Rugby: Sooriyabandara to lead Sri Lanka 7s side at Asian Series in Hong Kong

The captaincy of the Sri Lanka Sevens Rugby team has been handed over Srinath Sooriyabandara for the first leg of the Asian Sevens Series to be held in Hong Kong this weekend. 

With few injured top players, Sri Lanka is compelled to make four changes for the two-day competition that will be held at the Hong Kong Football Club this Friday (14) and Saturday (15). 

Skipper Sudarshana Muthuthanthri and playmaker Danushka Ranjan, a former skipper, have been ruled out due to injuries. 

Muthuthanthri is experiencing a wrist dislocation and Ranjan is suffering a hamstring injury. 

Tarinda Ratwatte has ruled himself out as he has decided to leave for New Zealand for higher studies and rugby training while Jason Dissanayake has opted to turn out for Kandy Sports Club in the club's West Asian Club Championship game against Bahrain RFC to be held in the UAE this weekend. 

Replacements for the four players are Naveen Henakankanamge, Dinuk Amarasinghe, Kevin Dixon and Adeesha Weeratunga.  

Sri Lanka will compete alongside Japan, China and Chinese Taipei in Pool 'A' while the Pool 'B' consist hosts Hong Kong, South Korea, Philippines and Malaysia. 

Sri Lanka will play against China on Friday (14) at 11.30am SL time in their opening game, followed by the second game against Japan at 2.45pm while their game against Chinese Taipei will be on Saturday (15) at 9.20am. 

Sri Lanka 7s Squad: Srinath Sooriyabandara (Captain/CH&FC), Gayan Weeraratne (Kandy SC), Kavindu Perera (CR&FC), Sudam Sooriarachchi (CH&FC), Rehan Silva (CR&FC), Reeza Raffaideen (CR&FC), Kevin Dixon (CR&FC), Adeesha Weeratunga (Navy SC), Buddima Piyaratne (Navy SC), Naveen Henakankanamage (CH&FC), Dinuk Amerasinghe (Havelocks SC), Danush Dayan (Kandy SC).