The 2022 Commonwealth Games bound Sri Lanka Men’s and Women’s seven-a-side rugby teams had a different kind of a training session at Kitulgala recently.
This programme was made possible through the sponsors of Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) Nippon Paint, Signature, Webxpay, True Digital and backed by World Rugby and the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka. The players were pushed to go beyond limits with activities challenging in river, streams, waterfalls and water rafting.
The initial stage fear started playing in their minds but after motivating them all, the players succeeded in taking part in the event successfully.
Confidence jumping off waterfalls holding the rugby ball in hand was a new experience shared as they learnt never to give up the ball in challenging times after they had built up self confidence and trust amongst themselves. Some players let go of the ball when they hit the water below but later, they learned the art well to never give up under hard situations.
Team members were taken by surprise when rafts were capsized and players were left to save and support their teammates even if they cannot swim. Thereafter, a debrief was done after the event with players and SLR Management sharing their learning experience.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens competition will be held in Birmingham, England from July 29 to 31. New Zealand are the double defending champions having won the Men’s and Women’s titles in 2018 at Gold Coast, Australia. Rugby Sevens was first played in the Commonwealth Games in 1998 with the inclusion of a Men’s competition, in which New Zealand defeated Fiji to take the Gold Medal.
The inaugural Women’s Sevens Rugby competition took place in 2018 where New Zealand defeated Australia in the final encounter.
by Daily News Sri Lanka
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