HSBC group sponsors CR and FC rugby

by Jatila KARAWITA

RUGBY: HSBC Group will be the sponsors of CR and FC rugby team this season.

Besides contributing a lot for the uplift of rugby at the club, the sponsors will also provide the infrastructure for the club. The HSBC pavilion will come up at the club premises at the Longden Place club.

The sponsors will pay particular attention to 12 matches in the three tournaments - Caltex League, Caltex Clifford Cup and President's Trophy Knock-Out. These tournaments will last till September 2009.

Nick A. Nicolacu, Chief Executive Officer, HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives said: "HSBC's commitment to rugby is longstanding and we are delighted to be CR's sponsor", he said.

Nicolaou said that their relationship with Asian rugby dates back to the 19th century, and added that they have another vital role in supporting the game in this region with the sponsorship of the world famous Hong Kong Sevens for several years.

That's not all. The HSBC group will also sponsor the new Asian Five-Nations (AFN) Competition which also featured Sri Lanka.

The HSBC Group will also sponsor other rugby sponsorships as well.

President of CR and FC - Jehan Canagaretna thanked HSBC Group for coming forward to sponsor the club at particular difficult time in the financial world and vowed to fulfil the club's and sponsors aspirations by giving a good account of themselves in the tournaments.