SLR sanctioned ‘Centenary Sevens’ kicks off on Friday

Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club (CR&FC) through its existence for 100 years and by organizing the club’s own ‘Centenary Sevens’ is on a high and the country’s rugby controlling body ‘Sri Lanka Rugby’ (SLR) believes this tournament will put Sri Lanka rugby somewhere strongly on the world map of rugby union.

According to SLR Deputy President Group Captain Nalin de Silva CR&FC’s ‘Centenary Sevens’ is sanctioned by SLR and will be played in keeping with the World Rugby laws specified for the abbreviated form rugby union; seven-a-side rugby.

He further said that playing the tournament in keeping with the IRB regulations would ensure the safety of all players. SLR would also support the tournament by offering the services of referees.  

He also said that given that world rugby is celebrating 200 years this year and given that Sri Lanka has a club that’s celebrating 100 years in the same year itself shows how invaluable this whole rugby culture is.

 De Siva is of the opinion that tournaments such the ‘Centenary Sevens’ refresh the minds of the rugby fraternity about the good values that must be nurtured in the sport.

“A club existing for 100 years shows how deep-rooted rugby in this county is. It shows the efficiency of the management of CR&FC and all credit must go to them for that,” said De Silva.

“Rugby tournaments of this nature will also strengthen the bonds between schools, clubs and players and also remind us about each individual’s role to maintain discipline, boost team work and stay healthy,” he said.   

SLR President Rizly Illyas said that CR&FC ‘Centenary Sevens’ will serve well for the national selectors to earmark players and select them for future overseas tournaments like the Asian Games, scheduled in China. “Following this tournament there will be the Mercantile Sevens. Sri Lanka is also planning to host an international invitation sevens in mid-June which will help prepare national players for international tournaments. Sri Lanka has conducted 13 local tournaments and participated in three international tournaments during the last year, which has been a trying time for the country and the sport,” said Illyas.

The ‘Centenary Sevens’ will be worked off at Longden Place starting March 31 (Friday) and will conclude on April 2 (Sunday). The organisers of the event have extended invitations to clubs and schools and also a couple of foreign teams; which will contest the ladies sevens tournament.

As many as 26 teams will vie for honours in this tournament.