Asian Rugby Championship rugby pool reduced to 36

By Shamseer Jaleel 

Asian Rugby Championship Division I 2017 will kick off in Malaysia on 14 May with Sri Lanka locking horns with Philippines in the opening game. The selected initial squad was reduced to 36 players, giving the coach another two weeks to select the final touring squad of 25 players. The squad is coached by Papua New Guinea and Army Head Coach Fereti Verebula with Rajeev Perera assisting him.

Sri Lanka will play against Malaysia, Philippines and United Arab Emirates in their group encounters with the winner moving forward to next year’s Asian top three battle with the last placed team in top three this year, plus the Rugby World Cup 2019 qualification process for Asian Zone.

Chairman of National Selector Michael Jayasekera said: “We haven’t been told not to select any players from Sevens squad. If the players attend training, then they will be considered for the tour. Though there was a talk that there will be two separate squads, nothing is finalised yet. Both Ranjan and Dharmapala did attend training yesterday. So we will consider all these players and likely announce the squad early next week with the final 25 players.”

Sri Lanka Squad: Ganuka Dissanayaka, Sayuru Anthony, Roshan Weeraratna, Fazil Marija, Lavanga Perera, Thilina Wijesinghe, Damith Dissanayaka, Gayan Weeraratne (all Kandy SC) Shane Samaddaperuma Tariq Salih, Banuka Nanayakkara, Shashan Mohamed, Omalka Gunaratne, Gayan Jayamana (all CR&FC), Sharo Fernando, Sudam Suriyaarchchi, Dushmantha Priyadarshana, Prasad Madushanka, Niroshan Fernando, Nishon Perera, Ashan Darling, Umesh Madushan (all Havelock SC), Nivanka Prasad, Sajith Saranga, Sathya Ranatunga, Stephan Gregory, Chanaka Chandimal, Richie Dharmapala, Lee Keegal, Dinusha Chathuranga, Thilina Weerasinghe, Lahiru Lakshan (all Navy SC), Joel Perera, Radeesha Senaviratne (both Police SC), Iranga Ariyapala and Ashoka Jayalal (Army SC)

High Performance Director – Inthi Marikar

Trainer – Nick Globe