Sri Lanka Rugby, on the ball
View(s):By Naushad Amit
Scrum half Roshan Weeraratne will lead a new-look Sri Lanka Tuskers
Ahead of the upcoming Asia Division I Rugby Championship, Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) has arranged two practice games between Sri Lanka and Malaysia, to be played during the first week of May. The Sri Lanka rugby squad will leave for Malaysia on April 30 to play the two practice games against Malaysia on May 2 and 4 in Kuala Lumpur.
Sri Lanka’s two practice games against the top tier team come as preparation prior to the Asian Division I Rugby Championship to be played in Chinese Taipei from May 29 to June 1. Sri Lanka is set to play two games — the scheduled game against the Philippines on May 29 and another decider on June 1, even if they win or lose this game.
Sri Lanka’s last outing in 15s rugby was in 2017 and last season the Tuskers had to skip the Asian Division I Championship on logistic issues, but managed to remain in the segment after explaining facts to the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU).
“We have always had healthy relationships with our regional governing body as well as World Rugby (WR). Sri Lanka has not played 15s for nearly two years and this tour was arranged as preparation for the Asian Division I Championship, after discussing with ARFU. We managed to get a fixture with a team appearing in the Asia Rugby Championship, the top tier of ARFU circuit,” SLR President Lasitha Gunaratne stated.
But SLR is unwilling to relax, knowing that Sri Lanka has missed out on certain opportunities in 15s rugby. The fact that Sri Lanka could not appear as a team in a test match, even at regional level, has begun to give SLR an alarming signal that the country should also look at opportunities in 15s, instead of turning their entire focus on the 7s format. Playing Malaysia, a team in the top tier alongside South Korea and Hong Kong, will be an ideal team building assignment for Sri Lanka, who had relaxed for years in the 15s format.
“Sri Lanka has been highly concentrating on the 7s format lately, and the 15s format has gone off radar due to that. SLR is planning on arranging ‘home and away’ fixtures annually. We are planning to discuss this programme at the upcoming WR General Assembly, and have cross border fixtures against teams from other regions that are ranked above Sri Lanka. We could have regular 15s test matches happning here in Sri Lanka as well as some matches to be played away. There’s a lot of planning involved on this programme. Eventually it’s Sri Lanka rugby and the country that will benefit through this,” Gunaratne revealed.
For the two practice games in Malaysia, Sri Lanka will send a squad of 30 players under the appointed skipper Roshan Weeraratne. The contingent will also include the coaching staff and selectors, who will assess the team’s performances during the two games.
“The final squad of 25 will be selected after the games against Malaysia. The selectors and coaching staff will be able to observe the players closely, particularly against a team that is slotted in the tier above Sri Lanka. We want the best combination to fly off to Chinese Taipei, win the championship and earn back our due place in the top tier,” Gunaratne, banking heavily on the two practice games, said.
With intentions of gaining a promotion, the Roshan Weeraratne led Sri Lanka 15s will have to better their performances above those of rivals, the Philippines, Singapore and Chinese Taipei. Unlike the usual format, where a team had to play in a league format, before the finals, this year the Asia Division I Championship will be played in a knockout format.
The winners of the two preliminary games, virtual semi-finals, on May 29, will straightaway play in the final on June 1 after the 3/4 Place Playoff between the two losers. The matches are scheduled to be played at the Taipei Municipal Stadium. Sri Lanka will play against Philippines at 7.30pm Sri Lanka time while hosts Chinese will take on Singapore two hours later.
Sri Lanka last won the Asia Division I Championship in 2015 under Fazil Marija in his farewell tour. Interestingly Marija joins the Sri Lanka side again, but as a coach.
Sri Lanka squad of 39 players: Roshan Weeraratne (Captain), Yaqoob Ali, Uchitha Jayasuriya, Mohamed Shabir, Suhiru Anthony, Tharindu Chathuranga, Thilina Weerasinghe (all from Kandy SC), Faiz Abdullah, Azmir Fajudeen, Umesh Madushan, Lasindu Ishan, Mithun Hapugoda, Sandesh Jayawickrema, Dinuk Amarasinghe, Theekshana Dissanayake (all from Havelocks SC), Jason Melder, Sathya Ranatunga, Prasad Madushanka, Sajith Saranga, Niwanka Prasad, Sudarshana Muthuthanthri, Samuel Maduwantha, Anuradha Herath (all from CH&FC), Omalka Gunaratne, Rahul de Silva, Kavindu Perera, Kevin Dixon, Riza Raffaideen (all from CR&FC), Kasun de Silva, Buddhima Piyaratne, Mohamed Afzal, Gihan Perera (all from Navy SC), Charles Praveen, Thilina Bandara, Nuwan Perera (all from Air Force SC), Prabath Kumara, Ashan Bandara, Sudaraka Dikkumbura (all from Army SC), Sachith Silva (Police SC).