Muthu leads Sri Lanka at Monaco Rugby Sevens

By Shamseer Jaleel

Former Thomian and Havies player, Sudharshan Muthuthanthri will lead the Sri Lankan sevens rugby outfit at the Monaco Rugby sevens which will decide the final berth for the Rio Rugby sevens. The winner in this event will fill the final spot at Rio Olympic Sevens in August. 

Monaco sevens will take place on 18 and 19 June at Stade Louis II in Monaco. Danushka Dyan (Katugastota Anthony’s and Kandy SC), Kavindu Perera (Vidyartha and CR & FC) and Rochana Hettiarachchi (Dharmaraja and CR & FC) all three will be making their sevens debut for Sri Lanka. 

From Asia, Japan already being qualified for Rio sevens, this event will see the other top three outfits from Asia, Hong Kong, South Korea and Sri Lanka trying their skills at this event which will be a tough one for the sole position among the 16 teams locking horns in the two-day event. Sri Lanka ended at number 4 in the Asian qualification tournament held in Hong Kong last year behind Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea. 

Meanwhile the Women’s sevens tournament to select the final spot for Rio rugby will take place in Dublin, Ireland on 25 and 26 June. 

Fazil Marija who was suffering from a slipped disc injury went through several tests before being made fit for this vital tour. Sri Lanka outfit is under training for the last two weeks with former England Sevens player Matt Turner operating as the Head Coach. 

Six players from Kandy SC, four from CR & FC and two players from Havies are on tour. Notable absentees from the final 16 players to be left out are Sandun Herath and Vishwamithra Jayasinghe. 

The National Selections Committee headed by Michael Jayasekera opted for a very well balanced blend with youth and experience which will give a good warm up before the the Asian Sevens 2016 in Hong Kong early September.   

  Team (subject to Sports Ministry approval) 

Sudarshana Muthuthanthri (Capt), Danushka Ranjan (both from Havelocks SC); Fazil Marija, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Danushka Dyan, Sayuru Anthony, Roshan Weeraratne, Richard Dharmapala (all from Kandy SC); Jason Dissanayake, Rochana Hettiarachchi, Kavindu Perera, Kanchana Ramanayake (all from CR & FC).

Head Coach – Matt Turner (England) 

 Men’s

Monaco Sevens: Men’s Repechage:  Stade Louis II, Monaco, 18 and 19 June 

Pool A: Samoa, Zimbabwe, Tonga, Ireland 

Pool B: Canada, Germany, Uruguay, Sri Lanka 

Pool C: Russia, Chile, Morocco, Tunisia 

Pool D: Hong Kong, Spain, Mexico, South Korea