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The Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) and International Rugby Board (IRB) have granted recognition for the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) to conduct an Asian International Rugby Sevens tournament in Sri Lanka from November 27 to 29.

Announced at a press conference on Wednesday, the tournament will be known as the Carlton Sri Lanka Sevens tournament and will be jointly organised by Tharunyata Hetak Organisation.

Having the Carlton Sri Lanka Sevens tournament accepted as an Asian International Rugby Sevens tournament means there is also the capacity for the IRB to use it as an Asian qualifier for the World Sevens Series.

“The Carlton Sri Lanka Sevens has already been included in the ARFU Sevens Series Schedule for 2009 and granted recognition as a part of the IRB Asian Rugby Sevens Series. This enables the tournament to be considered in the future by the IRB as one of the Asian qualifiers for the World Sevens Series,” said CEO Gunaratne.

“26 countries are members of the ARFU. However the participating nations for this tournament have not yet been finalised. Nevertheless due to the international recognition we have received for this tournament we should attract top national sides.

“This is a result of hard work. Everyone is aware that earlier the only International Rugby Sevens tournament hosted by Sri Lanka was rejected by the Asian Rugby Board. The Kandy Sevens ran for nine years. We should take this as an opportunity to cater to the rugby loving public of this country” added the CEO.

In addition to the International competition the organisers will also concurrently conduct a schools sevens tournament featuring 24 local school teams as well as looking at bringing in some internationally reputed singers to make it a three day event.

Tharunyata Hetak is set to bear the costs involved in the training and other expenses of the Sri Lanka national sevens rugby team in the build up to the tournament.