Carlton 7’s Sri Lanka 2009 on a grand scale

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

Rugby fans in Sri Lanka will get an opportunity of witnessing rugby of a very high standard at the Carlton 7’s Sri Lanka 2009 organised by the Tharunyata Hetak Organization in collaboration with the Interim Committee of the SLRFU which will be worked off at the Sugathadasa Stadium from November 27 to 29, 2009.

Asian heavyweights Japan and South Korea along with leading Asian rugby playing nations Kazakhstan, Chinese Taipei, China, Thailand, Malaysia and host country Sri Lanka will be competing in the 12 nation Asian International Sevens while some of the best rugby players will be seen in action in the international exhibition rugby tournament involving Australian Legends, Fiji Barbarians, New Zealand Legends, Papua New Guinea, South Africa Pool and Western Samoa Barbarians, which will be conducted simultaneously along with the schools tournament.

The General Secretary of the Tharunyata Hetak Organization Lalith Piyum Perera addressing a press briefing at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel yesterday said that his organization was the pioneer youth movement in Sri Lanka having launched projects in education, sports, community development etc for the benefit of youth in Sri Lanka and its sports wing - Carlton Sports Club has organized several sporting events such as Carlton Super Cross (from 2006 to 2009), badminton tournament, rowing regatta 2009 and beach sports fiesta.

This time the organization has come forward to organize the Carlton 7’s Sri Lanka 2009 which would be a tremendous boost for Sri Lanka as it has received the blessings of the IRB.

The Chief Executive Officer of the SLRFU Lasitha Guneratne paid a glowing tribute to the Chairman of the Tharunyata Hetak Organization Namal Rajapaksa for coming forward to organize this mega sports event in collaboration with the Interim Committee of the SLRFU. The tournament will be conducted in three segments - Schools, Asian and International. Rugby fans in Sri Lanka will get an opportunity of seeing some of the best players in the world in the exhibition tournament involving eight top teams.

He said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is a keen rugby fan has extended his maximum support to make this tournament a success and hoped that the tournament will turn out to be the best ever international rugby competition held in Sri Lanka in recent years.

Guneratne said that rugby legend Waisale Serevi of Fiji - the highest points scorer in ‘sevens’ history will be a special guest at this mega tournament.

The President of Consumer Foods Group of John Keells Holdings Jitendra R. Guneratne said that his company is proud to be associated with this tournament which is one of the biggest rugby tournaments to be held in Sri Lanka in recent years.

The Regional Manager, Indian sub-continent and Far East of SriLankan Airlines Senaka Fernando thanked Tharunyata Hetak Organization for appointing them as the official airline. SriLankan Airlines has sponsored rugby, golf and surfing events in the country and their idea is to promote sports tourism by bringing down foreign teams and their supporters which would be a tremendous boost for tourism in Sri Lanka.

Carlton 7’s Sri Lanka - 2009

Asian competition:

Pool A: Japan, Kazakhstan, Iran.

Pool B: Taiwan, Thailand, Jordan.

Pool C: China, Malaysia, Brunei.

Pool D: South Korea, Sri Lanka, Pakistan.

School competition:

Pool A: Royal College, St. Anne’s College, Uva Province.

Pool B: St. Anthony’s College, Maliyadeva College, Sabaragamuwa Province.

Pool C: Isipatana College, Vidyartha College, Nalanda College.

Pool D: St. Peter’s College, Prince of Wales College, Carey College.