Prop Ranaweera likely to miss Asiad

With just under two weeks to go for the final Rugby Asiad, The Lankan team has been beset by injuries. From the 37 member squad CH and FC’s ace prop forward Jayantha Ranaweera is very unlikely to take part in the tournament due to a neck injury.

Sports Physician Dr. Seevali Jayawickrema speaking to The Sunday Times said: “Some players have picked up injuries during training. Rugby is a contact sport and this is nothing unusual. Most of the players I have seen should be able to make it. Ranaweera’s case is different. X rays have shown there is a problem with his neck. As such it may not be advisable to play him. At the end of the day we also have to think about the player’s future. Pradeep Liyanage for instance returned to training on Friday after a lapse of about ten days.”

When asked about the training regimen coach of the host team Rob Yule said: “It has been going well other than for injuries to some of the players. We have done fitness and gym work in addition to honing the skills of each player. We are hoping to start team work training this week.”

When asked about Sri Lanka’s chances and the controversy surrounding the departure of five pool players for the World Cup finals in France, Yule said:

“I don’t know much about the opposition other than for Kazakhstan. Ideally we would have liked to play Malaysia first. But that is not how the draw worked out. As for China it depends on the team they send. If they send their best team it will be tough first outing for us. Anyway we take one match at a time. We will plan for China and then see about the next match. As for the five players who went overseas, I cannot comment on that. It’s a matter that has to be sorted out by the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union and the selectors.”

The countries that are taking part are Kazakhstan, hosts Sri Lanka, China, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Malaysia, Pakistan, Iran and Qatar. The matches will be played at Longden Place and at the Royal College Sports Complex grounds. The first five teams mentioned have been split into two groups and will compete for the cup while the remaining four will battle for the shield.

Meanwhile the five members of the Sri Lankan pool who left for France for the World Cup are Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Imran Bisthamin, Fazil Mariza, Sean Wijesinghe and Dushantha Lewke.