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Premier League rugby kicks off
By Shamseer Jaleel
The Inter Club rugby season for 2005 kicked off with the Sailors hosting the "Red Shirts" at Welisara last Friday. Shibly Latiff, General Manager Sales and Marketing of Caltex speaking at the press briefing told that all of us should put 2004 behind as it was marred by player violence in the field and look to the future and also most importantly should learn from past mistakes. He further stressed that with the absence of foreign players this year the young lads must grab the opportunity and make maximum use of it . This gives our players a good chance in the Rugby World Cup Asian Qualifying matches against Thailand and Singapore in the month of June this year. Shibly concluded by saying that the sponsorship package is amounting to 6 million this year.

The president of the governing body Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) Priyantha Ekanayake said that at least 10 matches in the league would be telecast. After this year’s tournament they might think about starting a new format for next year where the top five teams playing in the top division and the other four in the bottom half with each team playing on a home and away basis. He ended by saying that the country has a good under 19 side, which is competitive and participated in the World Cup. He further told that the national players will be contracted by the SLRFU starting next year and Clubs will be given funds to run the inter club tournament. Caltex will also sponsor the Clifford Cup Knock Out matches, which will be played in August this year.

Kandy Sports Club will be defending both the inter club and the knockout trophies under the dashing national winger Sanjeeva Jayasinghe. Caltex Lubricants Lanka Ltd sponsors this tournament since 2000.

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