Five Kandy players to miss the West Asian Club Championship opener

By Shamseer Jaleel 

Kandy Sports Club will host two of their matches in the West Asia Club Championship 2017 at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium in September this year. Inter-Club Rugby Champions Kandy Sports Club who won the last inter-club tournament under Roshan Weeraratne, will host the tournament for the very first time at their home grounds at Nittawela.

They will play two league games against Abu Dhabi Harliquins and Bahrain RFC while the UAE outfits will play each other on 8 September before departing to Sri Lanka to play the Sri Lankan club champions Kandy SC.

Due to the Asian Seven 2017 series tournament in South Korea, Dhanushka Ranjan, Richard Dharmapala, and Danushka Dyan will be missed in this two encounters. Former Kingswoodian and Kandy SC skipper Roshan Weeraratne too will be missed from the starting line-up due to a knee injury. This will open up an opportunity for the younger players in the squad.

The Abu Dhabi Harlequins will arrive in the country on the same day (15 September) of their match and will depart on the following day. Bahrain RFC who will play their encounter on 22 September will arrive one day prior to their game. They will also distribute rugby kits for one of the Kandy schools with fewer facilities.

September 8 

Abu Dhabi Harlequins (UAE) vs. Bahrain RFC (UAE) in Dubai

September 15 

Kandy SC vs. Abu Dhabi Harlequins at Nittawela

September 22

Kandy SC vs. Bahrain RFC at Nittawela