Sri Lanka to play Germany in first game at Monaco Sevens

Muthuthanthri leadership to be tested fully before Asian  Sevens 2016

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Sri Lanka rugby sevens outfit under Sudharshan Muthuthanthri will lock horns with a strong Germany outfit in their first group encounter at the Monaco Rugby sevens which will be the repecharge event to select the 12th and the final team for the Rio Olympic Rugby Sevens.

Sri Lanka went ahead with a balanced outfit keeping in mind at the Asian sevens series in Hong Kong, South Korea and Colombo later this year giving the much-needed exposure for the youngsters, seen as a good move by the National selection committee headed by Michael Jayasekera.

Sri Lankans will play Germany (SL time 3/36 pm), Canada (SL time 6/39 pm) and Uruguay (9/44 pm) today in the group events at Monaco and move forward for the knock out on day 2. Top two teams in each group will move forward for the Cup Quarter finals while the 3rd and 4th placed outfits will lock horns in the challenge shield. 

The winner in this tournament in Monaco will join with Fiji, South Africa, New Zealand, England, Argentina, USA, France, Kenya, Japan, Australia and host Brazil in the men’s segment.

Sri Lanka Sevens squad

Sudarshana Muthuthanthri (Capt), Dhanushka Ranjan, Roshan Weeraratne, Fazil Marija, Danushka Dayan, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Richard Dharmapala, Sayuru Anthony, Kavindu Perera, Lochana Hettiarachchi, Jason Dissanayaka and Kanchana Ramanayaka

Head Coach Matt Turner (England)

Pool A: Samoa, Zimbabwe, Tonga

Pool B: Canada, Germany, Uruguay, Sri Lanka

Pool C: Russia, Chile, Moracco, Tunisia

Pool D: Hong Kong, Spain, Mexico South Korea