Old Peterites’ inter-batch tag rugby 7s kicks off today

The fifth edition of the Old Peterites Tag Rugby 7s will come alive on Saturday 8 December at Havelock Park.

The event is organised by the 1995-2000 batch group of the Old Boys’ Union of St. Peter’s College. The tournament was first introduced to the calendar of the Old Boys’ Union of the college in 2007 to commemorate the 75 Anniversary of Peterite rugby.

As in 2011, the tournament this year too is being worked off in the lines of a premier league, with 16 competing teams being offered up for ‘ownership’ to ‘franchise owners’. The teams are Dark Knights, Riders, Daredevils, Eagles, Giants, Kings, Lions, Titans, Tigers, Jets, Gladiators, Wolves, Hawks, Sharks, Rangers and Mean Machines. Teams will represent all Batch Groups and will be played in a knock-out format with the cup, plate and bowl championships on offer.

The event will also feature an exhibition match between the current Peterite first XV and an All Star Team comprising Peterite rugby stars of yesteryear. St. Peter’s College has produced many brilliant rugby players in her 80 year old Rugby history feeding national teams with high quality players both with skills and discipline coming out of its system every decade. Peterite rugby players have found favour with many leading Rugby Clubs and are always in great demand even since pre- independence days when expatriates dominated the game.

“I believe that the Old Peterite Tag Rugby 7s will provide a great day of entertainment for the Old Peterite fraternity and their families and will help to bring us all closer together as one community,” Chairman of the Committee Suren Perera stated. “I would like to thank all our sponsors and well wishers who have readily assisted us to make this event a success and I would like to extend an invitation to all Old Boys of St. Peter’s College to participate in the event along with their families.”

Dr. Neilhan Samaranayake President of the OBU added that; “I am very proud of the efforts made by the ’95-2000 batch group in organising the event with a focus of bringing the Old Peterite community together. The OBU of St. Peter’s College, together with their sub-committees and respective batch committees, constantly organise events to aid St. Peter’s College in developing the infrastructure in the college. It is the students who benefit through all of this. Sri Lankan food giant Cargills (Ceylon) PLC is the gold sponsor and Sun Fm is the media sponsor for this years event.