Squad of 29 named for Asian 7s Series
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Sri Lanka 7s squad includes a few newcomers and players who are making comebacks - File pic
Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) named a squad of 29 players targeting the upcoming Asian 7s Series, which will consist of three legs. According to Rohan Chinthaka, the Manager of Sri Lanka 7s Rugby, SLR will rotate players from the squad of 29 for the three legs of the Asian 7s Series, as well as the Olympic Qualifiers, which will follow later this year.
Surprisingly, the SLR Selectors have omitted former National 7s skipper Sudarshana Muthuthanthri from the squad of 29, but have included playmakers Srinath Sooriyabandara, Danush Dayan and Danushka Ranjan. Havelocks scrumhalf Mithun Hapugoda, who was sidelined from selection, too have been included into the squad of 29.
Among other entrants into the squad are Kandy SC’s latest recruit Kavindu Perera, who emerged as the Player of the Tournament at the recently concluded Dialog Inter-Club 7s 2019 and school leavers Janindu Dilshan, Chathura Seneviratne, Gemunu Chethiya and Naveen Henakankanamge.
In the squad of 29, nine players represent Kandy Sports Club, while five players each have made it to the squad from Havelock Sports Club and CR&FC. Three players have been picked from Navy Sports Club, while two each will represent CH&FC, Air Force and Police. Army SC’s contribution to the squad is one.
The 29-member squad will continue training during the coming weeks before a final squad of 12 is named for the First Leg of the Asian 7s Series to be held in South Korea on August 31 and September 1. The team is scheduled to leave the island on August 28.
The Second Leg will follow in China on September 12 and 13 before the Third and Final Leg in Colombo on September 28 and 29 to be played at the Racecourse ground.
Sri Lanka Rugby 7s 29-member pool:
Anuruddha Wilwara, Danush Dayan, Danushka Ranjan, Jason Dissanayake, Kavindu Perera, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Tarinda Ratwatte, Thilina Wijesinghe and Shabeer Mohammed (all from Kandy SC), Dinuk Amerasinghe, Ishara Liyanage, Kavinda Keshan, Mithun Hapugoda and Naveen Henakankanamage (all from Havelock SC), Janidu Dilshan, Gamunu Chethiya, Kevin Dixon, Reeza Raffaideen and Vishwa Ranaraja (all from CR&FC), Adeesha Weeratunga, Buddhima Piyarathane and Chathura Seneviratne (all from Navy SC), Anuradha Herath and Nishon Perera (both from CH&FC), Ravindu Hettiarachchi and Thilina Bandara (both from Air Force SC), Sachith Silva and Iroshan Silva (both from Police SC), Sudharaka Dikkumbura (Army SC)