Soori tipped to lead outfit to UAE

Sri Lanka Womens miss out on UAE tour

National Rugby Selections Committee headed by former Ananda, Police SC, Kandy SC and National XV-a-side skipper Asoka Jayasena and his team comprising of Hemantha Yatawara, Rohan Abeykoon, Leslie De Silva and Kapila Knowton according to reliable source is likely to retain Sooriyabandara as the skipper while making  a few changes for the Asia Rugby third leg which will take place in Al Ain, UAE which will take place on 26 and 27 November.

The Selectors had sent the squad for approval to Ministry of Sports as at last evening. According to source from the Korean leg squad, they have replaced Richard Dharmapala and Ramesh Fernando with Sudharaka Dikkumbura and D.S. skipper Dinupa Seneviratne in to the squad. Both Akash Madushanka and Dharshana Dabare retains their place from the second leg squad.

Former Isipathana and Kandy Sports Club player Srinarth Sooriyabandara is tipped to lead the sevens outfit for the Asia Rugby third and final leg encounter.

Sri Lanka Men’s outfit after their South Korean leg where they ended on number 4 position returned for training soon afterwards. They had couple of training sessions plus an Outbound Training at the Sri Lanka Army Camp in Ganemulla. Sevens outfit having displayed good quality rugby went on to secure number 4 position.

Securing the kick off ball and ball handling will be the main two key factors Head Coach Nilfer Ibrahim will be looking for the boys to improve and reduce their errors.

The final training session will take place in the morning hours today at the CR and FC ground, and the team will leave for UAE same day in the evening. Sri Lanka will feature from Pool A alongside Hong Kong, Malaysia and China.

Probable squad subject to Ministry approval

Srinarth Sooriyabandara, Kavindu Perera, Tharinda Ratwatte, Nigel Ratwatte, Mithun Hapugoda, Anjula Hettiarachchi, Adeesha Weeratunga, Akash Madushanka, Dhanushka Dabare, Dinupa Seneviratne, Chathura Seneviratne and Sudharaka Dikkumbura. Head Coach Nilfer Ibrahim. 

Women’s rugby skipper to be deported from South Korea

Sri Lanka Women’s skipper on South Korean tour Dulani Pallikondage will be deported back to Sri Lanka very soon. The Foreign Ministry has already written to South Korean Government with regard to this overstay. All players were issued with 10 days visa for their matches and Dulani went missing soon after the final day’s play.

Sri Lanka Women’s outfit missed out on the third leg in UAE due to financial burden and not properly organised for the event. They would be given couple of local tournaments before the next series at the South Asian Games and postponed Asian Games which will take place in 2024.