Objective – 2019 World Cup in Japan

Marathon, Cycling, Walking (Men/Women) at Polonnnaruwa

International

Tour de France (ends July 21)

Louis Vuitton Cup in San Francisco (ends July 21) ATP at Bastad, Stuttgart and Newport WTA at Budapest and Palermo (all end) EPGA at Scottish Open, Castle Stuart USPGA at John Deere Classic, Silvis, Illinois (all end) England v Australia, 1st Ashes Test, Trent Bridge - Day 5

German GP at Sachsenring

The President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union ( SLRFU) Asanga Seneviratne announced the introduction of professional changes to the rugby structure in Sri Lanka, at a press conference held on July 9, at the Olympic House.

Introducing Alastair Saverimutto, the new CEO, Seneviratne said that Alastair has the rugby background and commercial capability of enhancing the game and the financial aspect of the SLRFU.

Seneviratne also announced that 45 players will be contracted so that clubs as well as the country can make use of their services. Initially it will be for one year and will be renewable on performance.

He also said Sri Lankan players have weight and speed but need to improve skills levels and strength and to achieve same they have brought in Phil Greening as the High Performance Coach and Ryan Gibney as the Head of Strengthening and Conditioning. Greening has a background in playing and coaching at both the Fifteens and Sevens formats for England while Gibney will be the full- time fitness trainer of the Sri Lankan team

The Minister of Sports, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, expected that a total of 150 million Sri Lankan rupees will be invested into rugby every year.

“This will help the spread of the sport across the country,” he said. The Minister and the SLRFU aim to have 25 clubs and 500 schools participating in rugby.

He said that the Ministry will work closely with the SLRFU in developing the game of rugby and hopes to provide Rs. 25 million to the SLRFU to support promoting two clubs in Kurunegala and Jaffna. The Minister also said that he hopes to be positive to the request for the national team to play foreigners subject to the residence rules of the International Rugby Board.

Sri Lanka has the ability to become number one in the Asian Rugby arena and it is possible to make the nation a universally acceptable team in the near future, Greening commented. Greening went on to say that that he sees the potential in Sri Lanka rugby, having coached the national side last year, and is now ready to create history.

He went on to say that they will centrally contract players and work with the clubs to provide the much needed high performance environment. He also stressed on the need to transform schools rugby so that there will be a pathway to the national team.

As a forerunner, an elite national academy for rugby will be in place. Thus the foundation will be laid to set in place a five to seven year plan. This will include a tier system, where Under- 14s to Under- 20s will lead to a national academy and each level will be presented with the same training formats to develop the full potential.

When it is time to move to the club and national level, there will be properly trained skilled players. Greening said, ‘ This is an exciting time for Sri Lanka rugby and the enhancement of player performance and coaching will be focused upon.

“The aim is to reach the Rugby World Cup in 2019 which will be held in Japan,” he added.