SAGT to prop up with CR once more

Jaque Diasz from CR & FC handing over the jersey to Ted Muttiah of SAGT  

By Shamseer Jaleel

South Asia Gateway Terminals (SAGT) will continue to prop up with Ceylonese Rugby Football Club (CR & FC) for a record 6th year in tandem when they support the Longdon Place club for the 2019/2020 rugby season.

SAGT, being one of the leading container terminals in the Port of Colombo, started supporting the Red Shirts from 2014 onwards. They also support Sri Lanka Women’s rugby outfit for several years.

SAGT Chief Executive Officer Romesh David commented, “Teamwork and performance excellence are core values of SAGT and this partnership is a testament of our continuous commitment to support team work both on field and off field. The partnership between SAGT and CR&FC – one of the pioneer rugby clubs in Sri Lanka, marks its sixth consecutive year and we remain confident of mutually gainful outcomes from this partnership.”

SAGT Chief Commercial Officer Ted Muttiah, a former Sri Lanka representative, CR & FC player and rugby administrator, reflected on the common attributes of high-performance individuals in sporting teams and how it can make a difference in business leadership also.

“We initially started our partnership in 2014. I am very confident that the Longdon Place club will do well this season,” said Muttiah, the 1982 Royal rugby skipper and former Sri Lanka XV a side player.

CR&FC President Sriyan Cooray expressed that the “CR team is shaping up well through the pre-season and we are confident this team can deliver on its potential”. He went on to “thank SAGT for their unwavering support towards the game of rugby in Sri Lanka – specifically in the advancement of women’s rugby, and of course to CR&FC for the sixth consecutive year,” adding, “SAGT is a much-valued supporter, through their active engagement in the life of the club and in the welfare of the players.”

CR, who ended 4th in the league, will kick off the season when they host Police Sports Club in 2 weeks’ time. They will be under the watchful eyes of Dushantha Lewke with Omalka Gunaratne leading the outfit. Former Trinity prop forward Mahdi Abdullah will need to go through a surgery and will be available from round 2 onwards.