Northampton announce ground-breaking fixture vs Campese-led Lions

Gallagher PREM leaders Northampton Saints have announced that they will play a pre-season fixture against an all-star Asian and Pacific team in Sri Lanka in August.

Founded over 140 years ago, Sri Lanka Rugby is one of the oldest rugby unions in the world with a proud and rich heritage. The country recently hosted the New Zealand Under-85kgs national team, while back in February, a full house watched the Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club (CR & FC) win the National Championship.

The Sri Lankan national team, the Tuskers, attract big crowds and are ranked 47th in the world.

Keen to tap into the interest in rugby in a new global market, Saints will take on the Asia Pacific Lions, who were formed last year as that part of the world’s version of the Barbarians.

And in true Barbarians tradition, former Wallaby and World Rugby Hall of Famer, David Campese, one of the game’s greatest-ever entertainers, is the team’s driving force and director of rugby.

Saints will face the Lions on Friday 28 August at the Racecourse International Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka – a venue with a capacity of 10,000.

“This is a hugely exciting opportunity for Saints,” said Northampton’s Director of Rugby, Phil Dowson. “We’re delighted to be taking on this challenge and heading somewhere so different. We haven’t travelled as a group during preseason for a while, so the chance to do that again is something the players and staff are really looking forward to.

“Immersing ourselves in a new culture and taking rugby to an emerging but passionate rugby nation like Sri Lanka creates powerful shared experiences for our group – while also contributing to the continued global development of the game.

“Touring internationally asks more of us as a squad; in how we prepare, how we train, how we cope with different conditions, and how we represent the club. Those moments away from home are where real connections are built, and where all players and staff develop strong relationships on and off the field.

“Coming up against the Asia Pacific Lions in that environment will stretch us competitively and give the squad invaluable exposure that will benefit us long beyond this tour.”

Campese added: “It’s an opportunity that reflects the diversity, talent, and ambition of Asia and the Pacific. Facing Northampton Saints gives us the perfect platform to showcase that on a global stage.

“I was there in Sri Lanka two years ago and met players whom I played against in Hong Kong 7s and Commonwealth Games 7s, so much passion for rugby, so the players need more opportunities like this, and fans deserves bigger events to witness in their country.”