Mastercard announced that it would be bringing the Rugby World Cup 2023 trophy, known as the Webb Ellis Cup, to Sri Lanka for the first time from February 18. The coveted trophy will be in the country for six days till February 23, ahead of the Rugby World Cup event to be held in France later this year.
The itinerary for these six days will include two days for public display of the trophy – at CR & FC Sports Club in Colombo on February 19 and at the Kandy Sports Club on February 22. The tour also includes an event exclusively hosted by Mastercard, along with other activities, to attract sports fans and other audiences. Mastercard will be collaborating with the government and other stakeholders for these events. This historic trophy tour aligns with Mastercard Priceless, an initiative that provides one-of-a-kind experiences to Mastercard cardholders that enable them to pursue their passions and gain exclusive access to curated experiences.
The Sri Lankan Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs has pledged to support Mastercard in this endeavor by inviting sports teams, former rugby players, government officials and diplomats to the public events. The presence of the iconic trophy is expected to attract fans from other countries in South Asia to the island nation.
“This will be a momentous occasion not just for rugby enthusiasts but for everyone in Sri Lanka as this is the first time that the coveted Rugby World Cup trophy is being brought here. We thank the Mastercard team for securing this opportunity and are happy to partner with them for this event,” said Roshan Ranasinghe, Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Sri Lanka.
” The trophy tour provides an ideal platform to promote sports and tourism in the country. Mastercard is looking forward to working with key partners, including the government and other stakeholders, to make this a memorable event for everyone,” said Sandun Hapugoda, Country Manager, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Mastercard.