Club rugby will raise the curtains for the first time for this brand new season when the illustrious Race course complex will light-up the upcoming weekend (1st Aug 4pm – 8pm & 2nd Aug 2pm – 8pm) for the Inter Club Rugby Sevens for the 2015/2016.
The Rugby hype that faded away after the conclusion of the fiercely contested school rugby season will rejuvenate this weekend with the much-awaited Dialog Club Rugby sevens clash among the heavyweights. Defending champions Havelock’s Sports Club will have on their hands a grave onslaught when they take the fields in an attempt to defend the Sevens title which they won last year.
The last year’s finalists, Havelocks Sports Club led by the speed merchant Sandun Herath had it easy against CH& FC winning the title 31-14. Unfortunate enough, this year’s tournament will not have the presence of CH & FC while the stronghold from the hills of Kandy are fitting the missing pieces in their puzzle in an attempt to lay their hands on a long awaited Sevens title.
Alongside the defending league title contenders Kandy Sports Club who are expected to play a single side, Havelock Sports Club, Navy SC & Police SC will field in two teams each for the main draw. A total of twelve teams will participate in the top notch run which includes Peterson’s FC as well as Sri Lanka Air Force.
Let’s run through the lined ups for the battle of the speedsters in the shorter format of the oval-ball sport which will kick off this weekend.
Defending champions Havelocks’ have enlisted two teams into the main draw widening their options to target the title. The ‘A’ team will naturally include the ever reliable Sudarshana Muthuthanthri, Dhanushka Ranjan and also Rohitha Rajapaksa.
Squad – Sandun Herath – Shenal Dias – Sudarshana Muthuthantri – Hirantha Perera – Rehan Thyagarajah – Rohitha Rajapaksa – Danushka Ranjan – Kevin Dixon – Thusitha Samarathilaka – Vimukthi Rahula, Dulaj Perera, Andrew Benson, Senal Deelaka
Havelocks ‘B’ will be a compilation of the school talent who will be making their first professional appearance in the Sri Lankan rugby arena. Lasindu Ishan (Science College), Shamri Burah & Nishon Perera (St.Peters) to name a few.
Kandy SC
In a surprising move, the Kandy Sports Club will be playing a single team this tournament. Kandy SC on the outset looks lethal consisting of most of the national sevens contingent. They will be captained by the veteran Sri Lankan national skipper Fazil Marija. Gayan Weerarathne who led the MAS team for the Mercantile triumph is also in fine form and so is Nigel Ratwatte.
Squad – Gayan Weerarathne – Nigel Ratwatte – Roshan Weerarathne – Richard Dharmapala- Fazil Marija – Lavanga Perera – Anurudda Wilwara – Vishwamithra Jayasinghe – Danush Dayan – Thilina Wijesinghe – Suhiru Anthony – Tharindu Shanaka Stand by – Arshad Jamaldeen – Buwanaka Udangamuwa – Lochana Girihagama
CR&FC
The Reds have a young side and some experience in the likes of Ashan De Costa and Sasanka Ariyarathne. Kanchana Ramanayaka and Rochana Hettiarachchi are two players who will be looking for the national spot.
Squad – Ashan De Costa – Sasanka Ariyarathne – Rahul De Silva – Sashan Mohamed – Jason Dissanayaka – Kanchana Ramanayaka – Rochana Hettiarachi – Kavindu Perera – Naleen Kumara – Prince Chamara – Dilan De Zoysa – Banuka Nanayakkara – Amila Bandara – Janith Perera – Nisalanka Promodya – Shemal Weerasekera
Navy SC
Tuskers’ winger Dinusha Chathuranga will lead the team while speedster Pium Jayasinghe joins the sailors from the cops. Lee Keegal, Suranga Pushpakumara and Chanaka Chandimal add some good experience.
Army, Police, Air Force and Peterson’s team squads yet to be named.
Dialog Inter Club Men’s Rugby 7’s Segment-1 Match Schedule
