DHL delivers Rugby World Cup 2015 dream to 14-year-old rugby player in Sri Lanka

Aspiring rugby player is the only Sri Lankan to deliver Match Ball at Rugby World Cup 2015

DHL, the world’s leading express and logistics provider, has delivered a dream trip to Harsha Samarasinghe, an aspiring schoolboy-rugby player, as he became a part of rugby history by being the only Sri Lankan to deliver the official Match Ball at Rugby World Cup 2015 (RWC 2015) in London.

DHL Express, the official logistics partner of Rugby World Cup 2015, created a competition in conjunction with the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) to provide an opportunity for a young rugby player between the ages of eight to 15 to deliver the official Match Ball at a Rugby World Cup 2015 match.

The competition proved tremendously popular, attracting entries nationwide from 36 “A” Division Rugby playing schools. From the vast number of nominations, 80 children were shortlisted and invited to participate in a Rugby carnival to select the 20 finalists. The winner was then selected via a monitored online and SMS voting campaign. The student with the highest cumulative score throughout the different stages was chosen to represent Sri Lanka for Rugby World Cup 2015 as part of DHL’s Match Ball Delivery Program.

Young Harsha Samarasinghe proudly holds the first official match ball for the first match at the RWC 2015, with the other children chosen for the international match-ball delivery program

Dimithri Perera, Country Manager, DHL Express Sri Lanka, stated: “To have a Sri Lankan boy deliver the first official Match Ball at Rugby World Cup 2015 is fantastic. I am so thrilled for Harsha – it is a wonderful experience to be right in the thick of the action. DHL is pleased to deliver this experience and make a positive contribution towards young Harsha’s life.”

Harsha, a student and proud rugby player for the Trinity College Kandy team, always wanted to be a rugby player since he was little. He likened this experience to that of a “dream come true” when he walked out onto the pitch at Leicester City Stadium, housing a captivated 27,000 audience from around the globe. “This is the singular biggest moment in my life so far. To have immense rugby fans from around the world watch me deliver the ball was just priceless.” stated a star struck Harsha.

In addition to delivering the first official Match Ball at the group stage match between Canada and Romania held in the Leicester City Stadium, Harsha also had the fantastic opportunity to attend a selected RWC 2015 game with his father. The prize also included return air tickets to London, hotel accommodation for two nights, and the RWC 2015 DHL Merchandise Kit including the coveted jersey and rugby ball.

“This was my first overseas trip and I am very grateful to DHL for giving me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I feel really proud to be selected to be part of such a great rugby event – it has motivated me and I hope to be part of such a great occasion one day, representing Sri Lanka,” continued Harsha.

Being part of a global event such as this is a great morale booster for the young player who has high hopes of representing his school and the national team one day. This experience has further solidified his love for rugby and has strengthened his passion and dreams of someday making his school and country proud.

Harsha Samarasinghe from Sri Lanka was one of the 48 children selected from 42 countries by DHL’s Match Ball Delivery Program to participate in the unforgettable experience of delivering the Match Ball at a RWC 2015 game.