Soori and Anusha leads National rugby outfits

By Shamseer Jaleel

Sri Lanka national selectors identified the touring squad for the Men’s and Women’s outfits for the Commonwealth Rugby Sevens which will take place in Birmingham, England during the month of July. This was identified after the trials which took place at Longdon Place.

Kandy Sports Club player, Srinarth Sooriyabandara will lead the Men’s while Anusha Attanayake takes charge of the leadership of the Women’s outfit.

The surprise omission comes in as per a reliable source the best-performed player in the trials, Diluksha Dange being left out of the touring squad of 12. Havies star, Mithun Hapugoda too returns to the squad with a fine season and a good outing in the trial and he too will be a key player in the squad.

Kandy SC got the highest representation with six players on the touring squad. Sri Lanka Sevens outfit (Men’s) being in the Commonwealth Games from its inception in 1998 when the Games took place in Malaysia. This will be the first time the Women’s representation for the national outfit at the Commonwealth Games.

Subject to Ministry approval

• Men’s Squad

Srinath Sorriyabandara (Capt), Tharinda Ratwatte, Nigel Ratwatte, Danushka Dayan, Kavidu Perera, Adeesha Weerathunga, Anjula Hettiarachchi, Mithun Hapugoda, Buddhima Piyarathne, Sudaraka Dikkumbura, Reza Raffaideen, Chathura Senevirathne

• Stand by

Lasindu Ishan, Iroshan Silva, Ovin Hettiarachchi, Avishka Lee, Heshan Janson, Ramesh Fernando, Sudam Sooriyaaarachchi, and Diluksha Dange

• Women’s Squad

Anusha Attanayake (Capt), Kanchana Kumari, Jayanthi Kumari, Sandika Hemakumari, Dilini Kanchana, Shanika Madumali, Charani Liyanage, Dulani Pallikondage, Ayesha Perera, Jeewanthi Kumari, Umayangana Thathsarani and Nipuni Rasanjali

• Stand by

Polhewage Dilani, Anushika Samarawickrama, Hashini Anuttara, Chamodya Madumali, Shanika Dilini, Niranjala Wickramasinghe, Hekashani Krishnakumar and Randika Kumuumali