Junior Agoal ruggerites off to Malaysia
Agoal Rugby Academy, one of Sri Lanka's leading Rugby training schools, will engage in its seventh overseas tour when they take wings to Malaysia to participate at the Super KGV International Junior Rugby 10s Tournament. The tournament will take place on November 4 and 5 at Georgian Green SMK King George V, in Seremban, Malaysia.
The Colombo- based Agoal Rugby Academy has been invited to represent Sri Lanka by the organisers of the tournament, which will feature many teams from overseas. Agoal Academy will feature five teams that will compete in the tournament under four age categories. They are the Under10, 12, 14 and 16 age groups out of which the Under- 12s will have two teams.
"This will be the very first time Agoal Rugby Academy makes its appearance in Malaysia. We were the very first team from a academy or school to make an overseas tour in 2009, and we have been touring ever since, but all to Thailand. After our first tour we identified the importance of handing the kids the international exposure. I must say that it has helped our youngsters immensely to become well known names in the schools and clubs in Sri Lanka," Dilroy Fernando, the Director of Agoal Rugby Academy stated. The academy was founded in 2004 with twelve kids and two coaches, currently trains over 130 youngsters under seven different age categories, beginning from the Under-6s. Fernando, a well respected and renowned international Rugby referee and coach from Sri Lanka, has been instrumental in enhancing the skills of over 1200 youngsters for the past thirteen years, who have gone to the extent of representing top schools, clubs and the national team.
"Whatever tours we engage in, the Agoal Academy ensures strict disciplinary codes and player safety. We always see that players on tour are well mannered, focused on their game and intentions on field and they get the exposure of an international tournament, which includes all aspects of a high profile event, such as pre- training, game, post-training, social activities and camaraderie with players from other countries. It's very important to give the youngsters the real experience, so that they will continue engage with the sport and goes on to become good players," he added.
Agoal Academy boasts of enhancing and nurturing the skills of top school and club players in the recent years. Last season they had six players at school level, out of which four were captains and two were vice captains of six top league schools. Last season they also brag of fostering talent to CR and FC with six players. Out of the 130 odd players in the Agoal Academy, over 30 youngsters are under scholarships.
"We are interested in developing skills of the potentials. The academy regularly gets inquiries from parents who are not financially sound. We offer such children scholarships and most of them have made proper use of the opportunities. We currently have over 30 players such players," Fernando said.
The touring party will include coaches and team coordinators who are responsible for each team they are in-charge of and the expenses of the tour are all managed through sponsorships. The Agoal Rugby Academy contingent will leave Sri Lanka on November 2 and will return November 6.