Kandy SC Out of SLR Sevens Series After Missing Entry Deadline

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka Rugby has issued a statement that Kandy Sports Club has not confirmed its participation for both legs of the SLR Sevens Series 2026 prior to the stipulated deadline. Accordingly, the tournament will proceed as scheduled without the participation of Kandy SC.

In light of this development, Sri Lanka Rugby has decided to relocate the Kandy leg of the tournament, which was originally scheduled to be played at Nittawela Grounds, to Colombo, as hosting the tournament in Kandy without the participation of the home team would significantly limit spectator interest and overall engagement.

Sri Lanka Rugby says this year’s Sevens Series has been structured to elevate the standard of competition, including the participation of an international club team from Dubai. 

The statement noted that it is therefore extremely unfortunate that players representing Kandy SC will now miss the valuable opportunity to compete against international opposition.

Kandy SC had requested permission to participate only in the Kandy leg of the series. However, this request could not be accommodated as it would have compromised the integrity and competitive balance of the tournament. 

The rules and participation requirements apply equally to all clubs, and all teams are required to participate in both legs of the series or not participate at all.

The statement noted that the Sri Lanka Rugby calendar, including the confirmed dates for the SLR Sevens Series, was published in December, providing all clubs — including Kandy SC — ample time to prepare and align with the schedule.

It added that it is therefore deeply disappointing that Kandy SC has chosen not to support the tournament under these conditions. As a consequence, several players from Kandy SC will unfortunately lose an important opportunity to stake their claim for selection to the Sri Lanka National Sevens Squad, which will be selected following the Sevens Series in preparation for upcoming international competitions.

The statement emphasized that Sri Lanka Rugby remains committed to upholding the integrity of its competitions and ensuring that all decisions are made in the best interests of the national programme. The SLR Sevens Series plays a critical role in identifying and preparing players for international duty, particularly as Sri Lanka builds towards the
upcoming Asian Games in October.