Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) proudly announces the upcoming tour of the New Zealand National Under 85kg Rugby Team, scheduled from 20th April to 4th May 2026. This landmark tour represents a major step forward for Sri Lankan rugby, bringing international competition, commercial engagement, and community development together in a single platform.
A Tour Beyond the Game
The New Zealand National U85kg team will arrive in Colombo on 20th April, embarking on a comprehensive tour that blends elite-level rugby with grassroots development and fan engagement.
The tour will feature:
• Two International Fixtures (25th April – Colombo, 3rd May – Kandy)
• Coaching clinics
• Community engagement sessions in Colombo – 27th of April and in Kandy – 1st May
• Commercial and tourism engagement opportunities
Special Highlight: Guest of Honor, All Blacks Captain and 2 time World Cup winner: Kieran Reid
A key highlight of the tour will be the exclusive “Fireside with Kieran Reid” event on 27th April at the Lumina Ballroom, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams. Former All Blacks captain and 2 time World Cup winner Kieran Reid will headline the event, offering insights into leadership, high-performance sport, and his experiences at the highest level of international rugby.
The former All Blacks captain will be in the island to attend the community sessions on the 27th at CR & FC in Colombo and 1st May at Trinity College Grounds in Pallakele, Kandy. He will be the Guest of honor at the game in Kandy as Sri Lanka Rugby hopes to have a touch of All Blacks sparkle to the New Zealand National U85 KG tour to Sri Lanka.
Presented by:Strong Corporate Partnership Driving the Tour
The success of the New Zealand National U85kg Tour is underpinned by a robust portfolio of corporate partnerships, reflecting the growing commercial appeal and strategic value of rugby in Sri Lanka.
Maliban leads the partnership as the Title Sponsor, reinforcing its longstanding commitment to youth development and community engagement through sport. Commercial Bank of Ceylon joins as a Gold Sponsor, aligning its brand with one of the most prominent rugby events on the national calendar.
The commercial strength of the tour is further enhanced by Access Group as the Silver Sponsor, while Hayleys Mobility, SLT Mobitel / PEO TV, and Kottu Mee come on board as Bronze Sponsors, contributing to the successful execution of the event. In addition, a strong lineup of strategic partners ensures a world-class experience across all aspects of the tour. ThePapare serves as the Broadcast Partner, delivering extensive media coverage, while Aitken Spence takes on the role of Transport Partner, managing all inbound logistics. Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams joins as Hospitality Partner, providing premium accommodation, with Sri Lankan Airlines supporting the tour as the Official Airline Partner. The Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau further strengthens the initiative as the Destination Partner, promoting Sri Lanka as a leading sports tourism destination. Collectively, these partnerships underscore strong corporate confidence in the continued growth and potential of rugby in Sri Lanka, while elevating the tour to an international standard.
Match & Event Information
Match 1: 25th April 2026 – Colombo (6:30 PM) at Racecourse International Stadium
Community engagement session: 27th April at CR & FC Ground
Fireside with Kiren Reid: 27th April 2026 – Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams
Community engagement session: 1st May at Trinity College Grounds, Pallekale.
Match 2: 3rd May 2026 – Kandy (4:00 PM) at Nittawela
Only Upper Grand stand Tickets for the Colombo (all else entrance free) match and the fireside event will be available from 5th April 2026. Entrance would be free for the Kandy match.
