Rugby Football matches and Cricket in popularity

By Hafiz Marikar

Rugby is one of the top favourite sports in Sri Lanka. Despite cricket being a glamour sport, Rugby has indeed been a big draw at Rugby League, Clifford Cup and Inter-School games.

Having played club rugby in the '70's I still remember the enthusiasm for It, nationally.

There is some truth about diminutive stature of Sri Lankan players by comparison with those who play internationally and how it has improved relatively for Sri Lanka today, as well as the smile evoking comment about the "talent' at the big games, has made this article thought provoking.

Rugby is a team sport that is played in Sri Lanka, mainly in Kandy and Colombo at a semi-professional and recreational level.

It is a popular team sport with a history dating back to 1879 making Sri Lanka the second-oldest rugby union playing nation in the world. Two years back, according to International Rugby Board figures, there were over 103,000 registered rugby union players in Sri Lanka, making it the second largest rugby-playing nation in Asia.

Rugby is 80% strength, speed, stamina, players being tough and endurable. The players need 20% technique, and skill and also be 100% injury prone.

The game is considered to be the one of the most crowd pulling sporting events here in Sri Lanka. Today out of all sports at domestic level, this is the sport which gets the highest number of spectators and sponsorship.

League tournament major tournament

The major club competition in Sri Lanka is the current League tournament, followed by the oldest Clifford Cup Knock-out and the Sevens. The 'A' Division features nine teams:

They are CH and FC (established in 1879), Kandy Sports Club (in 1888), Havelock Sports Club (in 1915), CR and FC (in 1922), Hambantota Sharks R.C (in 2013). Air Force SC, Police SC, Army SC, Navy SC. In 1961 the Navy SC, Air Force SC, Army SC, Police SC and University of Peradeniya were permitted to play alongside the 'A' Division clubs _ CR and FC, CH and FC, Havelocks SC, Kandy SC, Dimbula ACC, founded in 1856, Dickoya MCC founded in 1874, Uva founded in 1928 and Kelani Valley Club in the Clifford Cup competition. The last named four clubs have given up rugby for no fault of them but the lack of national support has forced the clubs concerned to somewhat stop playing the game.