Sponsor Nippon Paint drops hint of rugby producing new champion 

By a Special Sports Correspondent 

The Inter-club Nippon Paint League Rugby Tournament is set to kick off in the first week of December and the main sponsor of the tournament, Nippon Paint Lanka Pvt LTD, hinted that there could be a new winner this season.

Nippon Paint Lanka Pvt LTD General Manager Nemantha Abeysinghe said that there is a prediction that the league rugby tournament could produce a new champion during the 2023/2024 season. He made these comments at a press briefing held in connection with the upcoming league rugby tournament held at the Sports Ministry auditorium in Colombo on November 24 (Friday).

The tournament was won by Kandy Sports Club last season. This season’s skipper Lavanga Perera handed back the trophy to the Sri Lanka rugby authorities at the press conference.

Abeysinghe said that Nippon Paint cherished and valued everything with a tradition and culture and found similarities when rugby in Sri Lanka and Nippon Paint were compared. According to him Nippon Paint has served the community for 142 years while Sri Lanka Rugby has been in existence for 144 years. For the record rugby in the world is celebrating 200 years this year.

Sri Lanka Rugby President elect Group Captain (retired) Nalin de Silva said that the onus is on the referees and qualified staff supporting teams to make the tournament a success. He specified the importance of all rugby support staff stepping into the field to assist the players in any way to have received an IRB accredited training. “Anyone who is not qualified will not be allowed to step into the field and assist players,” he said.

According to De Silva Havelocks Sports Club will be the only venue offering floodlight facilities this season; hence the matches hosted by Havelock Sports Club and played at the Park Club will commence at 6.30 pm. All other matches will commence at 3.45 pm, according to Rear Admiral Udaya Hettiarachchi (Vice President SLR). Hettiarachchi (who also serves as the Tournament Committee Chairman) said that the league tournament for men will be contested by eight teams namely Kandy SC, Navy SC, Havelocks SC, Police SC, Air Force SC, CR&FC, CH&FC and Army SC. Keeping with World Rugby rules SLR is also conducting a women’s tournament alongside the men’s tournament. Army, Navy Air Force, Police and CR&FC have confirmed participation in the women’s tournament. The women’s tournament will be played 20 minutes each half with a five minute break for ‘lemons’.

According to Hettiarachchi the teams finishing among the top four in the league points table after the first round of matches will move to the ‘Cup Competition’ in the second round of the tournament with the latter four teams being slotted to contest the ‘Plate Championship’ event.

According to SLR President elect De Silva several seminars were held by referees for the benefit of players. This is probably because World Rugby has the habit of introducing several experimental laws to rugby and players must be updated about such developments.

Senior referee Priyantha Guneratne is set to make his final appearance on a rugby field and will call it a day after officiating in the Kandy SC vs CH&FC game this season.