EFL sponsors Sri Lanka Rugby Women’s 7s and U24 Men’s teams

EFL has agreed to sponsor the Sri Lanka Rugby Women’s 7s and U24 Men’s teams it was announced this week.

EFL are a supply chain and logistics provider in Sri Lanka and as the main sponsor for these rugby teams, the players will sport the EFL logo on their jerseys and other rugby gear.

EFL Managing Director Saif Yusoof told the Daily FT in Sri Lanka: “We have long considered ourselves a serious patron of sports because we believe the lessons learnt help us to enhance our competitiveness and team spirit. We are hopeful that this support will set the paving stone to build a valuable talent pool for rugby all the way up to the national level so that Sri Lanka can compete on the world stage with a strong and skilled team.”

The company has previously been involved with the Havelock Sports Club and supported the Sri Lanka Referees’ Association and schools rugby. Five of the Sri Lankan national team rugby players are also employed at EFL

Sri Lanka Rugby President Rizly Illyas said: “This is a significant partnership for the development of women’s rugby and a pathway to nurture young talent. When I went to thank EFL for their generosity, we learned about their commitment to gender equality and their interest to champion and develop women’s rugby as well as inspire young talent to play rugby.”

Women’s Rugby in Sri Lanka

The Sri Lanka Women should be involved with the Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2021 which is scheduled to run for three rounds from August to September. The final round is due to be held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from 25-26 September 2021.

Most of the national team players are drawn from members of the country’s Air Force, Army and Navy, and former national player Rasika Warakagoda was recently interviewed by World Rugby after receiving her Women’s Executive Leadership Scholarship.

According to Warakagoda, more than 1,500 schoolgirls were playing rugby prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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