Rankothge to referee in SEA Games Rugby Tourney

S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen, Kandy Sports Correspondent

Sri Lanka's Aruna Rankothge has been appointed as the only Neutral Referee at the South East Asian Games Rugby Tournament to be worked off in Thailand from December 11.

This tournament which will be worked off in the second largest City in Thailand called Koorath is organised by the Thailand RFU and the IRB in the style of the Olympic Games. Apart from rugby the other games which will be featured are athletics, wrestling, volleyball, soccer, netball, swimming in which over 5,000 sportsmen and sportswomen are expected to participate.

Aruna Rankothge is an experienced rugby referee having officiated at the Junior Rugby Asiad in China in 2004 and in the same year at the World Cup qualifying matches in India. He has also officiated at the Singapore Rugby Sevens in 2005 and 2007.

Aruna Rankothge has climbed the rugby ladder the hard way through honesty and dedication.

He started his rugby career at St. Sylvester's College, Kandy and later turned out for Kandy Youths SC and Kandy SC before taking over the coaching of his alma mater St. Sylvester's College and guided his school to gain promotion to the 'A' Division of the Schools Rugby Tournament within a short period.

He has also officiated in top inter-club matches in Sri Lanka also the prestigious rugby clash between Trinity College and Royal College. He is presently the junior coach of Trinity College.

He is employed as an executive in the Human Resources Department of Amaya Hills Resorts (formerly Le Kandyan Hotel)