69 schools across 3 divisions vie for Rugby honours
Singer League champions Royal College - Pix by Amila Gamage
SINGER Sri Lanka PLC, the nation’s leading consumer durable retailer , has continued the tradition of being in the forefront of Sri Lanka’s rugby, by powering the 2016 SINGER schools rugby league, organised by the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association( SLSRFA).This is the 13th successive year that SINGER Sri Lanka is backing this prestigious, competitive tournament. The 2016 season of the under 20 school rugby tournament, will be contested amongst 69 schools, spread across 3 divisions, and will include 226 matches in total. Division 1 will be divided into 6 segments of 6 teams each.
Division 2 will include 4 segments with a total of 22 teams, while Division 3 will consist of 11 teams split into 2 segments.Teams will contest for Cup, Plate, Bowl and Shield trophies across 3 divisions. SINGER Sri Lanka has a rich history of supporting Sri Lankan rugby at all levels. The company has backed the coveted Bradby shield encounter for the last 26 years, as well as the country’s top club rugby team of recent years- Kandy Sports Club – for 13 consecutive years.
Royal skipper Bhanuka Gamage with the Cup
SINGER also has exposed the Sri Lankan rugby players and fans alike, to international rugby by organising the international rugby sevens for the first time last year. In parallel to all this, SINGER Sri Lanka, also plays a key role in ensuring sustainable long term development, and success of the game of rugby in the island. Some of the notable of such development involves, the building of much needed infrastructure such as erecting scoreboards at the Nittawela rugby grounds ,constructing rugby pavilion at the Royal College sports complex and the Trinity College rugby stadium, Pallekale.
Addressing the audience on the official launching ceremony at the BMICH, Mahesh Wijewardena, Director and Commercial manager of SINGER, Sri Lanka stated; “ We are proud to be associated with the highly anticipated 2016 schools rugby league. SINGER, Sri Lanka has always believed in empowering the youth of the nation by getting them to embrace sports. Sports help instil discipline, respect, confidence, and team work, all of which are vital characteristics needed by today’s young leaders.
Isipathana, Cup runners-up
Speaking on behalf of the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association, its President Ranjith Chandrasekara stated;” We are thankful for SINGER’S support for the past 12 years and look forward to grow this bond between the two organizations in years to come. He praised SINGER’S involvement in the game of rugby in Sri Lanka has helped them to take the sport to the rural areas.” SINGER Sri Lanka’s involvement with the nations sports has extended beyond rugby. Over the past 20 years, the company has backed several other sports at school, mercantile and national level, providing all Sri Lankans the platform to excel in the sport of their choice.