Two new sponsors for MRA ‘Sevens’ and Women’s Tag Rugby

Two brand new sponsors – South Asia Gateway Terminal (SAGT) and Jaguar - Land Rover have come aboard to power the 47th edition of the Mercantile Rugby Football Sevens and the Second Women’s Tag Rugby Tournament 2017, scheduled to be held from July 21 to 23 at the Race Course International Rugby Football Stadium.

This is the first time that the Mercantile Rugby Football Association (MRFA) have shifted its cradle venue from CR&FC grounds, Longdon Place.

The MRFA Committee led by Shanaka Fernando from Informatics, after meticulously planning for the event for the past two months, took the first step on July 5 by conducting a briefing for the Captains and Secretaries of the prospective teams at the CR&FC Pavilion PDR at 6.30pm.

The meeting which yielded a full house was chaired by the Chairman of the MRFA Tournament Committee, Romesh de Livera; the technical aspects and the new IRB rules, were explained in detail by two Senior Referees from the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees, Dinka Peiris and Anil Jayasinghe. MRFA appointed Pitch Marshal for the tournament, Dhammika Madagedera explained the responsibilities of the team captains.

Entries will close on July 12 with Shanaka Fernando, Mahesh Wijenayake and Mindika Jayasinghe. The entry forms could be down loaded via the MRFA Web site: www. mrfasrilanka.lk.

The draw for the groupings will be held on July 17 at 6pm at the CR&FC Pavilion PDR. Around 40 teams are expected to participate this year.

In the previous tournament held on July 2016 at the CR&FC grounds, where 32 teams participated, Access Group regained the coveted Cup Championship after 16 years, beating Dialog Axiata ‘A’; Nation Lanka Finance won the Plate; John Keells ‘B’ won the Bowl and Brandix won the Shield. Ceylon Tobacco won the inaugural Women’s Tag Rugby tournament. (BM)