All roads lead to Bogambara Stadium and Carlton Sevens

Hafiz Marikar

All roads will lead to the Bogambara Stadium and the Carlton Super Rugby Sevens - which kicks off today, for the second year.

This year, Sri Lanka Insurance has come forward as sponsors, and the organizers are the Tharunyata Hetak Organization under the auspices of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) headed by Asanga Senavirthne, the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) and the International Rugby Union.

This time sensational Bollywood stars will be on show at Bogambara. There will be Preity Zinta and Vicek Oberoi to cheer along with Kandy rugby loving public.

The main objective of this tournament is to promote rugby at grassroot level and take this game to the rural areas of the country where every Sri Lankan youth will get an opportunity to watch international stars in action and get a glimpse of what international rugby is.

The tournament will see 10 teams in action - namely Uva Vipers, Southern Sharks, Northern Gladiators, Jaffna Challengers, Western Warriors, Eastern Eagles,North Western Blacks, North Central Typhoons, Sabaragamuwa Stallions and Central Kings. Each team will include two International players, two 'A' grade Sri Lankan club players and under 21 school players.

The organizing committee headed by Ronnie Ibrahim - a product of Kingswood College Kandy, has spared no pains in ensuring that all the facilities needed for rugby will be available at the venue.

The venue has a capacity to accommodate over twenty thousand rugger fans. George Simpkin of international fame will assist the organizers as the Tournament Director, is a master in the subject.

It was Mailk Samarawickrama who spotted this New Zealander and brought him to Sri Lanka first to coach and organize rugby at Kandy Sports Club.

He produced an excellent team with all new concepts of play and later coached the national team with great success.

The generosity of the organizers Carlton Sports Club, has added new interest to the tournament by introducing two legs of the tournament, which was introduced last year.

Some top class players from overseas are expected to play in this competition which will make the event very colorful with a differenet style of play.

The franchise companies have even gone a step further in inviting International coaches, Match Officials, Physio's, Team Managers and helpers to ensure that the facilities for players and their training programs are the best in all aspects.

This year the organizers are planning to start this tournament in a more organized manner in order to create an environment for taking this game to the villages.

So, from Kandy rugby lovers a warm welcome to all rugby enthusiasts - players, officials, families, fans, associates, sponsors and spectators. This tournament is an initiative by President Mahinda Rajapaksa's sons Namal and Yoshita to spread rugby Island wide.

The vision of the Rugby Super 7s is to create a sustainable, vibrant and competitive rugby culture for all stakes holders, sports districts, schools, associations, clubs, and provincial unions, sponsors who support and develop the game in Sri Lanka.

Going down memory lane, the Carlton Rugby International 7s was founded in 2010. In the first year the tournament comprised Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Its purpose was to provide International competition between its members by conducting a biannual tournament. The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) was established 103 years ago.

The growth of rugby in Sri Lanka is reflected by the increase of ARFU members, tournaments, events and activities. Forty top class sevens players are expected to play in this year's tournament. which will provide the Sri Lankan rugby lovers top class sevens rugby. The players who will be seen in action are IRB top notch sevens players Tomaci Cama from New Zeeland, along with D.J. Forbes, Frank Hali , Zara Lawrence, Ed Cocker, Nalu Tugamala, Malakkar Fikoitoa. The Fijians who will be in action are Nasoni Rako, Stefano Cacunivalu. Osea Kelisau , Tanial Rwqanga. and Mat Turner. Dan Norton for England.Some of our locals who will be action are Sri Lanka XV a side skipper Yositha Rajapaksa, Nirnahjan Wickramarthne, Dilip Methurwan, Reahn Weerakoon, Nigal Ratwatte, Disha Kenaiyangoda, Mohamed Sheriff, Chula Susantha, Raitha Sansoni, Dushan Leweke, Ashyan Karthyelis, Kosla Tissera, Sajith Saranga, Mekalanka Pramoda and Shanak Kumara.

Rugby in Sri Lanka has unique values and characteristics which are essential for us to preserve, promote and protect.

The spirit of Sri Lanka Rugby - friendship, strength, teamwork, health, discipline, respect and a sport for all - Rugby builds character and self esteem.

It is a positive force in the lives of those who play the game, It brings solidarity and unity across the lands of Asia and family values. Rugby Sevens is like limited overs cricket and T-20 cricket.

Rugby sevens is basically an abbreviated form of Rugby Union played with seven players rather than the usual 15 a side, with the same field specifications.

The additional space available usually leads to high scoring and fast open rugby during the 14 minutes duration of the game, although some matches later in the tournament do last longer.