John Key and Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickrmesinghe discussed rugby when they met this week, according to local media.



John Key will ask Steve Hansen to coach the Sri Lankan rugby team, according to the Sunday Times in Sri Lanka.

The newspaper reported that when the New Zealand prime minister met his counterpart from the Asian country and another senior official this week they discussed rugby.

Key gave assurances to Sri Lankan prime minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe and the minister for telecommunication and digital infrastructure Harin Fernando that he would help out the country's national team and talk to Hansen about becoming their coach.

GETTY IMAGES New unexpected job offer for Steve Hansen?

The Times said that according to sources close to the Sri Lankan Prime Minister's office, Key would have a formal chat with the World Cup winning coach to see if he was interested in guiding the Brave Elephants once he's finished with the All Blacks.

READ MORE

* Sri Lanka gift elephant to Key

* Ieremia wants Samoa in Super Rugby

* Sopoaga sets sights on All Blacks

Key has promised to help Sri Lanka out with another coach if Hansen wasn't interested.

Hansen's current contract with New Zealand Rugby ends at the end of next year.

Although Sri Lanka are ranked 38th in the world as a rugby nation, in between Paraguay and Tunisia. The country has a long tradition in the game, dating back to 1879.

Their first international match was against the All Golds, the New Zealand rugby league team, which was played during their 1907-08 world tour. The game was played under rugby union laws.

In more recent times, Sri Lanka have played in the Asian Rugby Championships and are in division one, along with Kazakhstan, Philippines and Singapore.

Last year Sri Lanka were the champions, defeating Philippines 27-14 in the final.