Carlton Super Sevens Rugby Oct 29 and 30 at Nittawela
By Hafiz Marikar
RUGBY: A warm welcome to all rugby enthusiasts - players,
officials, families, fans, associates, sponsors and spectators. Kandy
the rugby champs are proud to stage the "Carlton Rugger Super Sevens,
for the first time in Kandy on the 29th and 30th October 2011, an
initiative by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and sons Namal and Yoshita to
spread rugby Islandwide. The vision of the Rugby Super 7s is to create a
sustainable, vibrant and competitive rugby culture for all stakes
holders, sports districts, schools, associations, clubs, provincial
unions, sponsors which support and develop the game in Sri Lanka.
Going back in history, the Carlton Rugby International 7s was founded
in 2010. In the 1st year it comprised Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan,
Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand ........ Its purpose
was to provide International competition between its members by staging
a biannual tournament. The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) was
established 102 years ago. The growth of rugby in Sri Lanka is reflected
in the increase of ARFU members, tournaments, events and activities.
In 2010, Carlton Rugby 7s tournament comprised 16 members. These
members actively participated in annual and semi-annual council
meetings. Four 'working' committees support the SLRFU Council to oversee
Rugby in Asia. Calton Rugby 7s organizes and manages the tournament
under the auspices of the SLRFU. Carlton Rugby 7s continues to explore
new opportunities to develop rugby in Sri Lanka. This event has shown
the success and potential of Rugby in Sri Lanka and now opens out for
participation in a differnant format to provide opportunities for many
more teams to participate at a very competitive level.
Unique values
Rugby in Sri Lanka has unique values and characteristics which are
essential for us to preserve, promote and protect.
* The spirit of Sri Lanka Rugby - friendship, strength, teamwork,
health, discipline, respect and a sport for all* Rugby builds character
and self esteem* It is a positive force in the lives of those who play
the game* It brings solidarity and unity across the lands of Asia*
Family Values
Since the rugby sevens continues to get bigger and better every year
in the world, the two days, 29th and 30th, are bound to attract the
enthusiasum for rugby in Sri Lanka. The Organizing committee headed by
Ronnie Ibrahim, a product of Kandy says that all the facilities needed
for the rugby 7s is available at the Nittawela under the watchful eyes
of the International fame George Simpkin who has been brought down
annually to assist the organizers. The venue has seating capacity for
over 5000 and open air accommodation for over 20,000 spectators to pass
through the gates over the two day event.
Events of this nature, the success could not have been possible
without the generosity of the organizers of the Carlton Sports Club, who
are all out to give the best for the game with two legs being arranged
for the first time in the format of the Indian Premier League, the first
leg in the Heritage City of Kandy, the town which dominates the game
both in the club and schools sector in Sri Lanka and the second leg will
be held in Colombo at Royal College Complex on 5th and 6th of November
2011.
Rugby Sevens like the limited overs T-20 cricket, a most looked
forward in the World Sporting arena. Rugby sevens is basically an
abbreviated of Rugby Union played with seven players rather than the
usual 15 a side, with the same field specifications. The additional
space available usually leads to high scoring and fast open rugby during
the 14 minutes duration of the game, although some matches later in the
tournament do last longer.
Tournament Groupings
Group "A": - 1) Western Warriors led by former Royal College, CH &
FC, Kandy SC and CR & FC No: 8 forward Dushantha Lewke, 2) Central Kings
led by former Kingswoodian and Kandy SC's play maker Fazil Marija. 3)
Eastern Eagles led by Lasinth de Costa, 4) Sabaragamuwa Lions led by
Saliya Hapangoda, 5) Uva Vipers by Kosala Tissera.
Group "B": - 1) North Central Typhoons led by Thanuja Senavirathne,2)
North Western Blacks by Chanaka Chandimal, 3) Jaffna Challengers by
former Thomian & Navy SC skipper Yoshitha Rajapaksa, 4) Northern
Gladiators by former Sceince College, Havelocks SC, Kandy SC and Sri
Lanka skipper Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, 5) Southern Sharks led by former
Kingswoodian, Kandy SC, CR & FC and present Havelocks SC scrum half
Amjad Bukhs..
Some top class players from Fiji Islands, USA, Wales and Portugal are
expected to play in this competition which will make the event very
colourful.
Referees from the Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Society are expected to
control and handle the whistle with the Kandy Sports Cub under the
Presidency of Dr. Sarath Kapuwaththa are all out to give off their best
towards the success of this tournament.
Finally, the Carlton Rugby Sevens is expected to offer more and a
little of everything for everyone. |
