No hope for title but playing for pride

Asian Rugby Sevens 2017

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Sri Lankan national rugby team under Sudharshana Muthuthanthri will go all out to improve on their overall standing during the third leg of the Asian Rugby Sevens 2017, which will kick off tomorrow at the racecourse rugby grounds.

They will be playing for pride and a possible semifinal finish is likely if they beat China in their group encounter.

The Sri Lankan outfit finished in fifth position during both their legs in Hong Kong and South Korea. Sri Lanka are out of the race for both the Hong Kong Sevens and Rugby Sevens World Cup as only two berths are available for the three teams of South Korea, Hong Kong and Japan.

The National Selections Committee headed by Michael Jayasekera opted for Richard Dharmapala, who missed both of the previous legs due to a neck injury and has now fully recovered. He will add a lot of power and weight to the Sri Lankan outfit in front of their home crowd.

Kavindu Perera, who featured in the Hong Kong leg and missed out on the Korean leg, is also back in the squad. Two outstanding youth players will be making their Sevens debut, former Kingswood player Reza Rafaideen and former Isipathana player Rehan Silva. Chanaka Chandimal, Hirantha Perera, Kevin Dixon and Naveen Henakankanamage will also be going all out.

Team: Sudharshana Muthuthanthri (Captain), Dhanushka Ranjan, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Sudam Sooriyarachchi, Omalka Gunaratne, Kavindu Perera, Richard Dharmapala, Tharinda Ratwatte, 

Danushka Dyan, Reza Rafaideen and Rehan Silva. Head Coach Peter Woods and High Performance Director Sri Lanka Rugby Inthi Marikar.

 Men’s

Pool A - Sri Lanka, South Korea, China, Taipei

Pool B - Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia and the Philippines

Vs, South Korea    11.14 a.m.

Vs. China                2.32 p.m.

Vs. Taipei                5.28 p.m.

Women’s

Pool C - Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Japan and South Korea

Pool D - China, Thailand, Singapore and Kazakhstan

Vs. Japan                11.58 a.m.

Vs. Hong Kong       3.56 p.m.

Vs. South Korea     5.56 p.m.