Navy rugby powered by Land Rover

A unique partnership has been forged between Land Rover and the masters of the sea, when they confirmed its status as principal sponsor of the rugby team of the Sri Lanka Navy for 2011.

Sri Lanka Navy rugby team

The Sailors' partnership with Land Rover was formalized recently by Chairman of Rugby and Director Sports of the Sri Lanka Navy Commodore J.D.A. Amaranayake and CEO of Frontier Automotive (Pvt) Ltd., the sole representative for Land Rover in Sri Lanka Sheran Fernando.

"The rugby team of the Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club has demonstrated an ability to perform amidst gruelling conditions and overcome odds, scoring wins against fancied teams and developing a reputation as a force to be reckoned with in the Caltex League Rugby Tournament," Fernando said.

"It is therefore a pleasure to support such a sporting outfit of great potential." Manager of the team P.N.D. Kaluarachchi, Representative of Canterbury of New Zealand, the official sportswear supplier to the 2011 Rugby World Cup Dilroy Fernando and members of the team including its Captain Yositha Rajapaksa were also present at the formalization of the sponsorship.

The Sri Lanka Navy Rugby team won its first two matches against the Air Force and Army Sports Clubs, and held CR&FC to a draw in the first round of the 2011 Caltex League Rugby Tournament.

The Navy Sports Club emerged the Most Popular Rugby Team in 2009 while Captain Yositha Rajapaksa has been voted the Most Popular Ruggerite. Land Rover is an Official Sponsor of Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand and a top-level Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015 in England.

It is also the Official Vehicle of Rugby World Cup 2011, the England national rugby team and of England's Premiership Rugby.