Sri Lanka kick off second leg with confidence

By Shamseer Jaleel 

A confident Sri Lankan Under-20 rugby outfit, led by Kevin Dixon, will kick off proceedings at the Second Asian Youth Under-20 Rugby Sevens second leg with a game against Taipei at 10.30 a.m. SL time at the Kings Park Grounds, Kowloon in Hong Kong today. 

Sri Lanka ended champions after the first leg of the Sevens which concluded in Malaysia last weekend, collecting a maximum of 14 points. Korea was placed second while Japan finished third during the first leg. 

Japan pulled out of the second leg which gives Sri Lanka hope for emerging champions at this level for the first time in the country’s 100-year rugby history. Sri Lanka will play Taipei (10.30 a.m. SL), Thailand (12:38 p.m. SL) and Malaysia (3:08 p.m. SL) today and move on to the knockout stages tomorrow. 

Men’s

Pool A: Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand and Taipei

Pool B: Korea, Hong Kong, the UAE and Singapore

Women’s

Hong Kong and Thailand 

Squad: Kevin Dixon (Capt.), Omalka Gunarathne, Nishon Perera, Reza Rafaideen, Vimukthi Rahula, Shamri Burah, Lasindu Ishan, Tariq Salih, Rehan Silva, Buddhima Priyarathana, Chamika Kusal, Supun Dilshan. Head Coach – Sudath Sampath 

Manager – Rajiv Perera 

High Performance Director – Inthi Marikar