Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) is on the verge of finalizing the procedure to award national contracts for the sevens squad ahead of the third and final leg of the Asia Sevens Series.
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In lieu with Sri Lanka Rugby’s perception of developing the shorter format of the game, the initiation of player contracts will play a crucial role in retaining the talent within the system.
Currently, Sri Lanka plays over five international sevens tournaments a year during the time period between April and November. In a such a scenario, the players train for more than six months in between the fifteen’s season in order to be eligible for selection.
Speaking to ThePapare, CEO of SLR added that there is work in progress with the Ministry of Sports to provide contracts for the players.
“We have spoken with the ministry as well on this and it will not be a huge amount but it will be a start” added CEO Priyantha Ekanayake on the development.
“We plan to start here and it can later be developed,”he further added.
Not limiting it to only the men’s team, players from the Sri Lanka national women’s squad will also be eligible for full time contracts under the new system that SLR intends to implement.
Sri Lanka already has its own development squad for the national sevens that has the talents of the prospective players who graduate from the under 20 level. While these players are listed in the national squad, the initiation of contracts should motivate the players to stay in the system.
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The move by the national body comes in during an important time in the sport’s landscape where Sri Lanka is looking at options to expand and play the sport at a global level in terms of sevens.
This year’s Sri Lanka national squad for the Asia Sevens series had the likes of six under 23 players accounting for half of the entire squad which gives a clear indication that there is potential from the players who make it out of the school’s circuit.
The list of players entitled to receive contracts is yet to be finalized.
