Sri Lanka Super 7s -- Packed with Rugby experience
The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) will finally get the complete authority to run the competition they outlined, but lost the grip with time and tide. The Sri Lanka Super 7s, powered by Dialog, will spearhead the SLRFU's annual calendar from this year onwards when it comes alive in August at the Racecourse ground in Colombo.
The President of the SLRFU Asanga Seneviratne outlined "The blueprint of the Carlton Super 7s, which was a hit, was a composed by me, Lasitha Gunaratne and Namal Rajapaksa. We were initially involved full time but as the tournament gained momentum, the SLRFU was sort of sidelined from the project. The SLRFU could not make any claims since it was a competition run by a sports club with our assistance. But the Sri Lanka Super 7s is totally run and managed by the SLRFU and transparency will be maintained on all movements, transactions and activities."
The tournament, which has been structured to be held in two stages, will be held on August 5 and 6 and 12 and 13, with the intention of creating glamour and interest among the public. Besides the main competition, vied among eight franchise teams, the tournament will consist a Schools competition for the Under-18s. The eight teams in the main draw are Access Kings, Mobitel Eagles, Just-in-Time Dragons, EZY Wolves, Etisalat Phantoms, Cargills Gladiators, Softlogic Warriors and Walkers Vipers. The Under-18 7s sides of Isipathana, St. Peter’s, S. Thomas’, St. Joseph’s, St. Anthony’s Katugastota, Wesley, D.S. Senanayake and Zahira will battle for the Schools championship.
"The tournament will feature top international 7s players from major rugby-playing nations while the cream of Sri Lanka's talent will be in the frontline. There will be a players' auction for locals as well as foreign players. Everything will be finalised within the coming few days," stated Lasitha Gunaratne, the Vice President of SLRFU.
With the beginning of Rio Olympics 2016, which also takes place on August 5, the inaugural Sri Lanka Super 7s will not have the kudos of featuring the elite stars, as 7s Rugby makes its historical debut at the Olympics. According to Gunaratne, it will not be a reason or doubt for the lack of quality Sevens Rugby.
"The tournament might lose a handful of top players from top countries, but those who are not making it to Rio with their respective teams, will make it to Sri Lanka. Talking about top competition, there is a guarantee that each game will be full of excitement," Gunaratne added.
Assisting SLRFU on this endeavour are keen Rugby followers, who are apparently Ministers. The involvement of Harin Fernando, the Minister of Telecommunication and Infrastructure and the Minister of Sports, Dayasiri Jayasekara gives them the much needed sustenance according to Seneviratne.
"Of course we need government support to take any sport to the next level. The support was at its highest earlier and it doesn't make any different with these two energetic and Rugbyloving ministers. They have given us the fullest support and they have pledged it will continue. It only justifies and supports our vision at SLRFU, to focus more on Sevens Rugby as that is where we can be world beaters. We are steadily making it happen and the Sri Lanka Super 7s is the beginning of it," Seneviratne stressed with hope.