Dialog Rugby 7’s kicks-off today

Friday, 5 August 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka Super 7s trophy unveiled: From left Dialog Axiata Plc Group Chief Marketing Officer Amali Nanayakkara, Group CEO Dr. Hans Wijayasuriya, SLRFU President Asanga Seneviratne, Sri Lanka Super 7s Chairman Minister Harin Fernando, Minister Malik Samarawickrama and Minister Ravi Karunanayake - Pic by Indraratne Balasuriya

By Madushka Balasuriya

Dance routines, skits, musical medleys and even snakes were all on display as the inaugural Dialog Axiata Sri Lanka Super Rugby Sevens was launched on Wednesday evening in a lavish ceremony in Colombo.

Eight clubs – Access Kings, Walkers CML Vipers, Etisalat Panthers, EZY Wolves, Cargills Gladiators, SLT Mobitel Eagles, Softlogic Warriors, and KBSL Dragons – were announced to be taking part in the tournament, which will take place over the weekends of 5, 6, 12 and 13 August at the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo.

The tournament will be a two-legged affair, with each leg spanning two days, and will see the teams vying for the Cup, Plate, Gold and Shield Championships. After the completion of both legs, the team with the most overall points will be declared champions.

With each team entitled to three foreign players in their squad, the tournament will also see top-class international players from Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, Tonga, England and Australia competing. Minister of Telecommunication and Digital Infrastructure Harin Fernando, who played a central role in helping put together the tournament, promised that this structure would ensure a high level of competition on the field – and a party atmosphere off it. “We can look forward to two weeks of fantastic rugby. But it won’t be just that, for the next two weeks it’s going to be a giant party,” he promised. “Sri Lankans love their rugby as much as they love their parties, so it’s going to be a party atmosphere in the grounds. This is going to be one of the best tournaments played in your lifetime.”

The tournament will also see eight school teams participating under the “Schools” category.