Sri Lanka rugby has come a long way

Hafiz Marikar

Sri Lanka Rugby 7's in 2012 has come a long way and up the rankings in the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) after becoming Bowl champions and three times Plate Champions in the HSBC Asian 7's 2012 tournaments.

This achievement is a clear indication that the game in Sri Lanka is gradually gaining recognition in the Asian Region and the authorities should consider further promoting this game in Sri Lanka from grass root level.

Sri Lanka just missed a good chance of qualifying for the World Cup and if they are invited to play in the Hong Kong Sevens they are sure to do well.

It must not be forgotten that Sri Lanka was one of the few teams that was selected to the inaugural Hong Kong Rugby 7's in 1976.

Its correct, that in view of Sri Lanka being a participating team from the inception of the Hong Kong 7's tournament had to be eliminated due to poor performances.

But now with this year's performance the organizers of the Hong Kong 7's should consider including Sri Lanka for the 2013 7's tournament. The Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) was founded in 1968. It comprised of Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

Its purpose was to provide international competition between its members by staging a biannual tournament. The Asian Rugby Football Tournament (ARFT) was established in 1969.

It is the second oldest established international rugby tournament in the World. It currently continues as the A5N. The growth of rugby in Asia is reflected in the increase of ARFU members, tournaments, events and activities.

As a matter of fact the Kandy Sports Club under the auspices of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union hosted the 2004 Rugby World Cup Qualifier for the Asian region very successfully praised by the International Rugby Board after which the IRB offered the Singer Sri Lankan Airlines sevens tournament, the "Asian Region Satellite Rugby 7's" in 2005 the second International event next to the Hong Kong Rugby 7's in the Asian Region where National teams from Japan, Hong Kong, S.Korea, Mayalsia, Singapore, Thailand, China, Kazakhstan, Philippines, India, Pakistan, Guam, Chinese Taipei and Sri Lanka participated.

This tournament went on famously with the blessing of the IRB and ARFU until 2008.

In 2010 ARFU comprises 28 members.

These members actively participate in annual and semi-annual council meetings. Four 'working' committees support the ARFU Council to oversee Rugby in Asia.

ARFU organizes and manages five major tournaments for men, women and youth. ARFU continues to explore new opportunities to develop rugby in Asia. The marquee event in ARFU is the Asian 5 Nations (A5N).

This event has shown the success and potential of Rugby in Asia.

The Asian Region comprises some 60% of the world's population.

It is estimated that 80% of the world's youth is here. However, in 2010 the Region comprised only 12% of the world's rugby playing population. With the RWC coming to Japan in 2019 there now exists a tremendous opportunity to raise awareness and promote the Game throughout the Region.

Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union under the dynamic Presidency of Asanga Seneviratne is on the right track with the proper development structure put in place.

The introduction of the National Coach Ben Golling has become the main goal to take Sri Lanka rugby to a higher level from here.

The National Rugby 7's skipper Fazil Marijha with wide experience and playing the game at the highest level playing for the Kandy SC the undisputed Rugby Champions for over a decade leads from the front with his natural skills recognized with maturity.

He has very good rapport with the players of his team which demonstrate the creativity towards overall performance. The other players who follow him with great enthusiasm are Saliya Kumar, Nigel Ratwatte, Sajith Saranga, Dinusha Chathuranga, Suriya Bandara.

After performing well in this year's HSBC Asian Rugby 7's tournament. "Playing in back-to-back events has been a great test for Sri Lanka as a team and the Union is very pleased with the way our players performed at the HSBC Asian 7's tournament.

It is easy to get energized in the Asian region with all of the crowds and the razzmatazz, but I can't fault the attitude from and for the most part we are impressed with our approach to rugby in the future and re-focus to further our image according to SLRFU Secretary Rizly Illyas who is doing a great job.