National rugby Sevens squad for Olympic Qualifiers named

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Sri Lankan rugby national selectors named a 28-member initial squad for next month’s Asia Rugby Men’s Sevens qualification tournament for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. 

The selectors will be hoping that the injured Dhanushka Ranjan will make  a speedy recovery

This qualification event will take place in South Korea at the Namdong Rugby Stadium on 23 and 24 November.

Both Srinarth Sooriyabandara and Danushka Ranjan, who are currently on the injury list, have been named in the squad in the hope of them recovering in time. Selectors have opted for experience in order to secure an Olympic berth, with Rugby Sevens set to be included in the global sporting event. The squad will get six weeks’ preparation before they depart to South Korea. Former New Zealander Matt Lee will be the Head Coach of the Sri Lankan unit.

All players named in the squad will be expected to attend training and all respective clubs will be notified of this requirement by Sri Lanka Rugby. 

Initial squad of 28 players: Jason Dissanayake, Danushka Dyan, Danushka Ranjan, Srinarth Sooriyabandara, Kavindu Perera, Tharinda Ratwatte, Richard Dharmapala, Thilina Bandara (all from Kandy SC), Dinuk Amarasinghe, Janidu Dilshan, Reza Rafaideen, Kevin Dixon, Omalka Gunaratne (all from CR&FC), Mithun Hapugoda, Lasindu Ishan, Vimukthi Rahula, Kavinda Keshan, Naveen Heenakankanmge (Havelock SC) , Nishon Perera, Anuradha Herath (both from CH&FC), Chathura Seneviratne, Adeesha Weeratunge, Buddhima Piyaratne (all from Navy SC), Ashan Bandara, Sudara Dikkumbura (both from Army SC), Sachith Silva, Iroshan Silva (both from Police SC) and Ravindu Hettiarachchi (Air Force). The team’s head coach is Matt Lee.