St. Peter’s College displayed their gear-up in no uncertain terms ahead of the new inter-school League rugby season when they honoured more than half a dozen of their enthusiastic commercial partners at a ceremony held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel in Colombo on Thursday.
Among the sponsors were a godfather that they refer to as their Platinum partner under the brand name of Nabco, a British based company dealing in Retail Landscape worldwide as well as Hemas Hospitals and Cargills whose product Kotmale yoghurt has been associated with the Peterites for many years.
An international freight forwarding entity, TDM International, is also among the Peterite rugby sponsors.
“It has been an honour to support St. Peter’s rugby and we hope we can together inspire more success for Peterite rugby. We hope we can grow and flourish as a partnership and we will continue to cheer you on,” said Nabco’s Managing Director Trishan Satyadheva, a Sri Lankan businessman based in the United Kingdom.
The occasion was also graced by members of the Peterite rugby team, the college rector Fr Rohitha Rodrigo, president of the Rugby Foundation Mangala Dharmapriya and team coach Sanath Martis along with illustrious old boys who made the grade in rugby.
In his address to the invited guests Fr. Rodrigo said the school was very much grateful to their sponsors for their support of the team amid the ups and downs and the team was looking forward to another successful season having already won a Centenary Sevens championship conducted by one of the country’s oldest clubs CR and FC and ended runners-up at the schools Sevens last month.
“Rugby is one of our flagship sports and we have gained recognition both locally and internationally. It has shaped our students and players and our sponsors have contributed to our success,” said Fr. Rodrigo.
Besides contesting the League and the subsequent Knock-out championship, the Peterites are also listed to play their traditional fixtures against Royal College, Trinity College, St. Joseph’s College, S. Thomas’ College and St. Anthony’s College.