Sri Lanka Sevens outfit “well prepared”: Dhanushka Ranjan

  The Sri Lanka Sevens outfit left the country two days back for the World Rugby Sevens Series qualifiers, which will be worked off in Hong Kong from 7-9 April at the 40,000 seat, Hong Kong Stadium in Cause way bay.

Before the team departure Sri Lanka sevens skipper Ranjan told Daily FT: “We are well prepared for this tour. We had ample time with the team, in good shape for this world event. The return of Fazil Marija and Anurudha Wilwara takes us an extra mile with their exposure at sevens rugby in Asia. Fazil is with the team for the last decade and his being in the starting line-up is a bonus for the team. The rest of the team under new Head Coach Woods looks good for this tour. The rest of the 11 teams are equally good in the shorter version of the game, we will give our best for the country on tour.”

Woods, the Head Coach speaking to media before the team’s departure, was confident that both Marija and Wilwara exposure in Asian Sevens rugby could take the team to a good position on tour.

Sri Lanka will be making their maiden appearance in a World Sevens Series qualifier after finishing overall runner-up behind champions Hong Kong in last year’s Asian Sevens Series. Sri Lanka will play Chile in the opening match on 7 April and then on the following day will lock horns with Hong Kong and Namibia on 8 April.

Squad: Danushka Ranjan (Captain), Jason Dissanayake, Suhiru Anthony, Richard Dharmapala, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Danushka Dyan, Anurudda Wilwara and Fazil Marija (all from Kandy SC),  Anuradha Herath (CR & FC), Sudharshana Muthuthanthri, Kevin Dixon (Havelocks SC), Saliya Handapangoda (Navy SC).