Rugby season to get underway

Uva RFC to field team in segment II

By Bernie Wijesekera

The much look forward to year 2007 Caltex League Rugby tournament kicks off on May 18. The Segment One and Two tournaments will be continued up to August 5 while the rugby season proper will bring its curtains down on September 1. The Clifford Cup knock outs will be worked off from August 10 to 18. The finals will take place probably at a district venue, giving that much-needed exposure for the promotion of provincial rugby providing an opportunity to rural lads to watch a game at its best.

The ideal venue for the year 2007 final could be the historic Kelani Valley Club, just 75 minutes drive from Colombo. On last year’s performance the first 8 teams will play in Segment ‘A’ league 2007. Kick off will take place on May 18 with CH and FC –Air Force clash at Maitland Crescent. On May 19th -CR and FC will take Army at Havelock Park which will be the Army home ground for this season. The Kandy SC vs Old Zahirians match will adorn the Kandy’s rugby season at Nittawela on May 20. Also on the same day (Sunday) Havelocks SC will play host to Police SC.

Meanwhile Galle RFC, Dim-dicks, Jawatte ‘Lions’, Kelani Valley Petersons and Uva RFC will play in the Segment II. It is interesting that Kelani Valley are coming back to competive rugby after a long layoff and so is Petersons SC. The new comers to the rugby arena are the lads from Uva RFC.

According to Devaka Wickremasuriya a senior official of Dimbula C and AC, they are determined to field a youth team to keep the game alive. In the past it was in the doldrums. They are celebrating their 150th anniversary this year. The venues for the Segment II matches have still to be notified.

Petersons SC will be back in the scrum said its president Chamrath Fernando. Quite a number of schoolboys drawn from emerging schools have joined the club. He was confident of getting support from the Rugby Union. Our main problem is a playing field. But the president of the Rugby Union Nimal Lewke has proposed to use his good offices with the hierarchy of the Colombo University, at Reid Avenue to assist the lesser known clubs to practice and play some of their games at this venue. He has decided to help the Undergrads (coaching) and maintain the venue, with SLRFU funds. All the Services teams barring Navy have confirmed their participation.