Serendib International Cup

The Serendib International Cup (known as the Dialog Serendib International Cup for sponsorship reasons) was an international rugby union competition for emerging nations held in Sri Lanka in 2013 (Serendib is the old Arabic, Persian and Urdu name for Sri Lanka). The Serendib Cup was contested by the hosts Sri Lanka and the Malagasy and Polish national rugby teams. The tournament was backed by the International Rugby Board and was played over three match days in Colombo between 26 October and 1 November, coinciding with the 2013 end-of-year rugby union tests.[1][2]

Tournament details
Host nation Sri Lanka
VenueColombo Racecourse
Date26 Oct – 1 Nov 2013
Countries Madagascar
 Poland
 Sri Lanka
No. of nations3
Final positions
Champions Madagascar
Runner-up Sri Lanka
Third place Poland
Tournament statistics
Matches played3
Tries scored13 (4.33 per match)
Top scorer(s) Riza Mubarak (28)
Most tries Bernard Razafindranaivo (3)

The tournament served as a pan-regional competition in Asia that will further the profile of Asian rugby and international rugby in Sri Lanka, as the region prepares to host the Rugby World Cup for the first time in 2019 in Japan. The tournament also provided an invaluable platform to step up in performance and ranking for all three Unions as well as the opportunity for the emerging nations to play internationals matches outside of their own region.[3]

The competition was set bring together thriving Unions that are experiencing unprecedented growth, participation and interest in the sport.[1] Its future plans are to make it into a second tier World Cup, which is set to expand to 16-24 teams in the years to come.[4] It will be the launch of a new era in Sri Lankan Rugby as the country is becoming a leading contender in Asia.[2]

The competition was won by Madagascar following their 17-12 victory over the hosts on Day 1, and their 25-21 victory over Poland on Day 2.

Background

The three participating unions are high performance emerging nations with the sport having an ever growing presence. The competition comes as all three unions are still in the process for qualifying for a place in the 2015 Rugby World Cup. The national sport in Madagascar, Test matches regularly attract 40,000 capacity crowds against others high performers of the region such as Kenya, Namibia and Zimbabwe. Madagascar is two wins away from qualifying for the 2015 Rugby World Cup placing third in the 2013 Africa Cup. Poland is a highly competitive FIRA-AER Union currently placing third in the 2012–14 European Nations Cup First Division B.

Sri Lanka has one of the largest number of registered players in the world currently boasting 58,000 players, positioning the Union within the top 15 in the world. With Sri Lanka's win the 2013 Asian Five Nations division 1, the 2014 Asian Five Nations will see their return to the top ranks of the championships. This tournament will be preparation for the Union's high performance programme for next year's Asian 5 Nations. The winner will qualify directly to 2015 Rugby World Cup as Asia 1, while the runner-up will enter the Repechage.[3]

For the development of the sport in Sri Lanka, the hosting of such a tournament is key in growing awareness by building stronger commercial and broadcasting platforms. It comes in addition to the annual Asian Five Nations Asian championship, founded in 2008. Rugby in Sri Lanka is currently worth more than 1–2 billion Rupees and is widespread throughout the country. According to SLRFU President Asanga Seneviratne rugby could become Sri Lanka’s most popular sport within the next decade. The SLRFU envisions the tournament to becoming a second-tier world cup.[5]

Namal Rajapaksa has been named as the captain of the Sri Lankan team ahead of the tournament, as Yoshitha Rajapaksa is out of the squad due to injuries.[2][6]

Format

The tournament is a round-robin, where each team plays one match against each of the other teams, with points being awarded at the end of each match: 4 points for a win, 3 points for a draw and 0 points for a loss. Bonus points are also awarded: 1 point for scoring 4 tries or more in a match whether the teams losses or not and 1 point for a loss within 7 game points. A loss by 8 points or more would give the team no bonus point.

Participants

Table
Position Nation Games Points Bonus
points		 Total
points
Played Won Drawn Lost For Against Difference
1 Madagascar (44) 22004233+908
2 Sri Lanka (39) 21013842-415
3 Poland (28) 20024651-522

Pre-tournament IRB rankings in parentheses.

Points are awarded to the teams as follows:

Results Points
Win4 points
Draw3 points
4 or more tries1 point
Loss within 7 points1 point
Loss greater than 7 points0 points

Fixtures

All matches are to be played under lights.[2]

Sri Lanka v Madagascar
26 October 2013
17:30 SLST (UTC+5:30)
Sri Lanka  12–17  Madagascar
Pen: Mubarak (4/6) 5', 26', 31', 74'
 Report Try: Rakotonirina 19' m
Razafindranaivo 55' c
Tolotra Ramaromiantso 79' m
Con: Rakoto (1/3) 56'
Colombo Racecourse, Colombo
Referee: Taku Otsuki (JRFU)

Madagascar v Poland
29 October 2013
17:30 SLST (UTC+5:30)
Madagascar  25–21  Poland
Try: Razafindranaivo (2) 12' c, 15' c
Rakotoarivelo 43' m
Con: Rakoto (2/3) 13', 15',
Pen: Rakoto (0/1)
Drop: Rakoto (2/3) 33', 46'
 Report Try: Sirocki 36' c
Pawelec 68' m
Con: Banaszek (1/2) 36'
Pen: Banaszek (3/4) 8', 29', 40'
Colombo Racecourse, Colombo
Referee: Irshad Cader (SLRFU)

Sri Lanka v Poland
1 November 2013
19:30 SLST (UTC+5:30)
Sri Lanka  26–25  Poland
Try: Fernando (2) 37' c, 56' c
Con: Mubarak (2/2) 36', 57'
Pen: Mubarak (3/5) 21', 34', 52'
Drop: Mubarak 61'
 Report Try: Bachurzewski 18' c
Pawelec 31' m
Sirocilli 77' c
Con: Banaszek (2/3) 18', 78'
Pen: Banaszek (2/4) 27', 50',
Colombo Racecourse, Colombo
Referee: Taku Otsuki (JRFU)

Statistics

Squads
Sri Lanka

The SLRU announced their 28 man squad on 26 October.[7]

Head Coach: Ronnie Ibrahim

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Bilal Hassan Hooker Sri Lanka Navy Sports
N. A. Jayalal Hooker Sri Lanka Army Sports Club
Namal Rajapaksa (c) Hooker (1986-04-10) 10 April 1986 Sri Lanka Navy Sports
Achala Perera Prop Kandy Sports Club
Duminda Pullikuttiarachi Prop
Dushmantha Priyadarshana Prop Havelock Sports Club
Eranga Swarnathilake Prop Sri Lanka Army Sports Club
Henry Terance Prop Havelock Sports Club
Hasitha Perera Lock
Sathya Ranatunga Lock Sri Lanka Navy Sports
Danushka Perera Flanker Sri Lanka Navy Sports
Ishan Noor Flanker Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
Rohitha Rajapaksa Flanker Sri Lanka Navy Sports
Sharo Fernando Flanker Upcountry Lions
Sajith Saranga Number 8 Upcountry Lions
Kavindu de Costa Scrum-half
Rehan Weerakoon Scrum-half Sri Lanka Navy Sports
Dave Anand Fly-half
Fazil Marija Fly-half Kandy Sports Club
Niroshan Fernando Fly-half Havelock Sports Club
Dinusha Chathuranga Fernando Centre
Lavanka Perera Centre
Lee Keegal Centre
Pradeep Liyanage Centre Kandy Sports Club
Chamara Dabare Wing Havelock Sports Club
Sandun Herath Wing Havelock Sports Club
Nuwan Hettiarachi Fullback Sri Lanka Navy Sports
Riza Mubarak Fullback Sri Lanka Navy Sports
Poland

Poland's 21 man squad was announce on 17 October.[8]

Head Coach: Tomasz Putra

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Craig Bachurzewski Prop Glasgow Hawks
Adrian Chróściel Prop MKP Pogoń Siedlce
Mateusz Bartoszek Flanker (1990-01-20)20 January 1990 (aged 23) 12 Glasgow Hawks
Paweł Dąbrowski Flanker (1981-05-13)13 May 1981 (aged 32) RC Arka Gdynia
Karol Perzak Lock RC Arka Gdynia
Piotr Zeszutek Flanker
Marek Płonka Flanker RC Lechia Gdańsk
Cyprian Majcher Prop RC Lechia Gdańsk
Stanisław Niedźwiedzki Hooker
Rafał Janeczko Scrum-half RC Lechia Gdańsk
Dawid Banaszek Fly-half (1987-02-04)4 February 1987 (aged 26) 19 Arka Gdynia
Dawid Lorentowicz Fly-half MKP Pogoń Siedlce
Marek Przychodzki ??
Rafał Szrejber Centre RC Arka Gdynia
Robert Pawelec Centre MKP Pogoń Siedlce
Tomasz Rokicki Centre RC Lechia Gdańsk
Szymon Sirocki Wing RC Arka Gdynia
Tomasz Gasik Centre MKP Pogoń Siedlce
Sebastian Łuczak Centre
Robert Kwiatkowski ??
Madagascar

Madagascar's 29 man squad was announce on 18 October.[8]

Head Coach: Bertin Rafalimanana

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Rantoniaina Hasina Rakotoarivelo ??
Christian Jean Felix Andrianjaka ??
Maroson Vonjiniaina Andriamananjara ??
Dimbiniaina Jean Willy Rabemananjara ??
Rodolphe Randriamanantena ??
Hajanirina Randrianambinina ??
Ratsimba Tolotra Ramaromiantso ??
Tahina Hery Zo Randrianarisoa ??
Maminandrasana Solomampionona ??
Tolotra Claudio Ravelonomenjanahary ??
Guy Rolland Randriamiarana ??
Nirina Jacky Bayard ??
Romuald Rafaralahy ??
José Rakoto (c) ??
Juliot Mahavy ??
Deraniaina Rakotozafy ??
Alain Rakotonirina ??
Serge Rajoelina ??
Benjaniaina Mandimby Rakotoarivelo ??
Soloniaina Herizo Rasoanaivo ??
Bernard Razafindranaivo ??
Tiana Nirina Ravelomanantsoa ??
Tolotra Mampionontsoa Rakotoson ??
Michael Raharijaona ??

Sponsorship & Broadcasting rights

Dialog are the title sponsors of the tournament as the premier sports sponsors in the country, while MTV Sports is set to broadcast all matches live as the tournament’s official broadcaster.[4][5][9] Atom Technologies [10] is the other principal sponsor of the tournament as well as the official digital signage provider at all the matches.[11]

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See also

References
  1. "Sri Lanka to host new IRB supported event". IRB. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  2. "Namal skipper for Serendib International Cup". Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  3. "Serendib International Cup match schedule released". rugby.lk. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  4. "Serendib International Cup to be Powered By Dialog". thepapare. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  5. "MTV Sports Broadcast Partners fuel the inaugural edition of the IRB Serendib International Cup". rugby.lk. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  6. "Namal to lead the national rugby team". Srilankamirror. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
  7. "Sri Lanka Squad Announced". rugby.lk. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  8. "Poland and Madagascar name their squad for Serendib Cup". Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  9. "Serendib International Cup 2013". thepapare.
  10. "Best Consumer Electronic Brands in Sri Lanka". www.atom.lk. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  11. http://www.rugby.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=410:serendib-international-cup&catid=28:serendib-cup&Itemid=352
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