Ex-Sri Lanka rugby stars to shine from the shelf

Retired rugby stars, many of whom wore the Sri Lanka jersey, will come down from their shelves to don playing kits and contest a match to coincide with a showpiece to be worked off at Longden Place on September 5 and 6.

They will represent Havelocks and CR and FC that will feature in the match and some of the renowned ex-stars will include Michael Jayasekera, Marco de Silva, Hisham Abdeen, Aruna Uduwelagedera, Kolitha Gunatilleke, Graham Raux, Roger Rodrigo, Chaminda Rupasinghe, Thusitha Peiris, Kamal Mahendra and Alex Nishantha from Havelocks while Pavithra Fernando, Jehan CanagaRetna, Rienzie Fernando, Sean Dwight, Ravi Gunaratne, Chula Dharmadasa, Vipula Dharmadasa, Chirantha de Soyza, Rohantha Peiris and Rohan Chinthaka will represent CR.

The match is designed to add lustre to the second annual Rugby Rumble which according to the organisers will take an international twist as renowned MC/Animator of the Dubai Rugby Sevens, Dave Crane, will be part as the host of the event.

Rugby Rumble will consist of several teams vying for trophies and prize money of Rs 700,000.

They will come from leading rugby playing schools like Isipathana, St.Peter's, Trinity, Royal, S. Thomas', St. Joseph's, Dharmaraja, Ananda, Wesley, Kingswood, St. Benedict's, Science College, DS Senanayake, Zahira, and Lumbini.

The teams will comprise of members from different eras while two female players will also be included to add some spice to the action.

"Dave is an integral part of the success of the Dubai Rugby 7s and he'll be bringing that same unique brand of electrifying skill and performance to Sri Lanka which is sure to be a fun experience for the spectators" said Dilroy Fernando, Tournament Director of Rugby Rumble.

All participants will be kitted out in Canterbury jerseys with their school or team colours.

Three foreign teams, Lanka Lions from Dubai, Allama Iqbal Town Rugby from Pakistan and Lions from Qatar will also enter the fray.