Taking rugby to Batticaloa

Monday, 19 April 2021 03:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SLR President Rizly Illyas handing over the GIR kit to a participant. Also in the picture Batticaloa District Development Committee co-Chairman Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, UGC Sports Association President Dr. Chandrakantha Mahendranathan Ammani, Physical Education Assistant Director V. Lavakumar and SLR CEO Kevin Herft.

By Shamseer Jaleel

Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) along with the Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Namal Rajapakse, with the support of Ministry of Education, has propped up the Northern and Eastern Provinces by bringing the community together through the introduction of rugby. With no rugby being played in the country as a result of the pandemic for over a year, SLR has now taken meaningful action to shift gear and improve the livelihood of community life in the North and East with the introduction of training and education (T&E) along with ‘Get into Rugby’ (GIR) programs.

The GIR program powered by EFL was held from 6-9 April at the Weber stadium in Batticaloa.

The highlight of the program was the eagerness and enthusiasm demonstrated by the children who participated in it, as well as coaches who successfully completed the World Rugby Level 1 coaching and match officiating program.

Former Sri Lanka Women’s cricketer and right arm fast bowler Norbert Johnson Ida, from the Eastern province, who represented Sri Lanka in the 2013 T20 World Cup qualifiers, and toured South Africa with the T20 squad in 2013, was one of the participants who inspired the local boys and girls by embracing rugby for the first time. Speaking to the media she said: “This was a very interesting experience for me, I enjoyed the classroom sessions, and then the opportunity to practice skills has given me the confidence to take the game forward. I’m excited to introduce rugby to girls’ schools in the near future.” These programs will be introduced in the province to areas such as Passikuda, Kalkuda and Nilaveli.

SLR President Rizly Illyas, said: “My experience here has given me renewed energy to take rugby to the next level by supporting this region that has shown true commitment towards the sport. There is certainly no dearth in talent, we must continue to develop these kids and create a pathway for them to be a part of the national pool in the

long term.”

He further stated that SLR, together with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education, World Rugby and Asia Rugby, will boost reconciliation and livelihoods of the community, to come together as one nation and one team where people unite through the sport

of rugby.