For the first time in a Sri Lanka’s long history of rugby a ‘super tournament’ has been organized to go along with the Carlton Sevens. The super tournament will see the Australia Legends, New Zealand Legends take on the national teams of ‘sevens kings’ Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

The teams from down under will feature former players thus one cannot over state the importance of the contest as it will be the first time that Sri Lankan rugby fans will get to see players of this calibre live.
Meanwhile eleven countries in addition to the hosts have confirmed their participation in the Carlton Sevens rugby tournament to be held in Sri Lanka at the end of this month. This tournament is also the last event of the inaugural Asian Rugby Sevens Circuit.

Kandy’s Saliya Kumara back in the saddle

Hence the heavyweights of Asian rugby such as Japan and South Korea have stated they would send their national teams.

It is reliably learnt that other than for Japan, South Korea and Sri Lanka, countries such as Chinese Taipei, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Jordan, Brunei and Iran have stated that they will participate.

Reliable sources also stated that George Simpkin will not be coaching the Sri Lankan squad. Instead former Sri Lankan wing three quarter and sevens expert Inthisham Marikkar will take charge of the squad. Training is due to commence on Monday.

However, the squad is pending approval from the Sports Minister Gamini Lokuge. Minister Lokuge speaking to the Sunday Times said; “I cannot tell you anything about the team for the Carlton Sevens simply because I am yet to see the selected 18. When I left office on Friday, the list had not arrived. It may have come after I left. I do not know. I will have to check tomorrow. And no I do not know who has been selected to lead the team.”

Interim Committee of rugby sources also declined to give out the selected players. However, pending the Minister’s approval the 18 players are as follows; Ashean Karthelis, Nuwan Hettiarachchi, Lasantha de Costa, Samantha Lakshan, Chamara Vithanage, Saliya Handapangoda, Dilip Selvam, Niranjan Wickramaratne, Suranga Pushpakumara, Sharo Fernando, Dushanth Lewke, Ravi Jayasuriya, Pradeep Liyanage, Saliya Kumara, Dinesh Kumara, Roshan Weeraratne, Anupriya Ettipola and V. Jayasinghe.
Sources also said the squad will be pruned down to 12 in a week or so.