SL confident of wining Asian Five Nation crown

Anuradha Abeysekera

Sri Lankan ruggerites are practicing hard under the watchful eyes of world renowned two coaches, South African Ravin Du Plessis and Englishman Ben Gollings in their bid to win the Asian Five Nation Championship which is to be worked off from March 31 to April 6 with the participation of teams from Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Kazakhstan and Sri Lanka at the Kavelock grounds. It was revealed during a press briefing at the NAtional Institute of Sports Science conducted by the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) to announce the tournament calender and preparations for the forth coming tournaments in 2013.

SLRFU President Asanga Seneviratne said that Pool practices for the Asian Five Nation Tournament have begun nearly three months prior to the big event with 51 players and there will be a strong contests among the players to enter the team as 49 ruggerites are participating continues practices up to now.

"We are very confident and Sri Lanka has a big chance to win the tournament. It is a great opportunity for us to host an international tournament of this magnitude from a long time and thanks to our sponsors Dialog, Sri Lanka got this opportunity," Seneviratne said.

With a new approach to develop rugby, SLRFU has altered the established tournament calender this year with the aim to give a boost to school rugby.

To facilitate school fixtures without clashing with club matches, school season will be commenced in March while the main club season will be downed in October.

The inter-club rugby sevens will be played in March 4 and 5 which will be followed by new two Carlton franchised domestic sevens tournaments in June. The fist leg of the franchised sevens tournament will be worked off in Colombo on June 15 and 16 while the second leg is scheduled to take place in Nuwara Eliya on June 29 and 30.

The popular Carlton Super Sevens international tournament will see its first leg plying in Galle on July 27 and 28 while the final phase will be worked off in Colombo on August 3 and 4.

Rugby sevens will be the key to popularize the sport in Sri Lanka. SLRFU has brought the sport to North and East and the two provinces have registered with the governing body.

According to SLRFU President, they will have a comprehensive plan to develop the standard of rugby coaching through out the country including North and East with the generous support of Dialog Axiata in order to strengthen grass root level.