‘Get Into Rugby’ programme reaches Galle
Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), along with the Ruhunu Province Rugby Football Union, conducted a ‘Get Into Rugby (GIR) programme at the St. Aloysius’ College ground in Galle last week, bringing the community together through the introduction of rugby. Get Into Rugby is World Rugby’s global programme for growing game participation through working with member unions and regional associations.
The main highlight of the programme was the eagerness and enthusiasm demonstrated by the children who came from 16 different schools and over 285 students which included 285 boys and 31 girls participated in it, as well as provincial rugby coaches who supported the programme.
The President of SLR, Rizly Illyas graced the occasion and distributed balls which was donated by World Rugby through Asia Rugby, to all schools that participated in the programme.
“We have eight clubs registered under our Provincial Union at present. We also had Galle RFC played in the ‘A’ Division Inter- Club Tournament in the early 2000s and Hambantota Sharks which played in the top division few years ago,” said Sanjeewa Lakmal Jayawardena, the President of Ruhunu Province Rugby Football Union, which was formed in 1991.
The Ruhunu PRFU proudly boasts of producing national players such as Amendra Kumara, Dinusha de Soysa for the men’s team in the past and former women’s players in the calibre of Randika Kumudumali, Sanjeewani de Silva, Dasuni de Silva and Samantha Jayamali while Nipuni Rasanjali, Madushani Araliya, Dilini Kanchana are from the current pool and the present members of women’s national team captain Dulani Pallikondage.