wijesundara
02) Shamika Kaushan
03) Vimukthi Gamage
04) Naveen Marasinghe
05) Thilina Bandara
06) Nizran Nillar
07) Tharindu Chathuranga
08) Lasindu Karunathilake – (Vice Captain)
09) Mohamed Rifan
10) Thenuka Nanayakkara
11) Dinal Ekanayake
12) Tharinda Ratwatte – (Captain)
13) Akash Madusanka
14) Pasindu Bandara
15) Adam Gauder
Replacements
16) Amjad Faumy
17) Dushmantha Priyadarshana
19) Pulasthi Dasanayake
20) Chathura Soysa
21) Primesh Dhanushka
22) Shaahid Zumri
23) Musheed Doray
25) Nirosh Perera
UAE Men’s XV Squad vs Sri Lanka – July 4 2025
(We are not sure what’s happening with the numbers on the graphic from UAERF and provided by SLR below, as neither looks accurate, so we would ignore the jersey numbers for now)
- Pieter Killian
- Michael Sejean
- Riaan Barnard
- Markus Guerin
- Jaen Botes
- Emosi Vecenaua
- Brad Janes
- Ethan Matthews
- Andrew Semple
- Max Johnson
- Sakiusa Naisau
- James Crossley
- Jack Stapley
- Niko Volavola
- Gerard Pieterse
- Epeli Davetawalu
- Lukas Waddington
- Moeneeb Galant
- Chris McKee
- Sam Bullock
- Toby Oakeley
- Matt Mills
- Liam Caldwell
How To Watch the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship
All six matches of the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship will be streamed live and free via RugbyPassTV and Asia Rugby Facebook and YouTube.
AREMC 2025 Rugby News
- Ultimate Guide to 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship – RWC 2027 Qualification
- Korea vs UAE Preview – Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025.
- UAE vs Hong Kong China Preview – Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025.
- Sri Lanka vs Korea Preview – Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship 2025.
