Rugby World Cup qualifying: UAE claim Sri Lanka scalp to move closer to Asia-Africa play-off
Jack Stapley scored two tries, and Sakiusa Naisau and Brad Janes one apiece, as the national team claimed a bonus-point win in Colombo.
It means that South Korea need to upset the formbook and beat the five-time defending champions Hong Kong to deprive the UAE of second place in the 2025 Asia Rugby Championship.
If the UAE do finish runners-up, they will head to Uganda later this month for a play-off against the second-best side in the equivalent competition in Africa.
The Africa Cup starts this weekend in Kampala. Namibia are favourites to win the competition, which also involves Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Morocco and Senegal.
The winners of the play-off will advance to the four-team event in November which will decide the final qualifier for the 2027 World Cup.
Andrew Semple, the UAE captain, said his side are glad to still be in with a shot.
'We started very well, but let things slip as the game went on, and it ebbed and flowed,' he said after the win in Colombo.
'We are not very happy with our overall performance. It was a bit under par but we are just happy that we came away with a win and can move on in the tournament.'
The UAE were giving away three places in the World Rugby rankings to their host, but travelled to Sri Lanka full of confidence.
Jacques Benade, the UAE coach, had said the national team would look to put their hosts under pressure via their extra power in the forward pack.
The UAE's tight-five combined weighed more than the entire eight-man pack of Sri Lanka, and they made advantage of it from the start.
Stapley got his first after some irresistible mauling by the UAE pack, before Janes went over to send the tourists into a 12-3 lead.
It seemed as if the home side were powerless to hold back the UAE forwards, but Sri Lanka had suggested they had a plan.
'They seem to be big, but we have come up with a gameplan which we hope can counter them,"Tharinda Ratwatte, Sri Lanka's captain, said in an interview ahead of kick-off.
Ratwatte – and in particular his unerring boot – was at the centre of their fightback. They scored tries, either side of a third for the UAE by Naisau, to reduce the arrears to 22-21.
At that point, the home side were in the ascendancy, and they had two kickable penalties to take the lead.
For the second time in two matches, though, the UAE profited from their opposition's reticence at kicking for the posts.
Ratwatte had been having an outstanding game till that point, but passed up two chances to kick for three points in quick succession. It felt similar to the closing throes of the UAE's comeback win in Incheon two weeks earlier.
The UAE defended their line, and when Stapley later went through for their fourth try, victory – and likely second place – was theirs.
'We lost a bit of focus and lost a bit at the set piece,' Semple said.
'It was a case of resetting and doing what we knew we are good at: carrying ball, getting back to the scrum, and winning lineout ball.
'Sri Lanka stayed in the game, even though we got a little bit ahead. They fought back, credit to them, but we just managed to come away with it in the end.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
3 hours ago
- Zawya
Orange supports the 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations and affirms its commitment to inclusion and the visibility of women in African football
As an official partner of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Orange Africa and Middle East (OMEA) ( reaffirms its commitment to a more inclusive, equitable, and connected African football through its celebration of the TotalEnergies 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, taking place from July 5 to 26 in Morocco. Women's football is experiencing remarkable growth in Africa, with over 83 million viewers during the last edition of the competition. This year, the Women's Africa Cup of Nations held in five cities across Morocco marks a new milestone in the visibility of women's football in Africa. Among the 12 participating countries, six from the Orange network have qualified and are represented this year (Morocco, Mali, Senegal, Tunisia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Botswana), demonstrating the increasing momentum of women's football that the company actively supports. Since 2018, Orange has implemented the 50/50 rule in its sports sponsorship actions to ensure equal representation between men's and women's disciplines. This principle is reflected on the ground through support for women's national teams, as well as local initiatives such as training young girls in clubs, working with high-profile ambassadors such Fatima Tagnaout, a Moroccan international footballer, and creating content that celebrates women's careers in sport. To promote the sport and further enhance the visibility of women in football, Orange Morocco also launched the "Broadcast Cafés" initiative, equipping cafés across the country to broadcast the WAFCON and encourage social engagement around the tournament. Indeed, according to a recent study*, 80% of Moroccans have watched women's football on television, but 31% face difficulties finding ways to watch the matches. A historic partner of the CAF since 2008, Orange renewed its commitment to the development of African football in December 2023, notably through its initiatives during major CAF competitions. Beyond its technical expertise and contributions to connectivity, Orange also implements various actions aimed at promoting gender equality and inclusion. This partnership strengthens Orange's strategy, which leverages sport to encourage equality, support digital education for youth, and ensure reliable connectivity across Africa. To enhance the visibility of the Group's commitment during this tournament, several media campaigns have been produced. A pan-African campaign ( will be broadcast across all participating Orange countries, while another will be aired locally in Morocco ( Yasser Shaker, CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa, said: "Being a partner of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations is much more than a sports commitment: in its role as a responsible operator in Africa, it is a way to support countries in positive societal dynamics. Sport, and in particular women's football, is a powerful lever for national pride, inclusion and freedom." Caroline Guillaumin, Executive Vice President of Communications at Orange, said: "This partnership is built to send out a strong signal demonstrating a concrete commitment to greater equity in sport. The 2025 Women's Africa Cup of Nations is an opportunity to highlight the careers of inspiring women, both on and off the field, and to amplify their voices through our content and local initiatives." * Orange/ Two Circles, 'Harnessing the power of women's football' Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Orange Middle East and Africa. Press contacts: Tom Wright Stella Fumey Follow us on: Twitter: @ orangegrouppr ( About Orange: Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with revenues of 40.3 billion euros in 2024 and 127,000 employees worldwide at 31 December 2024, including 71,000 employees in France. The Group has a total customer base of 291 million customers worldwide at 31 December 2024, including 253 million mobile customers and 22 million fixed broadband customers. These figures account for the deconsolidation of certain activities in Spain following the creation of MASORANGE. The Group is present in 26 countries (including non-consolidated countries). Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies under the brand Orange Business. In February 2023, the Group presented its strategic plan "Lead the Future", built on a new business model and guided by responsibility and efficiency. "Lead the Future" capitalizes on network excellence to reinforce Orange's leadership in service quality. Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA). For more information on the internet and on your mobile: and the Orange News app. Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this material are trademarks of Orange or Orange Brand Services Limited. About Orange Africa and the Middle East (OMEA): Orange is present in 18 countries across Africa and the Middle East, serving over 161 million customers as of 31 December 2024. With a revenue of 7.7 billion euros in 2024, Orange MEA is the Group's leading growth region. Orange Money, its money transfer and financial services offer, is available in 17 countries and has more than 100 million customers. As a multi-service operator and a key partner in digital transformation, Orange brings its expertise to support the development of new digital services in Africa and the Middle East.
The National
a day ago
- The National
Rugby World Cup qualifying: UAE claim Sri Lanka scalp to move closer to Asia-Africa play-off
The UAE have done their bit, and in some style, too, with a 29-21 victory in Sri Lanka. Now they need Hong Kong to do them a favour on Saturday, and their Rugby World Cup qualification adventure will continue. Jack Stapley scored two tries, and Sakiusa Naisau and Brad Janes one apiece, as the national team claimed a bonus-point win in Colombo. It means that South Korea need to upset the formbook and beat the five-time defending champions Hong Kong to deprive the UAE of second place in the 2025 Asia Rugby Championship. If the UAE do finish runners-up, they will head to Uganda later this month for a play-off against the second-best side in the equivalent competition in Africa. The Africa Cup starts this weekend in Kampala. Namibia are favourites to win the competition, which also involves Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Morocco and Senegal. The winners of the play-off will advance to the four-team event in November which will decide the final qualifier for the 2027 World Cup. Andrew Semple, the UAE captain, said his side are glad to still be in with a shot. 'We started very well, but let things slip as the game went on, and it ebbed and flowed,' he said after the win in Colombo. 'We are not very happy with our overall performance. It was a bit under par but we are just happy that we came away with a win and can move on in the tournament.' The UAE were giving away three places in the World Rugby rankings to their host, but travelled to Sri Lanka full of confidence. Jacques Benade, the UAE coach, had said the national team would look to put their hosts under pressure via their extra power in the forward pack. The UAE's tight-five combined weighed more than the entire eight-man pack of Sri Lanka, and they made advantage of it from the start. Stapley got his first after some irresistible mauling by the UAE pack, before Janes went over to send the tourists into a 12-3 lead. It seemed as if the home side were powerless to hold back the UAE forwards, but Sri Lanka had suggested they had a plan. 'They seem to be big, but we have come up with a gameplan which we hope can counter them,"Tharinda Ratwatte, Sri Lanka's captain, said in an interview ahead of kick-off. Ratwatte – and in particular his unerring boot – was at the centre of their fightback. They scored tries, either side of a third for the UAE by Naisau, to reduce the arrears to 22-21. At that point, the home side were in the ascendancy, and they had two kickable penalties to take the lead. For the second time in two matches, though, the UAE profited from their opposition's reticence at kicking for the posts. Ratwatte had been having an outstanding game till that point, but passed up two chances to kick for three points in quick succession. It felt similar to the closing throes of the UAE's comeback win in Incheon two weeks earlier. The UAE defended their line, and when Stapley later went through for their fourth try, victory – and likely second place – was theirs. 'We lost a bit of focus and lost a bit at the set piece,' Semple said. 'It was a case of resetting and doing what we knew we are good at: carrying ball, getting back to the scrum, and winning lineout ball. 'Sri Lanka stayed in the game, even though we got a little bit ahead. They fought back, credit to them, but we just managed to come away with it in the end.'
The National
a day ago
- The National
Tadej Pogacar confident he can lead UAE Team Emirates to glory again at Tour de France
After what has been a sensational 2025 so far, UAE Team Emirates-XRG turn their attentions to the big one with the 112th Tour de France set to begin in Lille on Saturday. Leading the charge over the 3,339km route will once again be Slovenian superstar Tadej Pogacar who is looking to retain the crown he won for a third time last year. Pogacar's hunger for titles has shown no sign of easing up, with the 26-year-old having triumphed in six races this year, including the UAE Tour and Liege-Bastogne-Liege – each for a third time – while also securing a first Criterium du Dauphine victory in June. It means Pogacar goes into the cycling's most famous race a clear favourite as he chases a General Classification win that would bring him level with British rider Chris Froome on four wins overall. If he arrives in Paris on July 27 as champion again, it would leave him behind only Jacques Anquetil, Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault and Miguel Indurain, who all have a record five Tour victories. And only seven riders have won more Tour de France stages than Pogacar's 17, which puts him joint-eighth on the all-time list, level with Frenchman Jean Alavoine, albeit with some way to go to match Manx sprinter Mark Cavendish's 35 stage victories. 'I'm excited for the Tour to start,' the 2024 triple-crown winner Pogacar told The National ahead of Saturday's 184.9km opening stage in northern France. 'I'm lucky to have had close to the perfect preparation this year; everything has gone really smoothly, especially coming off a great altitude camp with my teammates. 'The vibes in the team are amazing right now, and that gives me a lot of confidence.' French cycling legend Hinault is confident Pogacar will eventually go on to break his record for Tour victories. 'For me, yes, he is the favourite, unless he has a major breakdown, but I don't believe that at all,' Hinault, 70, told AFP. 'When you see what he was able to do in the Dauphine, he was in control, he did what he wanted, when he wanted. 'Pogacar, when he sees that he has the chance to pull the trigger, he pulls the trigger – a bit like Eddy [Merckx]. 'When he attacks, as he did at the world championships, with 100 kilometres to go, everyone says, 'what a stupid thing to do'. At the end, he won. And that's fabulous to see.' It has not just been Pogacar enjoying a memorable campaign so far. UAE Team Emirates as a whole have been in scorching form, with an impressive 55 victories secured in 2025. And it is an impressive squad supporting Pogacar at this year's Tour. Trusted British lieutenant Adam Yates returns to marshal the mountains and shield his leader through the gruelling sections. Portuguese rider Joao Almeida enters the race in the form of his life, having secured overall wins in the Tour de Romandie, Tour of the Basque Country and, just last week, the Tour de Suisse. Hometown hero Pavel Sivakov and Ecuadorian national champion Jhonatan Narvaez have the potential to shine on the short, steep ascents that could define the early stages, while Marc Soler returns to the lineup ready to continue his role as the team's versatile workhorse, dependable on both the flat and in the hills. Belgian national champion Tim Wellens and German powerhouse Nils Politt round out the squad, tasked with controlling breakaways and guiding the team across the valleys. But, as always, victory at Le Tour will not come easily, and battling Pogacar for yellow will be three all-too familiar faces in the peloton. Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard, a two-time Tour de France winner, will be hungry to reclaim his crown after being overpowered by Pogacar last year when he had just returned to racing following a horrific crash in the Tour of the Basque Country. Belgian double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel will be hoping to rediscover his best form after struggling in the latter stages at the Dauphine, while Slovenian veteran and five-time Grand Tour winner Primoz Roglic rounds off cycling's 'big four'. This year's Tour – which never leaves French soil for the first time since 2020 – will consist of seven flat stages, six hilly challenges, and six mountain days, including one individual and one mountain time trial. After starts in Florence, Bilbao and Copenhagen, cycling's most prestigious race returns to its roots with an old school itinerary favouring climbers. 'We decided to bring the Tour home, it was high time after all the foreign starts,' said race director Christian Prudhomme. A total of 184 riders from 23 teams will gather in Lille for the Grand Depart in a race that consists of 21 stages before reaching the finish line in Paris. It remains to be seen whether Pogacar can once again be the man in yellow on the Champs-Elysees.
