Defending champions MAS Holdings who won the cup championship the last two years will miss their third in a row as they have pulled out of the tournament due to five of the players being injured.
Former Sri Lanka captain Fazil Marija, nationals caps Anurudda Wilwara, Nigel Ratwatte, Gayan Weerarathne and Shehan Pathirana are the starts in that injured list. Another notable absentee for the Access Group is the national XV’s and 7s skipper Sudarshana Muthuthantri. The tournament will conducted from 15th – 17th July at the CR&FC Grounds.
However, the Mercantile Rugby 7s has been always a colourful event in the calendar and 31 team will compete in the cup, plate, bowl and shield competition. Mercantile Rugby Football Association (MRFA) under its new president Shanaka Fernando is ready to light up this year’s event. Shanaka also been part for 30 years playing this glamorous event since 1982 as he hung up his boots in 2013.
In the cup category Access Group also features many stars and is captained by the sevens sensation Srinath Sooriyabandara. They will be coached by Nilfer Ibrahim.
Dialog Axiata is another team which is eyeing their first cup title as Dinusha Chathuranga will lead the team under Collin Denish’s guidance. Sasanka Ariyarathne the CR&FC flanker will lead the young look John Keells team coached by Dushanth Lewke whilst Thusitha Dushan will lead the Nation Lanka Finance which will be coached by Rajeev Perera.
Team Access were the runners up last year going down to MAS in the finals. Dialog won the plate championship beating John Keells last year. Meanwhile the People Leasing & Finance Co. PLC will be the debutant for this event and will compete in the Shield category. A new edition with women’s tag rugby also being included to this tournament. Veteran referees Dilroy Fernando and S.W.Chang are expected to blow in the middle for the women’s games.
On Friday the event will be worked off form 2pm to 7pm and on Saturday from 9am to 7pm and on the final day also from 9 am to 7pm.
Access Group: Srinath Sooriyabandara (C), Dhanushka Ranjan, Richard Dharmapala, Buweneka Udangamuwa, Dhanush Dayan, Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, Chula Susantha, Kavindu Perera, Chanaka Chandimal, Kevin Dixon, Saliya Handapangoda, Jason Dissanayake
Dialog Axiata : Dinusha Chathuranga (C), Mushin Faleel, Lee Keegal, Mohamed Absal, Rochana Hettiarachchi, Suhiru Anthony, Niroshan Fernando, Chamara Dabare, Mithun Hapugoda, Dulaj Perera, Anuradha Herath, Buddima Piyarathne
John Keels ‘A’ : Sasanka Ariyarathne (C), Hirantha Perera, Sashan Mohomed, Sudam Sooriarachchi, Reeza Raffaideen, Rehan Silva, Tarinda Ratwatte, Thilina Wijesinghe, Mekalanka Promodha, Asitha Punchihewa, Vimukthi Rahula, Nishon Perera
Nation Lanka : Thusitha Dushan (C), Suranga Pushpakumra, Samantha Lakshan, Lasindu Ishan, Ranjan Beddegama, Gayantha Iddamalgoda, Ramadas Ramesh, Janith Chanaka, Thilina Bandara, Dushmantha Priyadarshana, Shamry Burah, Devinda Prasad, Udaya Sanjula, Dhanushka Pushpakumara, Sathsara Basnayaka
