Sri Lanka Rugby : Men and Women Tuskers to challenge Asia in Colombo

The third and final leg of Asia 7s series 2015 will kick off at the picturesque Race Course international stadium in Colombo this weekend.

The third and final leg of Asia 7s series 2015 will kick off at the picturesque Race Course international stadium in Colombo this weekend.

Sri Lanka men’s team finished fourth and it was a wooden spoon for the women’s team in the first leg in China. Men once again finished fourth a fortnight ago in Bangkok in the second leg. However, Sri Lanka is set to surprise the nation that is hosting this mega Asian event for the first time in history.

Captain Fazil Marija will step down from captaincy from 7s after this tournament and will give a younger player to lead the Tuskers in the future 7s tournaments. Also Havelock’s duo Dulaj Perera and Sandun Herath are back in the squad replacing Jason Dissanayake and Dinusha Chathuranga (injured).

Out of the original squad Rochana Hettiarachchi and Rohan Thyagarajah are the only players not given an airing.

Meanwhile the Kazakhstan men’s team pulled out from this tournament. They were initially drawn in pool C along with China and Hong Kong.

Meanwhile the Kazakhstan men’s team pulled out from this tournament.  They  were initially drawn in pool C along with China and Hong Kong.

The Tuskers will play against Philippines at 3.22pm and Malaysia at 6.18pm on Saturday. If the Tuskers finish top in their pool they will take on the runner up of pool D in the cup quarterfinal on Sunday. Previously Sri Lanka beat Philippines and Malaysia but has constantly struggled to beat Hong Kong and South Korea.

However, skipper Marija is confident that they will finish second as they are playing at home and just have to add some x factor to overcome the semi-final failures in both previous legs. “We know our mistakes, this time we hope to do better and somehow get in to the final in front of the home crowd” said Marija. Gayan Weerarathne, Anurudda Wilwara and Srinath Sooriyabandara are in a decent form but yet to display their usual brilliance in this year’s series.

Also Coach Mathew Turner said that this team can make trouble for any team if they play according to the plan. “We made some basic errors in Thailand, small things are fixed and it is up to the boys now to make the nation proud, and we have worked on the mental side of the game as well, so we hope to go to the finals this time.”

Final squad – Fazil Marija (C), Gayan Weerarathne, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Nigel Ratwatte, Shehan Pathirana, Anurudda Wilwara, richard Dharmapala (All from Kandy SC)  Sudarshana Muthuthantri, Dhanushka Ranjan, Sandun Herath, Dulaj Perera (Havelock’s SC), Kanchana Ramanayaka (CR&FC)

Coach Chandrishan Perera stated to ThePapare.com “The girls trained so hard it is a big chance for them to show their talent to the country and the world, if the sun is shining there will be some surprises this weekend”

Final squad – Thanuja Weerakkodi, Sandika Hemakumari, Randika Kumudumali, Sandeepa Sandamali, Iresha Wijekoon, Anusha Atthanayake, Sanjeewani De Silva, Pallikondage Dulani, Nadeeka Munasinghe, Wasana Weerakkodi, Dasuni De Silva, Ayesha Lakmali.