Australian rugby legend David Campese who was set to arrive in Sri Lanka on Monday for a coaching programme has decided to call off his tour following the bombing of churches and hotels in the island.
His visit was to coincide with Sri Lanka’s preparations for the Asian Rugby Championship and was also listed for training programs in Kandy and Colombo for both coaches and players.
Campese was to be the guest of honour at the Royal College vs St. Joseph’s College game on May 4.
Campese played 101 Tests for Australia as winger and full back after making his debut in 1982 during a tour of New Zealand.
In 1991 he scored five tries for New South Wales in a 71-8 victory over Wales.
Campese was also a renowned rugby Sevens player. He made 12 appearances at the Hong Kong Sevens (1983-1990, 1993–94, 97-98), during which he played in three victorious Australian campaigns (‘83, ‘85 & ‘88), and was awarded the Leslie Williams Award for Player of the Tournament in 1988.
In 2015 the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union announced Campese as one of seven members of the ‘Hong Kong Magnificent Sevens’, the HKRFU’s commemorative campaign to recognize the seven most formative players to have played in the past 40 Years of Sevens in Hong Kong.