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by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Correspondent

The Kandy Branch of the Golden Key Privilege Card Company limited with a bid to promote the game of rugby in the hill capital nas come forward with a lavish sponsorship for the 'Golden Key Privilege Card Schools Rugby Sevens which will be conductED under the auspices of the Central Province Schools Rugby Football Association which will worked off at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium, Kandy tomorrow - Sunday April 6th, commencing at 9.30 a.m. The finals will be worked off at 5 p.m.

Deputy Chairman of the Golden Key Group Kavan Perera will be the Chief Guest at the finals.

This is perhaps the first time that cash priZes have been awarded for a schools tournament in the hill capital in addition to the trophies which will be an additional incentive for the participating teams. The teams will be also provided with meals and refreshment. The total package works out to Rs. 1.2 million which is big money for a schools sevens tournament.

The Cup champions will be awarded cash Rs. 25,000 and a trophy and the runners up Rs. 20,000 and a trophy. The Plate Champions Rs. 15,000 and a trophy and the runners up Rs. 15,000 and a trophy. The Bowl Champions Rs. 10,000 and a trophy and the runners up Rs. 7,000 and a trophy. While the Player of the tournament will receive Rs. 2,500 and a trophy.

A total of 12 boys schools teams will participate in this tournament and six of them will walk away with cash prizes and trophies. Thus there will be a recipient of awards for every two teams. The school teams which will scrum down in the tournament are Trinity, St. Anthony's, Kingswood, Dharmaraja, St. Sylvesters, Vidyartha, Sri Sumangala, Sri Rahula, St. Thomas (Bandarawela), Maliyadewa, Matale Combined Schools and Keerthi Bandara MV from Kumbalgamuwa.

Kingswood College with a well knit side should go out firm favourites for the Cup championship but they will face some stiff opposition from Trinity College who under the guidance of their new coach from Australia Geoffrey Garland and official coach Alex Lasarus will play their first tournament after the disastrous 2002 schools rugby season.

Other teams who should have a tilt at the rugby title are St. Anthony's College and Dharmaraja College with a St. Sylvesters College being the 'dark horses'. A point of interest is that St. Thomas College, Bandarawela will be participating in this tournament which augurs well for the future of the game in the Uva and they will be in the company of their big brothers from Kandy.

Keerthi Bandara Maha Vidyalaya from Kumbalgama in Walapane electorate will have their baptism in competitive rugby and it will be interesting to see how these strong and hard running boys from the village will fare.

There will be a tournament for girls schools too in which four schools namely Swarnamali Balika Vidyalaya, (Kandy), Panduwasnuwara Central College, Kekirawa Central College and Walapane Balika Vidyalaya will participate. An interesting factor here is that three girls schools from places off the beaten track will be participating disproving the myth that rugby is a game for the elite schools. Barring Swarnamali BV which is from Kandy, the schools are from the rural areas with hardly any exposure to the game.

The winner of the girls tournament will receive cash Rs. 5,000 and a trophy and the runners up Rs. 3,000 and a trophy.

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