New Zealand Under 85kg Rugby Team Makes Historic Visit to Sri Lanka

The inaugural New Zealand Under 85kg rugby side has made history in Kandy, defeating the full Sri Lankan national side 50-10. The weight grade side scored eight tries to one in an entertaining match, living up to the reputation the grade has of fast, running rugby.

A capacity 10,000-strong crowd at Nittawala Rugby Stadium greeted the sides as they took the ground, with the home side carrying a significant weight and height advantage in the forwards. However, the difference in experience became evident early on - while the New Zealanders were drawn from amateur club rugby competitions, they are all seasoned and well-drilled players that had clearly benefitted from even the briefest exposure to a high performance set up.

It only took five minutes for the U85kg side to cross the line, with number eight Pasia Asiata getting the honour of scoring the first try in the team's history. Not long after, he created the try of the match when he stole the ball from a Sri Lankan ruck only five metres out from his own line, kicked downfield and eventually the ball was shifted to for Jamie Petford to dive in the corner.

The Sri Lankans hit back with a try to Dahan Wickramarachchi off a lineout drive, which was good use of their size. However, their naivety on defence was a telling factor as time and again the U85kg players were able to make ground and recycle the ball with rapid regularity. More first half tries followed to Ben Megson and Jack Laity to make the score 26-7 at halftime.