Sri Lanka to participate in Thai King’s 80th B’day celebrations

Rugby 80 Chairman Bob Dwyer will push to include the new format of Rugby Union which gives parity to all teams at the next Asian Games, in a concerted effort to popularise an even competition between participating teams in the Asian region.

Dwyer, speaking exclusively to the Sunday Times said that his committee will leave no stone unturned to give all rugby playing countries in the world a chance to showcase their talent on a pound for pound basis with skill being the determining factor in their ultimate performance.

“If we can kick-start our campaign at the Asian Games it will be a crucial stepping stone to popularise the game in its new format before venturing with our future plans for a worldwide competition in the near future,” Dwyer said. Meanwhile in a prelude to Rugby 80’s future plans, sixteen teams including two from Sri Lanka have been invited to the Thai King’s 80th birthday celebrations in Bangkok between July 5 and the 15th where teams from all round the world will be represented in the new format’s exciting new production which is expected to draw a large audience particularly from the Asian region. The tournament is being held in collaboration with the Thai Rugby Union’s International Association of Rugby arm with guidance from the world controlling body of Rugby 80 headed by Chairman Dwyer and its President Dilip Kumar.

Some of the teams that will be seen in action at the Bangkok tournament which is reported to have generated tremendous response worldwide will be representative sides from New Zealand, Australia, England, Wales, South Africa, France, Kenya and from Asia, Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.

Sri Lanka’s part in this will be closely monitored as they are viewed as the leadership group for the South-East Asian region and their interest in being a vital cog in future plans and their own development will largely depend on their input and interest towards rugby’s new format.

“They (Sri Lanka) can help themselves or prefer to remain in the main Asian tournaments where their rugby will remain stagnant and without the possible chance of world or for that matter Asian recognition if that is what they choose without involvement in Rugby 80” said an official of the controlling body. “It is imperative that they utilise their talent on an even scale to be able to judge for themselves where they are or continue as they have historically with the knowledge that they will always be several notches below Asia’s best, Japan and South Korea who in the eyes of world rugby are several notches below the World’s tenth best”, he said.