New club launched under Sports Minister’s patronage:

Hambantota Sharks will endeavour to devour all opposition

YASARATNE GAMAGE

Hambantota Sharks Sports Club (HSC Sharks) a new rugby club was launched at Cinnamon Grank Oak Room under the patronage of Sports Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage as the chief guest, Co operative and Internal Trade Affairs Minister Johnston Fernando and Hambantota District Parliamentarian Namal Rajapaksa as geusts of honour.

Hambantota Sharks will be managed by Johan Fernando, the Pesident of the club while Nihal Gunaratne will coach and monitor the sharks when they challenge other senior rugby clubs.

Johan captained S.Thomas’ rugby team in 2007. Gunaratne is a former St Anthony's College and Kandy Sports Club flanker. He is also the first IRB qualified coach, educator from Sri Lanka.

K D U Adventures ( Pvt Ltd ) sponsoring the brand new club formed at the request of MP Namal Rajapaksa in his endeavour to bring the southern city , Hambantota into the sports arena.

The idea of construcing a football ground, and athletic pitch and a rugby stadium in Hambantota which can hold a combined capacity of 100,000 spectators is certainly norteworthy.

The initiative to form a new rugby club in the area was to attract rural talented players and also some of the veterans in the game.

Speaking on the occassion Chairman Hambantota Sharks SC, Johan Fernando explained their vision and future targets. He said rugby, the second popular sport in the country’ has prompted Hambantota to join hands with other multiple development projects and to bring deep southern city alive. He thanked MP Namal Rajapaksa for his guidance.

He also added that the new club at the moment has focussed on strength training and will soon get the serivce of a foreign trainer.

The new club would enhance proffessionalism in the field of rugby which in turn will help develop the sports in every nook and corner in the island, stressed Fernando.

SLRFU President Asanga Seneviratne wished the new club successs and hoped that forming it in Hambantota will take the sport to rural sportsmen.

He also assured SLRFU support for the new club to organize and participate in tournaments.