SLRFU bid for world cup qualifier

By T.M.K. Samat SRI LANKA is poised to host the Rugby Sevens World Cup Qualifying tournament for Asian countries next year. A dozen Asian countries will figure in a qualifying round in 2004 to decide the four nations to represent the continent in the once-in-four-years World Cup Sevens, to be played in Hong Kong in March 2005.

''I can confirm that the IRB has received an application from the Sri Lanka union to host the World Cup qualifying tournament, and the two parties are now in deliberation,'' said Jamie Scott, Asia's delegate at the IRB and long-time secretary-general of the Asian Rugby Board.

''I can't tell you at the point of time if there are other contenders, but Sri Lanka with their experience in hosting Sevens for five years has a pretty good chance.'' Hong Kong-based Scott was in Kandy last week as an official guest of the organizers of the fifth Singer-SriLankan International Sevens tournament.

As host country of this IRB tournament, the SLRFU will have to bear all expenses, including costs to fly out eleven countries, hotel accommodation and food as well as internal travel. But it will be free of the licence fee, which the IRB levies on countries hosting its World Series tournaments.

The 12 Asian countries that will compete are Japan, Korea, Chinese-Taipei, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Arabian Gulf, Kazakstan, India and Sri Lanka. For the 2001 World Sevens staged in Mar del Plata in Argentina, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong represented Asia.

The cost is expected to be more than the Singer-SriLankan Sevens, costing nearly Rs.15 million. But with the event carrying IRB branding, officials are optimistic it can attract lucrative sponsorship deals. The first options, however, will be Singer and Sri Lankan Airlines, who have sponsored the Kandy International Sevens for five straight years and have, in fact, demanded organizers to secure IRB recognition.

So that the continuity of the Singer-SriLankan annual wouldn't be broken, there's a strong possibility that it would be staged concurrently with the World Cup qualifier, even if it means at a different time to the traditional September dates. ''Just how we are going to combine our international sevens with the World Cup qualifier will have to be worked out,'' said Malik Samarawickrema, the inspiration behind the Singer-SriLankan International.

''The IRB has cut down its World Series tournaments to eight (from ten) from next year which means it will be harder for new countries to join the series. But if Sri Lanka has ambitions of making their event a part of the IRB circuit, then the likely hosting of the World Cup qualifier would provide an excellent chance to showcase their organizing skills before the IRB. Having seen all of your Sevens tournament, I can say it is becoming increasingly livelier and I am sure IRB officials will be impressed,'' said Scott, ARB secretary general since 1998.

Coinciding with the prospect of hosting the World Cup qualifier next year, Singer last week renewed its sponsorship of the International Sevens for another five years. Under the new sponsorship deal, which runs till the 2008 event, organizers, Kandy SC, will receive 10 percent more than what Singer paid out previously, according to Asita Abaysekera, Singer Marketing Director.

The renewal of sponsorship of the International Sevens confirms Singer's growing involvement with local rugby. It has sponsored champion side Kandy Sports Club for some seasons, and for the first time this year, rendered financial assistance to the tune of nearly Rs.2 million to eleven schools _assistance which the company plans to continue in the seasons ahead.

More Stories