Planters Rugby 7s on April 7
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Official handing over of the sponsorship cheque. From left: Kelum Samaratunga Treasurer DMCC, Manjula Samarakoon Secretary DMCC – Chief Organiser, Athula Gunarathne – Director Marketing AgStar, Dhanushka De Zoysa - Assitant General Manager (Corporates) AgStar, Amila Rathnayak - Sales Manager (Corporate) AgStar
The 18th Planters Rugby Sevens organized by the Darawela Maskeliya Cricket Club, popularly known as DMCC will be played at the DMCC’s home venue in Hatton on April 7.
The event is sponsored by AgStar, a leading fertilizer brand in the country. This year 12 teams will take part in the tournament. It comprises of last year’s champions Talawakelle Tea Estates, Maskeliya Plantation, Bogawantalawa Tea Estates, Agalawatte and Pussellawa Plantations Ltd (combine), Elpitiya Plantations, Hapugasthenne and Udapussalaawa Plantations (combine), Hatton Plantations, Kelani Valley Plantations, Malwatthe Valley Plantations, Mathurata Plantation, Namunukula and Kegalle Plantations (combine) and Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation. Most of these teams are comprising of well known former school boy as well as Club rugby players who have later joined the prestigious planting profession who will dish out quality rugby much to the amazement of the spectators, revisiting their playing days.
On the day of the tournament, the organisers together with the main sponsors AgStar, has planned many entertaining items such as Live Band Papare, Kiddies games corner during the tournament and gala dinner at the club house to keep the atmosphere live and supporters happy. Since there is a growing interest among the rugby lovers to join the fun and frolic, the organisers also stated that such rugby lovers might reserve hotels in close proximity to the venue and enjoy the cool climes in Hatton.
DMCC is one of the elite planters clubs in the country and boasts of 140 years of a stellar history. When the British Planters were managing estates, the DMCC participated in the leading Clifford Cup Rugby Tournament for many years. Players in the likes of late Lional Almeda, Ranil Thennakoon, Thuwan Dool, Rizwan Omar and many others who played for Sri Lanka Rugby were produced by the DMCC. DMCC Planters’ Rugby sevens is the biggest Sporting event in the plantations Fraternity, which is held every year as an annual event.
Speaking at a press conference held in Colombo DMCC Secretary and Chief Organiser of the tournament Manjula Samarakoon Secretary said “This is the one of the leading Rugby 7s Tournaments in Sri Lanka for many years with high standards and we are most popular among the Planting fraternity. It is an occasion where the planters’ approach towards sports, rugby football in particular is well underpinned.