The Nippon Rugby League season for 2023/24 is set to kick off on the 1st of December as Club Rugby returns following the lifting of the ban on Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR).
The Customary 8 clubs are set to battle it out as the premier Club Rugby season is set to kick off with Havelock Sports Club set to take on Air Force Sports Club at the Park in the night game, kicking off the game at 6.30 p.m.
Holders Kandy Sports Club take on CH & FC in the final game of the first week, while Police Sports Club takes on Navy Sports Club at Police Park, and Army Sports Club host CR & FC at Panagoda in the first week of fixtures.
The launch press conference saw the participation of the president of SLR Nalin De Silva, along-side the Secretary Nizam Jamaldeen, Tournament Chairman, U. Hettiarachchi and Tournament Director, Shamrath Fernando.
The President of the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees’ (SLSRFR) Dinka Peiris, team Managers and team Captains were present for this momentous occasion, as everyone in the Rugby community warmly welcomes the beginning of the 2023/24 Club Rugby season.
The Women’s teams from the Army, Navy, Air Force and CR & FC will be playing games simultaneously prior to the Mens’ games, as Sri Lanka Rugby aims to develop the game. Plans for B Division Rugby has also been laid with the Forces along with 4 other teams set to battle it out.
Sri Lanka Rugby will also be appointing a review committee to review the performance of Referees along with the SLSRFR.
Speaking exclusively to ThePapare.com, the Skipper of Kandy Sports Club, Lavanga Perera, was confident the new look Kandy outfit will be able to defend their title for yet another year. “We began training since 3 months ago and we have a good mix of youth and experience. The departure of Danush Dayan and Buddima Piyarathne will be duly felt, but we are certain the youngsters can step up.”
The games for the first round are schedule to be played from the 1st of December through to January 21st with a break from the 17th to the 29th of December for the Christmas holidays. Games will kick off at 3.45 p.m. owing to the current weather conditions, with the Games at Havelock Park being the only exception as it kicks off at 6.30 p.m. to be played under floodlights.
The first round will be played as a league, with each team facing each other once. Round two will see the top 4 teams battling it out for the Cup segment, as the bottom 4 will go head-to-head for the Plate Championship.
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