Sri Lanka’s tea plantation community is set to welcome spring in style with the much-anticipated Plantation Rugby Sevens, kicking off on April 5 at the Dickoya-Maskeliya Cricket Club (DMCC) in Hatton. The event promises to be a vibrant spectacle, with organizers expecting 13 plantation companies to compete amid a carnival-like atmosphere, rivaling any other rugby Sevens event in the country.
Sri Lanka’s tea plantation sector has a storied history of contributing to the nation’s sports legacy, producing legendary rugby players like Lanil Tennakoon and Irwin Howie, who proudly donned the Sri Lanka Elephant jersey as Tuskers.
Speaking at a media launch held at Longdon Place in Colombo, DMCC President Lalindra Abewardena emphasized the club’s proud tradition: “Our club has a rich history, and one of our major events is the Plantation Rugby Sevens.”
Defending champions Malwatte Valley will face competition from teams such as Tallawakele, Kelani Valley, Elpitiya, Bogawanthalawa, Maturata, Maskeliya, Kotagala-Agrapatana Combine, Kegalle-Namunugamuwa Combine, Kahawatte, and Hapugastenna-Udapussellawa.
Manjula Samarakoon, a former Ananda College rugby player, senior planter, and passionate sports promoter, is serving as the tournament convener. “The Plantation Sevens stands as a flagship sporting event for the plantation community,” said Samarakoon. “With over 155 years of history, DMCC continues to be a hub for sports and entertainment, known for hosting prestigious events like the Plantation Sevens.”
Anysort Technologies Lanka Limited has come on board as the main sponsor and rights holder of the tournament. Its Managing Director, Pradeep Chakrawarthy, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating, “We want to encourage more planters, especially school leavers, to take up rugby and join the industry.”
The trophy to be contested was unveiled by Betty Li, General Manager of Overseas Markets at Anysort, alongside other dignitaries, marking the official countdown to one of Sri Lanka’s most exciting rugby spectacles.
