WPRFU Inter-school U18, 15-a-Side Rugby Tournament 2011 for the Asian Finance Trophy

After the successful completion of the round robin games, the Quarter Finalists of the Cup competition and the Semi Finalists of the Shield competition has been named in the WPRFU Inter Schools Under 18, 15 a-side League Rugby Tournament for the Asian Finance Trophy.

Following teams have qualified to play in the Quarter Finals of the Cup Championship which will be played at the Havelock Sports Club grounds on 7th and 8th September. Winners of the Cup Quarters will advance to play in the Cup Semi Finals while the losers will play in the Bowl Semi Finals.

7 September 2011.

3.15 p.m. - Science College vs Dharmapala Vidyalaya

4.30 p.m. – D.S.Senanayake College vs Thurstan College

8 September 2011.

3.15 p.m. – C.W.W.Kannangara Vidyalaya vs Lalith Athulathmudali Vidyalaya

4.30 p.m. – Lumbini College vs Ananda College

In the Shield Competition, the following Schools will play in the Semi Finals which will be played at the Science College Grounds at Mt.Lavenia on 12 September.

3.30 p.m. – Hindu College vs Moratuwa Vidyalaya

4.45 p.m. - S.D.S. Jayasinghe MMV vs Veluwana MV

All four Quarter Final fixtures at Havelock park should be closely contested games and the spectators are sure to witness entertaining rugby dished out these young players.

There will be no gate charged at both venues.

The tournament is organized by the Western Province RFU and proudly sponsored by the Asian Finance Ltd.

Dilroy Fernando

Hony.Sec. – WPRFU

KIRWAN SAYS RUGBY IS ENTERING A NEW ERA IN ASIA

Japan coach John Kirwan believes Asia is reaching a pivotal point that will eventually lead to it becoming a major force in rugby union, a sport traditionally dominated by Europe and southern-hemisphere nations like South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.

Japan won the Pacific Nations Cup two weeks ago after a fourth straight success in the HSBC Asian 5 Nations title in May and Kirwan is now preparing his side for the Rugby World Cup which starts in September in New Zealand, where the former All Black won the tournament as a player in 1987.

Having had a close look at the untapped potential of rugby in the region while teaching youngsters in this year’s HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour – which had made 10 stops in seven countries by last month – the former winger is convinced that the continent has begun a long-term process that will eventually take Asia to the sport’s top table.

“I sensed a different level of enthusiasm among the children and it feels significant. Having two of the next three World Cups in this part of the world and the inclusion of rugby sevens in the Olympics will help ensure more Asian kids are exposed to rugby,” said Kirwan, who took part in clinics held ahead ofJapan’s four away matches in the HSBC Asian 5 Nations.

“Once we start the cycle for the 2016 Olympics next year, the level of investment in the sport is going to be beyond anything the sport has seen in this region. China has included rugby sevens in its National Games because of the Olympics, so imagine how much more the sport is going to grow as that kind of investment and involvement increases over the next 10 years. You have to believe many other Asian nations will emerge as forces in world rugby in the next decade or so.”

The former butcher’s apprentice from Mangere, who now splits his time between Japan and Italy, believes rugby is increasingly attractive for youngsters due to its emphasis on teamwork and discipline, while also giving newcomers the chance to be part of a community.

“Rugby has been so good to me and given me a lot. At these coaching clinics, I’m hoping that on a good day we’ll inspire someone to join the rugby community, because it’s not about how good you are or how far you get, it’s about a community helping each other,” Kirwan said.

“I always say if you need a job, join a rugby club, because there will be someone who will help you out. Hopefully we can encourage these youngsters to have hope and to follow our great game, which helps create character and certainly can help them in the future.”

These values and rugby’s potential, especially in the sevens format, make the sport a natural fit with HSBC, especially in Asia’s emerging markets. HSBC has been title sponsor of the Asian 5 Nations since 2008, while the new HSBC Asian Sevens Series will start next month in China.

Peter Wong, Chief Executive of HSBC Asia-Pacific, said: “Rugby sevens has such vast potential for growth since it has become Olympic sport, especially in the likes of China and other markets across our footprint. This synergy with our footprint combined with rugby’s strong principles and sportsmanship is one key reason why HSBC is such a major supporter of the game.

“Another reason is because we believe in encouraging potential wherever and whenever we can. Asian rugby is one area where we can see potential – in the people playing and watching the sport and in the sport itself – maturing every year and it's incredibly exciting to be part of this. We’re seeing generation by generation across Asia becoming increasingly competitive in sports traditionally dominated by the West. It won’t be long before the notion that Asians aren’t physically competitive enough for a sport like rugby will be completely forgotten.”

Kirwan helped launch this year’s Coaching Tour in March with fellow All Blacks legend Jonah Lomu and went on to introduce the game to youngsters in Hong Kong, UAE, Thailand and Sri Lanka, as Japan played all four of their HSBC Asian 5 Nations away from home (Thailand was a neutral venue).

Scotland coach Frank Hadden, Dean Herewini of the HSBC Penguin International Academy and ARFU Development Officer Ismail Kadir all played leading roles on the Coaching Tour, which by June had also visited Macau, Korea and Indonesia, the world’s fourth most populous nation.

“The HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour is in its second year and its main aim is to spread the word about rugby far and wide through Asia, with an emphasis on inspiring youngsters to take up the game,” said Adisak Hemyoo, President of ARFU. “The Coaching Tour has already made a huge impact in the first half of the year and we’ll build on this in the second swing as we take in a host of different markets across the continent.”

The HSBC ARFU Coaching Tour continues through July and August with an extensive programme in Hong Kong before it begins its second swing around the continent in China next month, when the HSBC Asian Sevens Series kicks off with the Shanghai Sevens before visiting Malaysia, Thailand and India.

HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour 2011

March 23 Hong Kong

April 20-23 Colombo, Sri Lanka

April 28-30 Hong Kong

May 5-7 Bangkok, Thailand

May 11-13 Dubai, UAE

May 19-22 Colombo, Sri Lanka

May 21 Hong Kong

May 22 Macau

May 31-June 3 Seoul, Korea

June 21-25 Jakarta, Indonesia

Dates to be confirmed:

Jul-Aug Hong Kong

August China

Sep/Nov Malaysia

Nov/Dec Singapore

To watch a highlights video of this year’s HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour so far, visit:

www.asian5nations.com

www.youtube.com/user/asian5nationstv#p/c/84FADF7AE7717ACE/0/-cOTLNGSeH8

For further details on this year’s Coaching Tour, visit: www.asian5nations.com/HSBC_Coaching

Top photo: John Kirwan 1: John Kirwan introduces the basics of rugby to youngsters during this year’s HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour.

Bottom photo: John Kirwan (right), Frank Hadden: Current Japan coach John Kirwan (right) and former Scotland coach Frank Hadden (left) have led much of the activity on this year’s HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour.

AGoal wins U10, U12, and U18 cup championships at HARFA tournament

Displaying the standard of rugby they play, the unstoppable junior rugby players of CR-AGoal grabs the cup championships of U10, U12, and U18 at the tournament organised by the Hisham Abdeen Rugby Football Academy (HARFA) which was held on March 26 at the Sugathadasa Stadium for the second year.

The Cup Winners

Under 10 - won by CR-AGoal

Under 12 – won by CR-AGoal

Under 14 – won by Isipathana College

Under 16 – won by HARFA

Under 18 – won by CR-AGoal

Fazil Marija in the Asia Pacific Barbarians Team

The former Kandy S.C. Skipper and Sri Lanka Flyhalf Fazil Marija has been included in the Asia Pacific Barbarians Team.

Apart from Fazil there are three more Asian players in the team. They areformer Japan Captain Takuro Miuchi and Current Kazakhstan Captain TimurMashurov.

APB has some big names who have represented Australia, New Zealand, Tonga,Samoa and Fiji.

Names of the squad are given below:

Justin Marshall
Apo Satala
Rico Gear
Hale T-Pole
Viliame Satala
Roy Kinikinilau
Takuro Miuchi
Timur Mashurov
George Gregan
Orene Ai'i
Dustin Cooper
Fazil Marija
Tusi Pisi
Eroni Ravaga
Christian Cullen

Coach - David Campese
President/Manager - Sean Fitzpatrick

Meanwhile the local representative of the APB, Dilroy Fernando said that he was working on bringing the star studded APB team to Sri Lanka in the near future.

Agoal excels at Bangkok Junior International Rugby Tens Tournament

Click here to see more photos.

Teams from CR/Agoal Rugby Academy performed creditably when they took part at the Bangkok Junior International Rugby Tens Tournament held recently at the Patana School grounds in Bangkok, Thailand.

Academy took part in the competition for the third consecutive year and won the Cup Championships in the U 10 and U 14 segments by beating the fancied teams represented from Hong Kong and Thailand.

Results of the competition from the quarter final stage:

U10 - CUP CHAMPIONS

Quarter Final - Agoal 15 - Pramotwittaya 00

Semi Final - Agaol 10 - Phuket Lomas 05

Cup Final - Agoal 15 - Bangkok Lions 05

U12 - PLATE RUNNERS UP

Semi Final - Agoal 25 - Hisham Abdeen Academy 00

Plate Final - Agoal 05 - Phuket Lomas 10

U14 - CUP CHAMPIONS

Semi Final - Agoal 14 - British International School 00

Cup Final - Agoal 12 - Bangkok Lions 07

U16 - BOWL CHAMPIONS

Semi Final - Agoal 10 - Phuket Lomas 05

Bowl Final - Agaol 15 - Bangkok Lions 05

U18 - BOWL CHAMPIONS

Quarter Final - Agoal 05 - Team-6 07

Semi Final - Agoal 00 - Mattayom 00

Bowl Final - Agoal - Hisham Abdeen Academy (Agoal received a walk-over)

Bangkok 10s Tournament Draw

Notice - rugby training venue

Rugby training for U14, U16 & U18 will be held at the RACE COURSE GROUNDS, Colombo 07 on the 21st (Friday) and 22nd (Satureday). The above teams are requested to be present at the CR&FC on friday at 3pm as Agoal Academy has arranged the transport for the teams.

Other age groups should be present at the CR&FC grounds for practice on Saturday the 22nd as usual.

Teams for Bangkok 10s

Photo Gallery

Photos taken at the Bangkok 10s Rugby Tournament 2011.

IMPORTANT NOTICE for the members

Training : 15 January 2011 at C.R. & F.C. grounds

Time : 08.30 A.M.

Events on the 15 Jan :

- Team photographs will be taken in official match gear.

- All players will have to hand over their Passports and copy of Birth Certificate ( English Translation)

- Cut off date to hand over advertisements.

Bangkok Tournament on 12th & 13th February

The official invitation we have received from the organizers of the Bangkok Lions RFC International Tens Tournament - February, 2011

Our new web address: www.agoalrugby.com

Visitors please note our new web address: www.agoalrugby.com.

For information, please contact:

Dilroy Fernando

Director

Agoal Rugby Academy

100, Longdon Place, Colombo 07

Sri Lanka

Tel: (+94) 77 7360878

Email: dilroync@sltnet.lk

Web: www.agoalrugby.com