The combined team of all three Sri Lankan Defence Services participated in the 1st International Military Sports Council (CISM) Military Rugby-7 Challenge, which was held in Moscow, Russia from 22 August to 27 August 2023. The team competed with participants from Russia, South Africa, Belarus and Bangladesh at the stadium of the sports complex in "Luzhniki" and came third in the competition.

The Sri Lankan Defence Services team was comprised of 13 players along with four officials from SL Army, SL Navy and SL Air Force. Commodore PASK Pitigala from SL Navy who was the Chairman of Defence Services Rugby and the Chief of the Mission while the team manager was Brigadier DK Aluthdeniya. This participation was to endure the military and sports diplomacy among the participating countries while complementing the motto of CISM "Friendship through Sports".

During his address to the teams, CISM President Colonel Nilton Rolim stated: "This event is not just a competition, but also a promotion of friendship and understanding through sports. We believe that sports can unite people, and we must follow our motto 'Friendship through Sport.' It's not just about winning or losing, but also about striving to be the best individually and as a team. This embodies the spirit of sportsmanship, fair play, and respect for teammates and countries on the field. Let's strive to create an atmosphere of camaraderie and friendship that will last long after the end of this event."