JKH to defend title

By Shamseer Jaleel

John Keells Holdings (JKH) will be all out to retain the Cup at the 51st Mercantile Rugby Sevens which will be conducted by the Mercantile Rugby Football Association (MRFA) which will kick off at CR and FC on 15 June and continue till 17 June.

JKH beat 3DH International in the Cup final last year. Men’s tournament will feature the Cup, Plate, Bowl and the Shield Championship while there will be a Women’s event as well.

Teams with four or more ‘A’ Division Club players will compete in the Cup/Plate segment while a maximum number of three ‘A’ Division club players are allowed to play in the Bowl segment.

Meanwhile in the Shield Championship two ‘A’ Division Club players can be registered but only one ‘A’ Division Club player is permitted to play at a given time. A player who has been declared by any club in the ‘A’ Division 15-A-Side League or Knock-Out Tournaments after 1 January 2022, will be considered an ‘A’ Division player. The deadline for team entries will be June 1 and all new entrants should be registered with the MRFA on or before 15 May. The 51st Mercantile Rugby Sevens will also feature a Women’s tag-rugby competition.

With the Asia Rugby Sevens 2023 first leg to be taken place in August and the later leg in October many of these best performing players are assured to be in the national sevens squad for the tour.