Nippon ‘Paints’ Rugby
View(s):What was predicted to be a disaster towards the end, has now somehow taken a complete volte-face after Nippon Paints stepped into take over the ongoing SLR Club Rugby League 2022, which has now reached its second stage.
The latest sponsorship now makes Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) slightly richer than they were as its President, Rizly Ilyas had the last laugh while signing the deal with their latest commercial partner, who vowed to swim into the deep end of the sport, with intentions of taking rugby off from the danger zone it was in a fortnight ago. 
Coincidentally both entities — SLR and Nippon Paints — boast of a history that runs nearly a century and a half, and startlingly both top chairs — Ilyas of SLR and Nemantha Abeysinghe, the General Manager of Nippon Paints, have played the game together during their heydays for the same club.
Yet, Nippon Paints comes in as fourth commercial partner for SLR, out of which two had long tenures as main or title sponsors. Both Ilyas and Abeysinghe had the same sentiment that the new binding would go a long way ahead, with more room for mutual understanding, in moving forward simultaneously, as a sport and a consumer brand.
“This is an important step-forward for rugby, especially when SLR was not sitting pretty due to unavoidable reasons. Yet, rugby is a sport that helps its players and stakeholders win friends than enemies, and Nippon Paints is such a friend that has lent their support for the growth of the sport,” an overjoyed Ilyas stated.
Ilyas’ secret mission in securing a high-profile sponsorship from a globally renowned brand, comes in at a crucial juncture when rumours were in the rife that SLR would come under an interim committee or a competent authority. But just two weeks before the completion of the first round of the Club Rugby League 2022, Ilyas and his team were able to make a sudden blind side move and surprise the rest by announcing the sponsorship from Nippon Paints, who would cover the Club Rugby League, the Clifford Cup and the Inter-Club 7s.
“This is a plant that is not for me or my staff to enjoy the fruits. Honestly any person who was in my position and who will be in my position should not let the plant die, instead the intention should be to grow it to bear fruit, where the future generation would enjoy the harvest of our investments and hard work. It’s important for the future of rugby, there may have been lapses and shortfalls. But that doesn’t mean that one should step down or unethically removed, unless proven a failure. We have showed that rugby still has potential among sponsors, and our primary motive should be to strengthen the game from the low level to the top. We have taken the first step,” Ilyas explained.
The lifeline provided by Nippon Paints, according to Ilyas, is fully beyond a usual sponsorship, out of commercial focus, yet a win-win deal. Unlike certain previous commitments, Ilyas said he and his team is glad that they found a commercial partner who ‘respects’ the sport and its needs.
“We are glad that SLR could finally bind in with a commercial partner with similar interest and values. Of course any commercial entity would be concerned about the value-for-money out of their sponsorship and commitments, but then when it comes to being too harsh in stepping onto our backyard and claim certain rights, we too must be able to draw the lines. With the new commercial partner, we are certain of having a healthy relationship that would guarantee simultaneous growth of value and brand as we move on. Understanding each other’s requirements and respecting values is core to any partnership,” he said.
On the other hand Nippon Paints too shared the similar sentiment, boasting of its existence of over 140 years in Sri Lanka as a consumer brand.
“This is a great opportunity to prop up with SLR and partnering them is a great honour. Nippon Paints did not enter the picture with a short term goal, we are going to paint a portrait with SLR that would last for a longer period and that would add value. This is a new relationship, but on a field that is not new,” Nemantha Abeysinghe, the General Manager of Nippon Paints stated.
The Cup segment kicked off yesterday with the game between second seed Havelocks and third seed CH&FC at the Racecourse ground, while the unbeaten Kandy SC takes on fourth seed Police SC at Police Park today.
Next Saturday, April 2, two matches are down for decisions with CH&FC ready to take on Kandy SC at the Racecourse and Havelocks hosting Police SC. The eventual winner will be decided after the two games on April 9 between Police SC and CH&FC at Police Park and Havelocks vs Kandy SC at Havelock Park.
The Plate segment kicked off on Friday with the game between Air Force SC and CR&FC at Ratmalana while yesterday Navy SC hosted Army SC at Welisara. Next Friday Army will meet Air Force at Havelock Park while on Saturday CR&FC will host Navy at Longdon Place. On April 8, CR&FC will host Army for their final league game while the clash between Navy and Air Force at Welisara will be crucial to decide who will claim the Plate title.