52nd Mercantile Rugby Sevens Set to Kick Off at CR & FC Grounds

The highly anticipated 52nd Mercantile Rugby Sevens Tournament 2024 is set to unfold on the 27th and 28th of September at the CR & FC Grounds. With 22 corporate teams vying for top honors, the tournament promises an exhilarating two days of action-packed rugby.

In the prestigious Cup segment, six teams are divided into two groups. John Keells Holdings (JKH) will field two teams, ‘A’ and ‘B,’ alongside leading corporate giants such as CDB, Brandix, Sampath Bank, and Pearl Beach. However, last year’s champions, 3DH International, will not be competing this year, leaving the title wide open for the taking.

Cup Segment – Groups

• Group A: JKH ‘A,’ CDB, Brandix
• Group B: JKH ‘B,’ Pearl Beach, Sampath Bank

The top-ranked teams from each group will face off in the Cup Semi-Finals, with winners progressing to the Cup Final. The semi-final losers will compete in the Plate Final, while the bottom-ranked teams will battle in the Bowl Finals.

The Shield segment features 16 teams spread across four groups. Day 1 will see Shield matches played with 5-minute halves, while the Shield knockouts on Day 2 will adhere to the standard sevens format of 7 minutes per half.

Shield Segment – Groups

• Group C: MAS ‘A,’ Mercantile Investment, HSBC, Galle Face Hotel
• Group D: Ceylinco, NTB, LOLC, Central Finance
• Group E: Commercial Credit, Hela Clothing, Commercial Bank, Moresand
• Group F: MAS ‘B,’ London Stock Exchange, Foresight Engineering, Hatton National Bank

In a progressive step for the sport, the Women’s category will feature two Tag Rugby exhibition matches, aimed at promoting women’s participation in corporate rugby.

Organized by the Mercantile Rugby Football Association and sponsored by Mastercard, the event promises to showcase top-tier rugby talent. A total of 30 matches are scheduled for Day 1, starting at 8:30am, while Day 2 will feature 14 knockout matches beginning at 9:30am.

As the countdown begins, all roads lead to the CR & FC Grounds, where a weekend of thrilling rugby awaits!