Petersons, Kandy Youth and Kurunegala re-enter...

Enlarged 'A' div Rugby C'ship

by Lal Gunesekera

RUGBY: Petersons, Kandy Youth and Kurunegala have re-entered the Caltex 'A' Division League Rugby Championship this year. They increase the number of sides to 16 from 12 teams that played last year (2006). There is likely to be a Combined Universities outfit too.

Speaking to the Sunday Observer the President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), DIG Nimal Lewke, Commandant of the Special Task Force (STF), said that the three new sides (Petersons, Kandy Youth, and Kurunegala) together with the Combined Universities will play in the A 2 with Galle, Dim-Dicks, Jawatte Lions and another side.

The eight sides in A 1 will comprise Kandy Sports Club, CR & FC, CH & FC, Havelocks, Army, Air Force, Police and Old Zahirians, while there are doubts about Navy competing.

DIG Lewke further said that the first-round will be from May 18 to July 1 and the second-round from July 6 to August 5. The top six teams in the A 1 first-round will figure in the second-round for the Cup, while the last two sides will figure in the Plate with the top six of A 2. From there onwards, four teams will play for the Bowl joined by two sides from the 'B' Division (Rudra Rajasingham Memorial Trophy).

He also said that they (the SLRFU) had met all Presidents and Secretaries of every club playing in the Caltex 'A' Division at the CH & FC board room on Thursday (February 15) for a lengthy discussion regarding sponsorship, tournament format etc and that the Organising Committee will visit each club to discuss various matters so that "there will be no hiccups" this year.

DIG Lewke also said that the local season gets under way on march 3 and 4 with the first Pro 7's tournament at Radella to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the Dimbulla A & CC, where 10 sides have been invited to compete for honours. They are Kandy, CR & FC, CH & FC, Havelocks, Army, Air Force, Police, Old Zahirians, Galle and Dim-Dicks.

The Colombo 7's is scheduled to take place on March 17 and 18 with the SLRFU looking out for a sponsor.

The Caltex Knock-Out Championship for the Cliffored Cup will be from August 10 to 18 in Kandy, President's Trophy from August 24 to September 1 and the Singer-SriLankan International 7's from September 7 to 9.

Also on the card is the Inter-Provincial Championships from September 15 to 30, but this year, those players who have played five games for an 'A' Division club will not be permitted to play, this is to give an opportunity for others to make their presence felt.

DIG Lewke further said that Sri Lanka will once again compete at the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International 7's on March 30, 31 and April 1.

The IRB qualifiers too are to be played against the Arabian Gulf in Dubai (likely date May 10) and against Kazakhastan in Kazakhastan on April 26.

Asiad in November?

Regarding the Asiad which was scheduled to have been played in Colombo from November 19 to 25 last year (2006), but postponed due to security concerns shown by certain countries, DIG Lewke, said that the SLRFU have suggested it to be staged in Colombo this year (2007) from November 3 to 10.

The SLRFU has informed the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) about this decision and is now in the process of sending individual invitations to all countries in the region.

He further said that the assistance of the Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Palitha Kohonne, has been sought to encourage countries to play in Colombo.

DIG Lewke is also scheduled to attend a meeting of the ARFU on Aril 2 in Hong Kong and is to request for an opportunity to speak to the Asian representatives about the present situation in Sri Lanka and guarantee the safety of all players and officials who visit the country for the Asiad.

The draw made for the Colombo Asiad in 2006 and format could be changed for this year's event where 12 countries are likely to play comprising Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea in the Cup category, while in the Plate/Bowl will be India, Arabian Gulf, Kazakhastan, Thailand, China, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.

The 2006 Asiad in Colombo was postponed at the request of the International Rugby Board (IRB) after Hong Kong, Singapore and Arabian Gulf were reluctant to play in Colombo due to security concerns.