Under 20 seven-a-side rugby tourney on June 24 and 25

RUGBY: Abans Limited has come forward to sponsor the Western Province Under 20 Seven-A-Side-Rugby Tournament this year. Although this tournament has been held for several years in the past, this is the first time that a corporate establishment has voluntarily offered to sponsor it.

The tournament will be held on 24 and 25 June 2006 and will bring together 38 teams from 31 leading schools in the Western Province. Two conveniently located grounds have been identified for the tournament. The "A" Group matches will be playerd at CR and FC grounds, Longden Place, Colombo 7 whilst the "B" Group matches will be played at the Royal College grounds.

This may well be the ideal opportunity to gauge the level of competition and the quality of Rugby produced by these schools. The tournament attracts many spectators to the rugby grounds, and this being the inaugural tournament in the schools' rugby calendar, public interest is gathering momentum.

The schools drawn into Segment A of the Tournament are: Group A: Isipathana, Science, Prince of Wales and Piliyandala M.V. 'Group B: Thurstan, D. S. Senanayake, St. Peter's and St. Benedict's. Group C: Mahanama, Nalanda, Royal Panadura and Zahira. Group D: Wesley, S. Thomas', Carey and Lumbini MV.

The schools in Segment B are: Group A: Carey B, Priyarathana, Lumbini B and Piliyandala B. Group B: St. Peter's B, C. W. W. Kannangara, Wesley B and Mahanama B. Group C S. Thomas" B, Asoka, Thurstan B and Nalanda B. Group D: Isipathana B, Dharmapala, D. S. Senanayake B and Zahira B.

The generous sponsorship package by Abans and their principals Haier of China has helped to make this tournament even more competitive with trophies and attractive cash awards to winners, runners-up for the Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield events and better facilities for the participants.