Mercantile Rugby 7s, at Race Course
The Mercantile Rugby Football Association (MRFA), under the Presidency of Old Peterite, Shanaka Fernando, will break tradition, when it conducts the 47th edition of the Mercantile Rugby '7s', together with the 2nd Women's Tag Rugby '7s' at the Race Course International Rugby Stadium, Reid Avenue, Colombo 7, from July 21-23, shifting from the CR&FC grounds, Longdon Place, for the first time, since its inception.
Entries are called from MRFA affiliated firms and new teams for both tournaments with entry forms available with the following MRFA Officials.
Shanaka FernandoInformatics (Pvt) Ltd., 106 Reid Avenue, Colombo 4; Mahesh Wijenayake- HNB City Office, 16 Janadhipathi Mawatha, Colombo 1 and Mindika JayasingheSampath Bank PLC., 50, Dudley Senanayake Mawatha, Colombo 8, or downloaded via MRFA website: www.mrfasrilanka.lk.. Entries for both tournaments will close with the aforesaid on July 12.
MAS Holdings defeated LOLC to clinch the Amaya Hills Mercantile Super Sixes 2017, which was held at the Asgiriya Stadium.
A total of 42 teams participated at the event which drew a large crowd of supporters from all participating teams. The winning team also claimed two individual awards -- the man- of- the- match and best bowler.
The day-long cricket extravaganza was organised and conducted by the Management and Sports and Welfare Committee of Amaya Hills. Awards were given away by Samantha Ratnayake, the General Manager of Amaya Hills, Rushdy Raheem, the Resident Manager of Amaya Hills and Rukshan de Silva, the General Manager of Mobitel, who were the main sponsors of the event.
The Captains' briefing is on July 5, 6.30 pm, at the CR&FC Pavilion PDR.
The draw for the Groups will be on July 17, 6.30 pm, at the CR&FC Pavilion PDR.
Flashback to 2016. The Tournament was held from July 15-17 at the CR&FC grounds, Longdon Place. 32 teams participated; Access Group regained the coveted 'Cup' Championship, after 15 years, beating Dialog Axiata 'A' (35-12); Nation Lanka Finance won the 'Plate' Championship, beating John Keells 'A' (28-22); John Keells 'B' won the 'Bowl' Championship, beating Dialog Axiata 'B' (29-5) and Brandix Essentials won the 'Shield' Championship, beating PABC Bank (5-0)
Ceylon Tobacco Co. won the inaugural Women's Tag Rugby 7s, beating Virtusa (5-0).
Incumbent, MRFA President, Shanaka Fernando, in his 2nd term of office, holds the unique and record of participating in 30 unbroken Mercantile Rugby '7s', from 1982 to 2012, represent- ing Heath & Co. and Metropolitan Communications. Fernando hung up his boots at age 50 in 2013.
He was MRFASecretary for several years, before taking over from Mahesh Wijenayake. The other Past Presidents during the past 25 years were: Saliya Udugama, Late Captain Mathew George, Ray Abeywardena, Roshan Tissera, Marco de Silva, late Nimal Gunasekera, Prasanna Silva, Nishantha Wickramage, Romesh de Livera, Lalith Hewage and Vasantha Ramanayake.