|
Rugby tournament kicks-off June 3:
Observer - Caltex Rugby Contests again!
By Ranjan ANANDAPPA
RUGBY: To make rugby more interesting Chevron Lubricants will
be launching the SUNDAY OBSERVER - CALTEX Most Popular Rugby Player and
Most Popular Rugby Team 'touch down' competition this year, too. The
first coupon will appear in the Sunday Observer of June 5.
|
Managing Director and CEO of Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC
Ltd. Kishu Gomes (left) receives the agreement for the
Observer-Caltex Most Popular rugby player and team of the
year from Waruna Mallawaarachchi (Head of Division Corporate
Affairs ANCL. at a ceremony held at the SLRFU Head Quarters
recently. Pic: Kavindra Perera |
This will not only give the opportunity for the fans to vote for
their popular player and club, but also will give them the chance to win
attractive prizes.
Last year, CR&FC's fly-half Nigel Ratwatte was voted the Most Popular
Ruggerite 2010 while Kandy SC was voted the Most Popular Rugby Club.
The awards were not presented last year and Caltex are making plans
to have the presentation of awards for 2010 in due course.
After a lapse of seven years, Sri Lanka rugby fans will get the
opportunity to see some foreign players in action at the Caltex 'A'
division league tournament that is scheduled to kick off on June 3.
The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) has given the greenlight
for the four clubs at the bottom in last year's tournaments that's
Police, Army, CH&FC and Havelocks to include two foreign players.
The CH&FC has already registered with the SLRFU to play two Fijians
and two Tongans respectively.
A club is entitled to play two foreigners at any given time in the
pack and the three quarter line. This move by the SLRFU will no doubt
help to get back the crowds for rugby matches to create tremendous
interest and increase attendance at matches and also help the Sri Lankan
players to improve their skills playing against foreign players.
Players of the calibre of Apsi Nagata, Manasa Qoro, Ilatca Ravouvou
of CH&FC, Bati Penala, Kitloni, Ratu dra dra, Opethi Thuruwa, Vili Moni
Satala of Kandy SC, Junior Nixon, Paul Bennet, Michael Taala, Fillroga
Lanetta of CR&FC, Jade Salusalu, Nalbuke Gonelallai, Joseph Waka and
Alex Taka of Havelocks have thrilled the rugger fans with their dazzling
displays on the field.
At a press briefing held at the SLRFU headquarters in connection to
the launching of the Caltex 'A' Division Inter Club League Rugby
Tournament, Kishu Gomes, Managing Director/CEO Chevron Lubricants Lanka
(PLC) said that the engagement between Caltex and the SLRFU has lasted a
record number of 13 years and was of the belief that no other
sponsorship for a sporting event could have gone for so long.
The sponsorship was a mishap which happened some where in 1999 when a
ban was imposed on sponsorship by tobacco and alcoholic beverages.
Hierarchy of the SLRFU led by Anton Benedict had walked in and
suggested the deal, and Caltex has accepted it.
Since then, the partnership between Caltex and SLRFU has gone on and
on. |
