Second-string Kandy take on Abu Dhabi

The Kandy Sports Club will kick off their rugby season tomorrow with a game against the Abu Dhabi Harlequins in their West Asia Club Championship 2017 at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium. 

Kick-off is scheduled for 4.00 p.m. 

Kandy will miss almost their entire first XV due to injury concerns and national Sevens duty. Shehan Pathirana, Gayan Weeraratne, Richard Dharmpala, Nigel Ratwatte, Yakoob Ali, Roshan Weeraratne and Fazil Marija will miss out due to injuries but they are recovering fast and will be ready for the season kickoff in two months’ time. Meanwhile, Dhanushka Ranjan, Dhanushka Dyan and Srinarth Sooriyabandara are all in the national Sevens squad for the Asian Sevens second leg selections squad to South Korea next week. 

Former Isipathana and Havelocks player Ashan Darling will make his debut for the upcountry club in this game as a tight head forward. The visiting Abu Dhabi team will arrive in the country later tonight. Former Trinity fullback Shanushka Abeywickrema, Lakshitha Ranaweera, Heshan Jensen and Joes placekicker Chathura Seneviratne will also be present for this encounter. 

Abu Dhabi  from left: Pieter Kilian, Phil Abraham, Christy McCormick, Phil Brady, Esekaia Dranibota, Ben Bolger, Gerrit Visser, Courtney Raymond, Harry Skelton, Andrew Semple, Barry Dwyer, Joe Teasdale, Sean Stevens, Emosi Vecanua, Jona Marshall, Murray Reason, Siri Ladidaddi, Andrew Shields, Edward Talbot, Mark Challis, Matt Hutchings, Neill Horn and Lewis Matheson. The Head Coach is Michael McFarlane and first XV Manager is Rory Greene. 

Kandy SC from left: Ashan Darling, Dimithri Wijethunga, Ganuka Dissanayake, Sayuru Anthony, Damith Dissanayake, Asitha Rathnayake, Tharindu Chathuranga, Heshan Kalhara, Thimila Abeywikrama, Arshad Jamaldeen, Anuruddha Wilwara, Oshan Perera, Lavanga Perera, Chathura Seneviratne, Thilina Wijesinghe. The Head Coach is Sean Wijesinghe, Team Manager is Kapila Silva and the Rugby Chairman is Lasantha Wijesuriya. The referee for the game is Norman Drake (the UAE) and the Assistant Referees are Priyantha Gunaratne and Rohan Fernando.