Clifford Cup at neutral venues

Ranjan Anandappa

For the first time in the history of the prestigious Clifford Cup, the 2010 knock-out rugby tourney matches will be played on neutral venues.

This was revealed by former Sri Lanka prop forward and the CEO of the SLRFU Lasitha Gunaratne at a media briefing held at the SLRFU Headquarters, Reid Avenue on the occasion of unveiling and handing over a new Caltex Clifford Cup to the President of the SLRFU Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke yesterday.

Gunaratne said that the new SLRFU Council is keen to introduce a new rugby culture and also acceding to the request made by six of the clubs, the Council has decided to play the quarter finals, semi finals and the final at neutral venues ,namely at the Royal College Sports Complex grounds, Longden Place and at the Bogambara Stadium in Kandy.

Kishu Gomes the CEO/MD of Chevron Lubricants Lanka PLC said that the new Sri Lanka Rygby Football Union Council face the challenge of bringing togehter all the stake holders of the game in an effort to take Sri Lanka’s rugby forward on the world stage. Gomes also urged some of the clubs who have not fared well in the league tournament to market their clubs effectively to draw the crowds to their respective venues.

The Clifford Cup draw.

Quarter finals - July 16 (Friday) Air Force Vs Police at Longden Place - July 17 (Saturday). Kandy Vs Havelocks at Bogamabara - July 17 (Saturday) CR and FC Vs CH and FC at Royal Sports Complex grounds, July 18 (Sunday) Navy vs Army at Longden Place.

Semi finals - July 24 and 25 at RCSC and Kandy.

Final - July 31 at Kandy or RCSC.