Schools Rugby Sevens in Kandy

S. M. Jiffrey Abdeen - Kandy Sports Corr.

RUGBY: The Centenary Celebrations of the Kandy Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) will kick off to a bustling start with a schools seven-a-side rugby tournament organised by the Central Province Rugby Football Association at the Bogambara Stadium next Saturday April 8 commencing at 10 a.m.

This will be preceded by a gala opening ceremony in which Governor of the Central Province Tikiri Kobbekaduwa will be the Chief Guest and also gracing the occasion will be the Chief Minister of the Central Province Sarath Ekanayake and Ministers of Sports of the Central Province S. Arulsamy.

The Chairman of the Rugby Sevens Organising Committee and the President of the Central Province Rugby Football Union Mohan Samarakoon said that twelve teams have entered this tournament.

They are: Pool A: Kingswood College, Sri Sumangala College and Matale.

Pool B: Vidyartha College, Sri Rahula College, and Nuwara Eliya.

Pool C: Trinity College, Dharmaraja College, and Dambulla.

Pool D: St. Anthony's College, St. Sylvester's College and Wayamba.

The Co-ordinator of the Tournament and Secretary of the CPRFU Iswan Omar said that the tournament will commence at 10 a.m. and the pool matches will be played upto 2 p.m. from which point the tournament will enter the knock out stage.

The Bowl finals will be played at 4.30 p.m. and the Plate finals at 5 p.m. The cup finals will be played at 5.30 p.m. In between the tournament will be spiced with a Women's Exhibition match at 4 p.m.

The first match will be between Kingswood College and Matale in Pool A. Apart from the trophies and certificates there will be also an award for the Most Valuable Player.