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Published 25th November 2023
The Old Bens Victoria Rugby team led by Sampath Dias took part in the Kingswood Rugby 7’s tournament on the 18th of November 2023.
The Kingswood Rugby 7’s tournament is organised by the Kingswood College OBA Australia and Old Bens Victoria participated in this tournament for the 3rd time.
The following Old Benedictines made up our 2023 Rugby Team
The following Old Benedictines made up our 2023 Rugby Team
Standing left to right - Mishmal Luke, Jerome Grero, Prashanke Illagakoon, Sampath Dias (Captain), Teen Nuwarapakshage, Isuru Kariyawasam, Thejan Fernando, Talant Jihan,
On their knees left to right - Surain Silva, Dehan Bandaranayake, Shaneth Dion, Uditha Wijerathne
Not in the photo - Himesh Don
The games kicked off at 8.00 a.m. at Box Hill Rugby Grounds.
The team were practising hard for several weeks beforehand. This practice paid off in the first match against the hosts Kingswood College where we led by 2-0 at half-time and won the match 3-1.
The next two matches were a bit harder with Atkinson RU winning 3-0 and Dharmaraja 2-1.
But we did go through to the plate finals and played hard. But St Peter's got the better of us winning 3-0.
Here are some photos and a video from the day.
Sampath Dias pumping up the team pre-game
What our Captain, Sampath Dias had to say
What our Captain, Sampath Dias had to say
"
Thank you for coming to see the tournament and supporting our team on that day. As we haven’t had many practice sessions with all the players in attendance, I am happy with the results as the captain. I know we could have won the last two matches, but I really appreciate all the players that gave their 110%, in defending, even when we couldn’t score.
I hope next year we can organize the team better, practice more, and bring home a trophy for our Alma Mater. It’s tough to find young Old Bens in Melbourne, and most of them hesitate when you ask them to come and play Rugby. But I will try my very best to gather the boys next year and bring some winnings.
"
Denver (4th from right) was there along with the rest of OBU committee to support the team
President of the OBU Victoria, Denver Fernando:
President of the OBU Victoria, Denver Fernando:
"
I am writing this message with immense pride and gratitude for the exceptional performance displayed by our Old Bens Rugby 7s team at the Kingswood Rugby 7s league over the weekend. Your dedication and fighting spirit were truly remarkable and did not go unnoticed.
Months of rigorous training were evident in every moment of the game, showcasing the hard work and commitment each one of you put into preparing for this event. The resilience and determination displayed on the field were a testament to the strength of the Bens spirit.
"
Bens OBU Victoria Sports Secretary, Shannon Ranasinghe was also instrumental in making this event a success by running point and getting our team organised.
Kudos to the Kingswood College OBA Australia for organizing the event which was full of family-oriented fun activities including a jumping castle, face painting and a rugby segment for the kids. The young at heart were kept amused with beer and food stalls, DJ and live music, rugby queen and an over 40's rugby segment.
The supporters who gathered to witness the games and cheer for our team during the weekend made a big difference to the team. Their presence and encouragement added an extra layer of motivation, making the experience even more memorable.
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