Sri Lanka Women's Rugby Sevens Tournament History
The journey of the Sri Lanka women's national rugby sevens team is marked by consistent participation in prestigious regional and international competitions. From their early invitations to the Hong Kong Sevens to their pursuit of Olympic qualification, the team has faced the toughest opponents in Asia and beyond, steadily building their presence in the sport.
Key Facts
- First Major Appearance: Invited to the Hong Kong Women's Sevens in March 2004.
- Notable Achievements: Won the Bowl final at the 2012 Asian Championship and the Plate final in both 2013 and 2014.
- Olympic Pursuit: Competed in the 2015 ARFU Olympic qualifiers, finishing equal fifth overall.
- Regional Consistency: Regular participants in the Asia Rugby Women's Sevens Series through the 2010s.
Hong Kong Women's Sevens
The Hong Kong Women's Sevens serves as a critical benchmark for teams in the region. Sri Lanka first entered this arena in March 2004, where they finished ninth overall after placing fourth in their pool. By 2006, the team again secured ninth place, though they suffered a 26-5 defeat against Hong Kong in the Vase final.
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Returning to the tournament in 2016, Sri Lanka finished fourth in their pool. They eventually placed tenth in the Bowl competition following a 29-0 loss to Kenya in the final.
Asian Women's Sevens Championship
The Asian Championship has provided Sri Lanka with extensive experience across various host cities. In April 2007, during the tournament in Doha, Qatar, Sri Lanka reached the Shield final but were defeated 19-5 by Uzbekistan. The following year in Hong Kong, the team finished ninth overall.
Growth and Plate Success (2012-2014)
The team saw significant milestones between 2012 and 2014. At the 2012 event in Pune, India, Sri Lanka won the Bowl final to finish ninth. In September 2013, during the first leg of the Asian Women's Sevens Series in Chonburi, Thailand, the team secured the Plate final victory to finish fifth. They followed this with a seventh-place finish in the second leg held in Pune.
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The momentum continued into 2014. In the first leg held in Hong Kong, Sri Lanka won the Plate final to finish fifth. However, in the second leg in Beijing, China, they finished sixth after losing the Plate final.
Later Campaigns (2015-2019)
In 2015, the team competed in Qingdao and Colombo, finishing eighth in both legs. The 2016 season saw a mixed run; while they did not compete in the first leg in Korea, they finished sixth in both the Hong Kong and Colombo legs, losing the Plate final on both occasions.
Most recently, Sri Lanka participated in the 2019 Asia Rugby Women's Sevens Series, where they achieved an overall sixth-place finish.
Women's Sevens Olympic Qualifier
One of the most ambitious chapters for the team was the 2015 ARFU Women's Sevens Championships, which served as the Olympic qualifying tournament. The competition was split into two legs.
The first leg in Hong Kong (November 7-8, 2015) saw Sri Lanka finish sixth after losing the Bowl final. The second leg in Tokyo, Japan (November 28-29, 2015), proved more successful as the team won the Bowl final. Despite these efforts, Sri Lanka finished equal fifth overall and did not qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
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Tournament Performance Summary
| Year | Tournament | Notable Result/Placement |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Hong Kong Women's Sevens | 9th Overall |
| 2007 | Asian Championship (Doha) | Shield Finalist |
| 2012 | Asian Championship (Pune) | Bowl Winner (9th) |
| 2013 | Asian Series (Chonburi) | Plate Winner (5th) |
| 2014 | Asian Series (Hong Kong) | Plate Winner (5th) |
| 2015 | Olympic Qualifier (Tokyo) | Bowl Winner (Equal 5th Overall) |
| 2019 | Asia Rugby Women's Sevens Series | 6th Overall |
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Sri Lanka first participate in the Hong Kong Women's Sevens?
Sri Lanka was invited to participate in the Hong Kong Women's Sevens in March 2004.
Did Sri Lanka ever win a final in the Asian Women's Sevens Championship?
Yes, Sri Lanka won the Bowl final at the 2012 tournament in Pune and the Plate final during the 2013 (Chonburi) and 2014 (Hong Kong) legs.
How did Sri Lanka perform in the 2015 Olympic Qualifiers?
Sri Lanka finished equal fifth overall after winning the Bowl final in the Tokyo leg, but they did not qualify for the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Which countries did Sri Lanka face in major finals?
Sri Lanka faced Hong Kong in the 2006 Vase final, Uzbekistan in the 2007 Shield final, and Kenya in the 2016 Bowl final.
What was Sri Lanka's overall standing in the 2019 Asia Rugby Women's Sevens Series?
Sri Lanka placed sixth overall in the 2019 series.