Hisham Abdeen Rugby Academy kicks off on January 10

Sampath Bandara

Rugby legend Hisham Abdeen has formed a Rugby Academy for talented youngsters.

Registration of students for the Hisham Abdeen Rugby Football Academy and training, sessions will commence on 10th January 2009 at 7.30 a.m. Coaching programmes and courses will be held during Saturdays and Poya days at Havelock Sports Club Grounds from 7.30 a.m. to 9.30 a.m. Girls will be trained separately by female coaches.

Academy to train youngsters from the age of 8 to 15 and over the age of 20 as well and also will conduct seminars related to the laws of the game. Sports Medicine Unit of Ministry of Sports will conduct workshops for students on injury prevention. Hisham Abdeen had a fine school career at Zahira College and Isipathana College and became the first player from both Colleges to captain the national 7s side.

Abdeen captained the National 7s team and the national 15s team for several years. Sri Lanka won the ‘Bowl’ Championship (Hong Kong Sevens) in 1984 under his captaincy.

Hisham Abdeen was a superb flanker for Havelocks and CH and FC. Hisham Abdeen had a long-time dream to form a Rugby Academy in Sri Lanka. His dream has come true now. He has six coaches to run the Academy.

Abdeen’s dream is to develop the Academy in future with modern facilities including foreign scholarships for players.