The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) has finalized a 15 member squad for the upcoming Asia Rugby Under 20 Sevens series that is set to kick off on the 30th of July 2016 in Malaysia.
The Under 20 Sevens series is a two-leg series organized by the Asia Rugby Football Union (ARFU) and the first leg will take place on the 30th & 31st followed by the concluding fixture scheduled to kick off mid-August in Hong Kong. The two leg tour will consist of 10 teams from Asia including heavyweights Japan.
The touring squad will comprise of players who represented Sri Lanka in last year’s under 20 sevens competition as the tournament rules allow players born in the year 1996 to participate. Former St. Peter’s College skipper and Tuskers national cap Kevin Dixon is set to give leadership to the under 20 Tuskers who will depart for Malaysia over the weekend.
This will be Kevin Dixon’s third assignment with the leadership duties having captained the Under 18 Sevens team to the Junior Youth Games in 2013 and the under 20 Sevens team last year for the Asia Under 20 Sevens series. Alongside Dixon will be his partner-in-crime, the former Junior Tuskers under 20 XV’s captain Omalka Gunarathne who would be aiding the Lankan cause in Malaysia.
Among the other picks in the 15 member squad are Peterites Nishon Perera, Shamri Burah and Ramesh Rukmal while the former Josephian skipper Taariq Salih along with Vimukthi Rahula find themselves in the 15 member squad too.
Dhanuja Wijayarathne from S. Thomas’ College will be the only pick in the squad from the 2016 School Rugby Season, taking into account his aggravating pace and his talent in playing multiple roles.
Sri Lanka will be facing Philippines in the series opener on Saturday at (7.38 a.m. SL time) followed by Thailand (10.14 a.m. SL time). In the evening Sri Lanka will face the Asian giants Japan (3.30 p.m. SL time) and the final group stage encounter will that against UAE that will be played on Sunday morning (7.36 a.m. SL time).
Sudath Sampath will take over duties as head coach for the series while only a 12-member touring squad will leave the country on Thursday for the series, with 3 standby players (unannounced as yet) being named.
15-member Under 20 Squad
1. Kevin Dixon – St. Peter’s College (Captain)
2. Omalka Gunarathne – Isipathana College (Vice-Captain)
3. Nishon Perera – St. Peter’s College
4. Reeza Raffaideen – Kingswood College
5. Vimukthi Rahula – St. Joseph’s College
6. Shamri Burah – St. Peter’s College
7. Lasindu Ishan – Science College
8. Tariq Salih – St. Joseph’s College
9. Rehan Silva – Isipathana College
10. Buddhima Priyarathana – D. S. Senanayake College
11. Chamika Kusal – Wesley College
12. Ramesh Rukmal – St. Peter’s College
13. Asitha Punchihewa – Isipathana College
14. Dhanuja Wijayarathne – S. Thomas’ College
15. Supun Dilshan – Science College
 has finalized a 15 member squad for the upcoming Asia Rugby Under 20 Sevens series that is set to kick off on the 30th of July 2016 in Malaysia.){kind=link}