The Punjab Olympic Association and the Punjab Rugby Association held the first of a planned annual rugby fixture to celebrate the Olympics day anniversary. The exhibition match between Coke and Servis, held at the DHA Stadium in Lahore, offered a chance to watch two new Super Clubs that will be competing in the Super Rugby XV’s League being launched this winter.

Both teams were loaded with current and former Pakistan national team players. Coke had clear superiority in the forwards and managed to win almost all the scrums, their own and against the head. This gave their backs the bulk of the possession, and they used it well. Current Pakistan players Umer Usman, playing for Coke at fly-half, and Manan Naseem at center moved ran with and moved the ball wide effectively. Coke Captain Tariq Niazi played a great first half at outside center, but went out at half-time due to a sprained ankle, with his team up by 15-0.

The Servis Cheetahs upped their game in the second half, especially defensively. Their forwards got a boost from a comeback by vaunted former-Pakistan player Arsalan Zahid. Playing at second row, he made some great breaks up the field – but the Cheetah’s failed to cross the try line. In the dying minutes of the game, Coke managed to steal another try, sealing the game and securing a 20-0 victory.

The match referee was Shazad Zafar, assisted by Umer Islam.

Chief guest, Fawzi Khawaja, applauded the efforts of both Punjab Rugby and Olympic Associations in promoting sporting activity in the country. He said that this year’s Olympic day anniversary celebration holds special significance for the rugby family global this year, as rugby has been re- included in the Olympic games. He added that this holds even more meaning for Pakistan’s rugby players, as the sport has consequently been included in the Punjab games as well as the National games.

On Friday, Pakistan players were invited by the Punjab Olympic association to visit the Wagah border to see of the Queens baton as it passed from Pakistan to India. The rugby boys were heard chanting "Pakistan zindabad" and "aman zindabad" as a sign of peace among the two nations.

Rugby now features in the Commonwealth and Asian games, as it is spreading all across Asia, thanks to the efforts of the Asian Rugby Football Union. The Pakistan Rugby Union has a great relationship with its counterpart Indian Rugby Football Union, with club teams having often travelled across the border in the recent past to participate in tournaments, including the prestigious All-India. India’s national Under-19 team participated in the Asian Under-19 tournament held in Lahore in 2005, and two months ago the Pakistan national 7s team travelled to Delhi to participate  in the Commonwealth test event.