| Rugby Football believed to have originated in 1823 | | | | Chinese Taipei. The Chairman of Singer Sri Lanka the |
| when William Webb Ellis took the football in his hands | | | | principal sponsors of this tournament said in an |
| and ran with it to the goal post, has matured in to a | | | | interview that rugby could attain a similar status as |
| game of skills and masculine power. Although this is | | | | cricket in the country during the forthcoming |
| not confirmed as one hundred percent true, the | | | | twentieth ASIAD to be staged in Colombo from |
| story is given credence due to the fact that the | | | | November 18-25. Incidentally, it was Singer Sri Lanka |
| Rugby World Cup trophy is named "William Webb Ellis | | | | that was the sponsor of the Sri Lanka Cricket Team |
| Trophy." | | | | when it won the World Cup in 1996. |
| In Asia, ASIAD Rugby tournament supposed to have | | | | Participating countries like Thailand, China, Chinese |
| originated in mid nineties is a grand event. The | | | | Taipei, India and Kazakhstan have pledged their |
| twentieth ASIAD Rugby Football tournament that | | | | support and confirmed their participation in the |
| was to be staged from the 18th to 25th of | | | | tournament. In fact the Chinese Taipei and |
| November in Sri Lanka now stands postponed due to | | | | Kazakhstan had already bought their air tickets to |
| participating teams, particularly, Hong Kong, Singapore | | | | come to Colombo. Meanwhile, the International Rugby |
| and Japan expressing concerns over the prevailing | | | | Board is yet to announce a new host city for the |
| security situation in Sri Lanka. However, the Sri Lanka | | | | Asian qualifiers. The top team will qualify for the |
| Rugby Football Union, the Sri Lanka Olympics | | | | Rugby World Cup to be held in France next year. |
| Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have | | | | It is a shame that conflicts have endangered the |
| assured VVIP level security at the host hotel | | | | sporting activities of peace loving people. Sporting |
| Galadari, Colombo and at the three venues for the | | | | activities or tournaments are promoted to bring out |
| twelve participating teams. It was also pointed out | | | | the best in individuals and/or a group of individuals |
| that no sporting event in Sri Lanka had come under | | | | playing together as a team while promoting friendship |
| attack during the two decades or more of conflict | | | | and discipline among teams and individuals. However, |
| and foreigners are never a target in this war. | | | | vested interest fighting for narrow ideologies |
| The tournament was to have got off the ground | | | | disregards moral values in sports. This affects the |
| with the first fixture to be played on the 18th | | | | very fabric of society. |
| November at the Royal Complex between China and | | | | |