MUSCAT: Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) has recently selected Muscat-based Hamza Hidayathullah as official overseas representative for Oman for a period of two years. SLR is the official governing body of rugby in Sri Lanka and has been in existence for over 100 years. The appointment of Hamza was made official through an appointment letter from the SLR Council hoping to create new opportunities for rugby.
Hamza is a professional marketer and an event head with Tiara Events for over 2 decades. However rugby has always remained a passion right from childhood days in Sri Lanka. Back home he represented the Old Bens RFC in 1996 and Petersons RFC in the 2003 Caltex Club Rugby League tournament. He also represented played for his former company Lanka Bell in the annual inter corporate Mercantile Rugby 7s in 2003. While studying abroad continued to play both Rugby and Basketball in the UK as well. His love for the game caused him to move on to become a World Rugby Level 1 Qualified Rugby Referee and a Coach. He was an active Rugby Referee for the Sri Lanka Rugby Referees Society from 2008 to 2012.
In 2012, work brought him to Oman, but Hamza continued to carve out time from his schedule to stay in touch with the game. He was a volunteer coach at Muscat Junior Rugby Club for a couple of years and a rugby referee with the UAE Rugby Referees Society for 4 years refereeing the regional Gulf tournaments in the UAE, Bahrain and Doha. He currently represents the PDO Pirates Rugby team and toured with them to Dubai Sevens in 2015. He also has been appointed to referee all home games for Muscat Rugby Football Club this season in the Gulf Conference League competition.
“It is an honour to be selected by the SLR and to be their Rugby representative right here in Oman,” said Hamza. I look forward to the support of all rugby enthusiasts in the country and also to working together with the Oman’s Muscat Rugby Football Club where possible to achieve new heights”, he added.
With such a strong background and love for the game, it is certain that SLR has made the right selection of its most dedicated rugby native in Oman.