Sri Lanka Super Sevens to kick off in Kandy

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Sri Lanka Super Rugby Sevens first leg will be worked off at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium in Kandy today and tomorrow. 

The second leg will be worked off on the following weekend at the racecourse rugby grounds in Colombo. The Mobitel Eagles led by Roshan Weeraratne are the defending champions.

Kandy’s rugby lovers will be entertained by some top-class rugby players from around the world. There will players from New Zealand, Fiji, South Africa and Kenya. This type of tournament is returning to Kandy after a decade during which time the Kandy Sports Club has conducted the Singer Sri Lankan Rugby Sevens from 1999 to 2007, which included 15 top countries from around the globe along with the hosts.

There will be a women’s Sevens tournament plus eight schools will battle it out at the Under-18 level which is sure to be a crowd-puller.

St. Anthony’s College, Dharmaraja College, Trinity College, Kingswood College, St. Peter’s College, Isipathana, Science College and St. Joseph’s College will take centre-stage.

Pool A

Walkers CML Vipers, EZY Wolves, Etisalat Panthers and Cargills Gladiators

Pool B

Access Kings, KBSL Dragons, Softlogic Warriors and Mobitel Eagles

Mobitel Eagles – Roshan Weeraratne (Captain), Lee Kegal, Anurudha Wilwara, Thilina Wijesinghe, Wajid Foumy, Mohamed Absal, Promod Pathmasanka, Sharo Fernando, Prasantha Jayathunga, Mushin Faleel, Chamod Fernando, Chathura Seneviratne, Matiyasi Tabu Leuta (USA), Nasalo Jone Maorawa and Joseva Bilo (both from Fiji) and Losefo Martin Mulipa (USA).  Kavinda Jayasena will be the Manager and Nilfer Ibrahim will be the Coach.

KBSL Dragons – Samith Dananjaya, Buddima Piyaratne, Omalka Gunaratne, Lahiru Lakshan, Charith Seneviratne, Thilina Weerasinghe, Buwaneka Udangamuwa, Sandesh Jayawickrama, Thanuja Maduranga, Adisha Weerathunga, Asitha Punchihewa, Eranda Weerakkody, Danir Roux, Tyshan Adams, Joel Booysen (All from South Africa). Ashan Seneviratne is the Manager and

Mothilal Jayathilake is the Coach

Etisalat Panthers – Fazil Marija (Captain), Anuradha Herath, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Soyuru Anthony, Naveen Henakankanamage, Vimukthi Rahula, Chamara Dabare, Shenal Deelaka, Nalin Kumara, Kushan Indunil, Mohamed Rizvi, Samuela Seqiwe, Sevuloni Lutu, Serupepei Turuwa, Emosi Mulevoro (all from Fiji). Mahesh Kumara is the Manager and Asanka Rodrigo is the Coach.

Cargills Gladiators - Richard Dharmapala (Captain), Kavindu Perera, Gayan Weeraratne, Radeesha Seneviratne, Shemal Weerasekara, Ranjitha Warnapura, Gayantha Iddamalgoda, Wageesha Weerasinghde, Pium Jayasinghe, Nuwan Perera, Ashan Maduranga, Ashan de Costa, Semi Nakaira, Nasoni Tuigaloa and Sevuloni Naturdregadrega (all from Fiji). The Manager is Rumaiz Rahim and the Coach is Mushtaq Jiffry).

Walkers CML Vipers – Danuska Ranjan (Captain), Kevin Dixon , Shehan Pathitrana, Kavindu Costa, Dulaj Perera, Hirantha Perera, Iranga Ariyapala, Mekalanga Promod, Nalaka Maduranga, Ramesh Fernando, Rowan Perry, Lee Awantha, Cyprian Kuto, Samual Odhiambo and Oscar Ouma (all from Kenya). The Manager is Anuradha Fonseka and the Coach is Saliya Kumara.

Access Kings – Danushka Dayan, Tharinda Ratwatte, Reza Rafaideen, Niwanka Prasad, Lavanga Perera, Richi Dharmapala, Sandun Herath, Chula Susantha, Sasanka Ariyaratne, Romesh Ramada, Vishvamithra Jayasinghe, Sakya Bandara, Ganidu Lakshan, Jone Vota, Josua Vid and Atunaisia Abele (all from Fiji). The Manager is Duminda Silva and the Coach is Stefano Cakauae.

EZY Wolves – Chanaka Chandimal, Sudarshana Muthuthanthri, Sudam Sooriyaarachchi, Rehan Silva, Supun Dilshan, Sashahan Mohamed, Sudarshana Dikkumbura, Dinusha Chathuranga, Banuka Nanayakkara, Sithum Peiris, Sujan Kodithuwakku, Isara Madushan, Andrew Amonde, Nelson Oyoo, Billy Obhianboo, Dennis Oliech (all from Kenya). The Manager is Rajiv Perera and the Coach is Sudath Sampath.

Softlogic Warriors - Jason Dissanayake, Nishon Perea, Saliya Handapangoda, Suranga Bandara, Arshad Jamaldeen , Rohitha Rajapaksa, Oshan Perera, Niroshan Fernando, Udaya Fernando, Ruwan Kumara, Jero Dananjaya, Avishka Lee, Thiwanka Bandara, Luke Maseriwa, Ed Fidow and Fautua Otto. The Manager is Shawinda Nelson and the Coach is Laga.

Schools

Pool A - Isipathana, Dharmaraja, St. Joseph’s and St. Peter’s

Pool B – St. Anthony’s, Trinity, Science and Kingswood

Women’s

Pool ‘A’ - Army SC, Navy SC

Pool ‘B’ - Air Force SC, CR&FC