Lankan girls to scrum down at the Asian Doha Rugby 7s

By Bernie Wijesekera

After a slippery climb Sri Lanka’s women’s rugby is firmly rooted. Thanks to the efforts of the president of the Sabaragamuwa Rugby Union, Arjun Dharmadasa.

The rugby lasses hard at practices - Pic by Ranjith Perera

Arjun, totally committed has done a kings-sized job promoting the game at grassroots level among the rural less affluent boys/girls to indulge in rugby. It was his bench –mark today they have made the grade.

The girls from the Sabaragamuwa district developed fast. They are fortunate to have been coached by rugby legend Hisham Abdeen.from the year 2005. Despite a short span they created a new milestone winning the Singapore International 7s Bowl Championship with Abdeen, in the driving seat

The team was managed by Kamini Jinadasa.

The Lankan girls have been invited for the Doha Asiad Women’s 7s, organized by the Asian Rugby Football Union to be staged in Qatar from April 27-28. The visiting teams will be hosted by the Arabian Gulf Rugby Union.

Dharmadasa a senior Council member of the Rugby Union said the 12 –member team plus 3 officials will be sponsored by the SLRFU as a part of the IRB development programme.

The squad is undergoing training under Abdeen at Havelock Park. Lt. Col. Dhammika Gunasekera and Kamini Jinadasa are in charge of the squad.

The following countries will take part in the Doha women’s Rugby 7s Asiad: China, Hong Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan, Singapore, Thailand, Uzbekistan, and Sri Lanka.

The team will leave on April 25.