Sri Lanka face UAE in HSBC Asian five Nations opener

Sri Lanka will open their campaign in this year’s HSBC Asian five Nations, the continent’s leading 15-a-side national team rugby competition, with a home game against the UAE in Colombo on 23 April. A large crowd is expected for Sri Lanka’s first-ever Top Five match, which kicks off at the Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club (CR&FC) at 4.00pm.

Lasitha Gunaratne, Hony. Secretary of SLRFU is presented with a token of a rugby ball to signify HSBC’s sponsorship with A5N by Nilantha Bastian, Head of Marketing, Group Communications and Corporate Sustainability

Kazakhstan will host Hong Kong in the other Top Five match on the same day, while holders Japan have a bye for the first week.

Sri Lanka’s other home games will be against Hong Kong on 7 May and Japan who will play in this year’s Rugby World Cup on 21 May. The team will travel to Almaty to play Kazakhstan on 14 May.

HSBC is a long-term supporter of rugby in Asia and is committed to promoting competitive rugby in Sri Lanka, with a view to aiding the nation’s goal of qualifying for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Nick Nicolaou, Chief Executive Officer HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives and a rugby player himself, was proud to be involved in HSBC’s title sponsorship of the Asian five Nations as Sri Lanka make their debut in the Top Five.

“We are happy to sponsor a game that helps support our vision and values, and bring the brand to life through the excitement and shared passion of rugby,” Nicolaou said.

“Being the world’s local bank, HSBC recognises how rugby can help bring people from different backgrounds, communities and cultures together. We are committed to helping this long-term goal by growing rugby in Sri Lanka from its current standing to the highest level.”

The Bank’s rugby team includes Sri Lanka representative Ashean Karthelis, while Zulker Hameed, Anojan Balasunderam, Zalique Jaayah, Azmil Omar and Ashoka Gunawardane all represent prestigious clubs in Colombo.

Yesterday the HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour held a clinic at the SOS Children’s Village in Piliyandala, outside Colombo, before staging sessions the following day with a host of emerging rugby schools in the capital at the CR&FC.

“Apart from sponsoring the Asian five Nations and the CR&FC rugby team in Sri Lanka for the third consecutive year, HSBC has shown great enthusiasm in this sport,” said Sriyan Cooray, Chief Technology and Services Officer of HSBC, who formerly represented Sri Lanka at the world-famous Hong Kong Sevens rugby tournament.

“We are very much committed to the development of rugby and keen to see that it reaches its pinnacle. At the same time, we’re very excited about developing rugby from the grassroots and local youngsters will benefit greatly from the HSBC ARFU Rugby Coaching Tour this week.”

Lasitha Gunaratne, Hony. Secretary, SLRFU stated, “We are happy to partner with HSBC a bank who has shown great support for rugby both locally and internationally. Being at the top of the A5N tournament is a huge boost for our players and we are confident they will display the competitive skill in propelling the game to great heights in this tournament.”

The HSBC Asian five Nations offers a much-needed opportunity for national teams to play competitive rugby at the top level, with an underlying commitment to growing participation in countries and territories across Asia.

The tournament is made up of six divisions with 26 countries taking part, and each year one team is promoted and one team is relegated from each division. The Top five competing countries compete for the prestigious title of HSBC Asian five Nations champions.

HSBC is a long-term investor in rugby in Asia and around the world. As well as being the title sponsor of the Sevens World Series, Asian 5 Nations and new Asian Sevens Series, the bank is the Principal Partner of the British and Irish Lions. HSBC is also the title sponsor of the Waratahs Super 15 team in Australia, the Penguin International Coaching Academy and the Cobra 10s tournament in Malaysia.