Top players in action at CR and FC Centenary Rugby Sevens

The CR and FC Centenary Rrugby Sevens will be worked off on a grand scale from March 31 to April 2 at the CR and FC grounds, Longden Place.

The tournament will comprise of a men’s inter-club sevens, women’s sevens and a schools sevens tournament.

The trophies on offer for the Centenary Rugby Sevens

CR and FC president Ted Muttiah speaking at a press briefing said that the centenary marks a remarkable journey not only for the CR and FC but for rugby in Sri Lanka. The club founded by Colonel E.H. Joseph for the benefit of Ceylonese in an era dominated by Europeans has earned a reputation as one of the finest rugby clubs in Sri Lanka which has produced several ruggerites who have go onto don the Sri Lanka Jersey with distinction and won so many trophies including club rugby’s richest prize the Clifford cup.

He congratulated the CR and FC team for the excellent performance in the season in becoming ‘A’ division league runner-up and clinching the Cllifford Cup after 17 years.

He said the centenary sevens tournament will enhance the reputation of the club and paid a glowing tribute to Tournament Director Dilroy Fernando who was able to obtain the services of two foreign women’s teams and international referees for the rugby sevens.

Muttiah said that it will be a historic occasion as this is the first time that a sevens tournament is conducted for all three categories. Men’s, women and schools.

The Tournament Director Dilroy Fernando said that the tournament will see all the ‘A’ Division teams taking part Kandy SC, CR and FC, Navy , Police, Air Force, Army, Havelocks and CH and FC.

Twelve top schools will vie for the schools tournament Royal, St. Peter’s and Wesley have been drawn into group ‘A’ while Trinity, St. Joseph’s and Piliyandala Central are in Group ‘B’ Isipathana, Vidyartha and Zahira have been drawn into group ‘C’ while Kingswood, S. Thomas and D.S. Senanayake will battle it out in group ‘D’

The women’s tournament will have all four ‘A’ division teams Army, Navy, Air Force, CR andFC and two top foreign team Burraneer RFC team from Australia and Doha RFC from Qatar.

Kandy SC, CR and FC, Police and Army have been drawn into Group ‘A’ for the Men’s tournament while Air Force, Havelocks, Navy and CH and FC will battle it out in Group ‘B”in the Men’s tournament.

Referees from Australia, Japan and Singapore will officiate in the tournament along with local referees.