DHL Express SL makes Rugby World Cup dream come true for local kid

Harsha Samarasinghe on the Twickenham Stadium Rugby pitch​

DHL Express rounded out their 35th anniversary commemorating service excellence, continued innovative growth and speed by making the dreams of 14-year-old Harsha Samarasinghe come true as he became an integral part of rugby history by delivering the first official match ball from Sri Lanka at the 2015 Rugby World Cup in London.

It was a memorable day for young Harsha, an aspiring schoolboy rugby player of Trinity College Kandy, when he received the good news that he was selected as the winner of the Match Ball Delivery Programme conducted by DHL Express. 

“I came home from rugby practice and my mum told me that I had won. I was overwhelmed and beyond happy to say the least. To think that I had been chosen; it was like a dream,” said the young rugby player.

DHL Express, the official logistics partner of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, with the support of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), created a competition to present an avid young rugby player between the ages of eight and 15 who exemplified youth leadership through sport with the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to not only attend but be a part of rugby history at the World Cup, representing Sri Lanka.

DHL Express Sri Lanka (DHLE LK) Country Manager Dimithri Perera stated: “Rugby is a sport that requires speed, accuracy, commitment and passion. These are the exact attributes that we at DHL aim to bring forth to our customers. So this tie-up seemed like kismet when the opportunity arose.”

The competition proved to be tremendously popular in attracting entries nationwide from 36 ‘A’ Division rugby-playing schools. Eighty children were shortlisted from 2,000 nominations based on their nomination entrees and credentials. 

The selected 80 were invited to participate in a one-day rugby carnival where 20 finalists were selected by officials from DHL Express and the Sri Lankan Rugby Union (SLRU). The final winner was then selected via a monitored online and SMS voting campaign thereafter. 

The student with the highest cumulative score throughout the different stages was chosen to represent Sri Lanka (and ultimately be the only representative of the island nation at the event) for the Rugby World Cup 2015, Match Ball Delivery Programme.

“It was out of curiosity that I applied for the competition at first. At the beginning I just wanted to become one of the 80 selected students, I really wasn’t expecting to win. I love rugby; words can’t express my happiness, and it was exciting to even dream of being chosen as the winner. The opportunity to travel internationally to be a part of a sport that I love was just truly amazing and partly unbelievable” stated an ecstatic Harsha.

Harsha, a student and proud rugby player for the Trinity College Kandy team, wanted to be a rugby player since he was little.This experience was in fact likened to that of a “dream come true” when he walked out onto the pitch at Leicester City Stadium, housing a captivated audience of 27,000 from around the world. “This is the singular biggest moment in my life so far. Having rugby fans from around the world watch me deliver the ball was just priceless,” said 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 attended a RWC game with his father. He was also gifted a RWC 2015 DHL merchandise kit including the coveted uniform and rugby ball.  He was also a recipient of a Match Ball Delivery photo as a memento. Harsha was able to not only be part of rugby history but was also provided with return air tickets and hotel accommodation for two nights.  “I am very grateful to DHL Express Sri Lanka for giving me this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver the first official RWC 2015 Match Ball in London. This was actually my first overseas trip and that being to London to be a part of the RWC was a major step for me and just unbelievable. The stadium was huge, there were so many people and I had to pinch myself. I feel really proud to be selected to be part of such a great rugby event – it gives me the strength and courage to one day be a part of such a great occasion representing Sri Lanka” continued Harsha. 

“We are proud to be part of the Rugby World Cup, especially bringing the game of Rugby to our youth. To have a Sri Lankan boy deliver the first official Match Ball at the Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2015 is fantastic. I am so pleased for Harsha; this is a wonderfully exciting opportunity to be right in the thick of it. DHL was pleased to grant this money-can’t-buy experience to young Harsha who played in the team that emerged victorious in the All Island Under 14 tournament earlier this year,” said Country Manager Perera.

Playing such a major part in a global event such as this was a morale booster for the young player who has high hopes of representing his school’s first XV team and later the national team some day. 

Harsha was among the 48 other children selected from 42 countries by DHL’s Match Ball Delivery Programme to deliver the Match Ball at a RWC 2015 game. This experience has solidified his love for rugby and strengthened his passion and drive to someday make his school and country proud.