Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Wednesday Sep 17, 2025
Friday, 12 September 2025 00:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
From left: Mastercard Sri Lanka and Maldives Country Manager Sandun Hapugoda, Mercantile Rugby Football Association President Mindika Jayasinghe and Immediate Past President Dinushka Jayatissa
By Shamseer Jaleel
The 53rd Mastercard Mercantile Rugby Sevens will come alive on today (12) and 13 September at the CR&FC grounds, Longdon Place, as 20 top corporate outfits battle for glory.
The two-day tournament remains a highlight of Sri Lanka’s rugby calendar, both corporate pride and national-level talent. Defending champion John Keells Holdings is expected to face stiff resistance.
The Cup segment will see six of the strongest contenders vying for supremacy. Group A features Link Natural Products, Pearl Beach Paradise, and John Keells Holdings, while Group B pits Sampath Bank, Citizens Development Bank, and Hayleys against each other. With a high standard of competition, fireworks are expected right from the group stage.
In the Bowl segment four teams Cargills Bank, Ceylinco Insurance, Hatton National Bank, and Seylan Bank will compete, while the Shield segment will bring together 10 determined outfits. Group D includes Hemas, NDB Bank, Commercial Credit, Commercial Bank, and MAS, while Group E features Foresight, AIA Insurance, Nations Trust Bank, Moresand, and LOLC.
Adding further significance, the national selectors will be eyeing to add a few more players from this tournament as well for the Asia Rugby Sevens 2025 first leg which will take place in China later this month.
