Hurricane Storm's players and officials celebrate their triumph.
Doha, Qatar: Qatar-based Hurricane Storm Touch Rugby Club won the Paradise Touch Rugby Tournament 2026 in Kandy, Sri Lanka, completing an unbeaten run in the Mixed Division.
The Doha-based club combined youth and experience throughout the tournament and won their opening five matches to reach the knockout stages with a perfect record. Under head coach Damian Ruatara, Hurricane Storm maintained their momentum through the finals.
The championship match against hosts Kandy Touch Rugby Club proved to be a closely contested affair. With neither side able to settle the contest in regulation time, the final went into extra time.
Hurricane Storm held their composure under pressure to secure a sudden-death victory and lift the championship trophy, completing a seven-match unbeaten run.
“Our team was a great mix of young blood and talented veterans, and we came into the tournament well prepared,” said club manager Hans Thomasz. “Being unbeaten after seven matches and then winning the final in extra time confirmed what we already knew - The Hurricanes came to showcase some high-quality touch rugby.”
Established in 2012 to unite expatriates through a shared passion for the sport, Hurricane Storm has grown into a cornerstone of Qatar’s touch rugby scene, continuously fielding diverse teams under its distinctive black-and-yellow banner.
“Hurricane Storm is one of Qatar’s leading clubs for hosting and participating in touch rugby events,” Thomasz explained.
“Over the years, we have had players from all walks of life, bringing different talents and experiences to the team. We are proud of our history and our ability to attract extremely talented players and coaches, and this tournament was no different,” Thomasz added.
