HSBC renews support for CR&FC in 2012 rugby season

HSBC renewed its partnership with the Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club (CR&FC) in support of uplifting the game of rugby in the country.  

CR&FC President Rienzie Fernando (right) shakes hand with HSBC Sri Lanka CEO Nick Nicolaou whilst exchanging the sponsorship agreement. HSBC’s Head of Marketing Group Communications and Corporate Sustainability Tharanga Gunasekera looks on

The new partnership for 2012 spans the fourth consecutive year in which HSBC will act as the official corporate sponsor of the CR&FC rugby team.

The new agreement was signed at a press conference held at CR&FC with Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives Nick Nicolaou, President CR&FC Rienzie Fernando, General Secretary CR&FC Hamza Hassanally, Head of Marketing, Group Communications and Corporate Sustainability HSBC Tharanga Gunasekera and Capt. Lasintha De Costa together with CR&FC team players in attendance.

The 2012 sponsorship will facilitate the expertise of legendary coach C.P. Abegunawardana, former rugby player and coach of CR and former assistant coach of the Sri Lanka National team in 2011, to work closely with the players throughout the rugby season to train and develop their talent, as well as act as a mentor to discipline and instill strong values within the team to build a passionate rugby side who will take the game forward for CR&FC. He will be assisted by Viraj Prasanna, assistant coach and former National and CR&FC Captain.  

Understanding the vast local talent that exists amongst rugby players, the sponsorship also looks to build club rugby and raise the profile of its players.  

National rugby player Lasintha de Costa will lead CR and FC in the 2012 rugby season. Costa, an outstanding centre three quarter has been playing for the Longdon Place club since 2006. He has represented Sri Lanka at the Rugby Asiad, Hong Kong Sevens, Asian Games Sevens and HSBC Asian Five Nations Tournament.

Bringing in young blood, the CR&FC team will include Shehan Pathirana (a.k.a Lema) who led an unbeaten Royal side last year together with a collection of schools’ rugby players representing Trinity and Isipathana Colleges in the season concluded, last year.

Furthermore, to empower players to reach international levels and foster strong leadership skills, the CR&FC team will include two well experienced international players from New Zealand who are due to arrive in the country shortly.   

Nicolaou said: “HSBC is committed to the development of rugby throughout Asia Pacific, where it is growing in our key markets. Similar to golf, rugby attracts our target audience; people who we want to do business with, who enjoy, play and participate in rugby. Hence, we are happy to be sponsoring the CR&FC team for the fourth year as part of our support for rugby and wish them a successful season.”

The main tournaments that the sponsorship covers include the Inter Club Rugby Sevens, Dialog League Tournament, Dialog Clifford Cup Knock-out Tournament and The President’s Trophy knock-out Tournament.    

Having lost their position in the 2011 season the CR &FC team hopes to make a winning comeback this time, aiming to be placed 1 or 2 in the league tournament and aspire to become champs in the knockout tournament scheduled for August.

Commenting on the sponsorship and rugby team, Fernando stated, “It’s great to be involved with a sponsor who is equally passionate about rugby and its development, locally and globally. The CR&FC team is proud to have the backing of an internationally reputed brand such as HSBC and it is a real boost to the players. We have a young and fit team who have been in training since January and posses the essential skill and enthusiasm to become competitive rugby players. We are happy to be one of the leading clubs in the country that has produced many sought-after rugby players who have endeavoured to reach the pinnacle in their rugby career.”

He added: “We are also happy to bring back two former CR players as coach and assistant coach both who have earned a name in the local rugby arena for captaining CR and the National side in previous years. We believe with their expertise they will be able to lead the team forward. Whilst thanking HSBC for coming in as the corporate sponsor for the fourth year, we wish all players good luck for the upcoming season.”

In order to bring about stability and guidance, Dr. Tony De Silva and Indrajith Kumaraswamy have also been brought in to serve in an advisory manner on the rugby board.  

The HSBC sponsorship also aims at promoting and developing the competitiveness of rugby and to provide the club’s players a platform for development. Having provided assistance to build the CR&FC Grand Pavilion in 2007 and the sponsorships in 2009, 2010 and 2011, HSBC’s recent sponsorship will further strengthen and promote the clubs image in the country and the region.