Marija to train the three-quarter line at Asian Rugby Championship in Malaysia

Tuesday, 3 May 2016 01:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shamzeer Jaleel

Former Kingswood, Kandy Sports Club, Sri Lanka Sevens Skipper and Fifteens Skipper, Fazil Marija will represent Sri Lankan rugby team as the three quarter coach at the Asian Rugby Championship which will be worked off in Malaysia from 8 to 14 May.

Fazil, who took Kandy to win the league and Clifford Cup, missed out a major part of the second round due to a slipped disc injury. Sri Lanka will also miss out on some leading players such as Richard Dharmapala, Srinarth Sooriyabandara, Vishwamithra Jayasinghe and Shehan Pathirana.

Fazil Marija

Marija told the Daily FT: “I will not be able to play since I have not recovered from an injury for which I will need to undergo surgery later this month. I wanted to give back what I have learnt to the younger players. This is the best I could do at this moment. We are very fortunate to get Johan Taylor as he knows the players and their capabilities, strengths and weaknesses. We will miss out on some quality players but still we can end the tournament on top with our talented youngsters.”

Sri Lanka will play Malaysia (8 May), Kazakhstan (11 May) and Philippines (14 May) in Kuala Lumpur.

The winner of the tournament will play the last placed team in Top three (Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea) on a home and away basis in order to determine the 2017 qualification of the third top team.

Sri Lanka to participate at Monaco

Sri Lanka sevens outfit (Men’s) will make their final attempt to qualify at the Rio Olympic rugby sevens when they lock horns with the other 11 teams in the Monaco rugby sevens which will take place on 18 and 19June. This will be the men’s event with the winners qualifying for the Rio games in August this year.

Shehan Pathirane expected to recover for the Monaco rugby sevens in June 2016

The men’s repechage event will see Uruguay, Chile, Canada, Mexico, Spain, Russia, Germany, Ireland, Hong Kong, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Samoa, Zimbabwe, Morocco and Tunisia locking horns in the two-day event.

While the women’s event will take place in Dublin, Ireland on25 and 26June. Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Russia, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Madagaska, Samoa, Cook Islands, Kazakhstan, Hong Kong and China will battle it out in the two day event with the winners getting their spot at Rio rugby sevens for the Women’s segment.

Sri Lanka sevens squad will be named soon after the completion of the Asian Rugby Championship (ARC) in Malaysia on May 14. Sri Lanka sevens players ShehanPathirana, FazilMarija, Richard Dharmapala and SrinarthSooriyabandara who are nursing with injuries are expected to recover for their vital tournament.