Sri Lanka Tuskers set to take on Hong Kong 7s

Sri Lanka National Rugby Sevens team which finished third overall in last year’s Asian Rugby Sevens Series will send a strong team to this year’s Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Rugby Sevens to be played from 28 to 30 March at Hong Kong Stadium.

The tuskers won the first ever silverware in this event in 1984 becoming the bowl champions under the veteran Hisham Abdeen. 

Sri Lanka rugby has taken-off recently with some systemized administration adding direction and the Carlton 7’s introducing to Sri Lanka which is a grueling format pitting local player among the best in the world.  The  best players in today’s World rugby in the likes of the All black captain D.J. Forbes, Tomsai Cama, Dan Nortan former Fiji Captain Setefano Cakaou have graced the islands lawns and challenged the home boys to match up to them.

The country’s Rugby has reached an intriguing plateau with the newfound form especially in the sevens segment allowing the island the singular honour of part-taking in this World rugby extravaganza yet again. 

The team will be captained by the dynamic Kandy SC playmaker Fazil Marija and will have a combination of youth and experience in the squad. This is Marija’s fourth Hong Kong 7’s appearance and he holds the most experience in terms of playing internationally. In addition to his numerous sevens sojourns for his home country in the recent past, his exposure playing for the Asian Barbarians 10’s alongside Wallaby legend George Greegan in Hong Kong and some New Zealand division 1 club play, will put him in the forefront to take on the opposition.

Experience adds on further in the form of the veteran Kandy duo Saliya Kumara and Gayan Weeraratne. Saliya Kumara who is on his fifth Hong Kong 7’s tour will be the most capped player for Sri Lanka. Weeraratne who has had a relatively quiet club season by his standards, carries a load of sevens skills and has worn his country’s jersey to the Hong Kong 7s in 2006. 

“Japanese say whenever Soori gets the ball he will score a try” was Chandrishan Perera anecdote to Srinath Sooriyabandara (Soori). With his Campese’s steps and electrifying speed Soori has already set the Asian circuit a light. 

Shenal Dias former Peterite and Havies lock forward returns to the squad from the USA where he is undergoing higher studies. The 6’4” Dias influence will play a significant role both in attack and defense, and the Tuskers will require his pandemic work load in this series. 

In addition to this, Dinusha Chathuranga who once toured the Hong Kong 7s in 2009 and has been a regular feature in the sevens side of recent, will add to Sri Lanka’s fortunes as will the return of National XV’s skipper Yoshitha Rajapaksa which will add an impact for a good defensive line.

The Peterite formation of the club season’s highest try scorer Sandun Herath, Havelock’s SC dashing center Dhanuska Ranjan who will make his first appearance at an international level, will add the much needed speed skills to the formation.

Sudharshana Muthuthantri (Muthu) the Havelock’s captain has been outstanding in the concluded Dialog rugby league showing his strength of tackles and turnovers. Although 7’s is a different game from XV’s it is an opportunity for him to display his prowess. Nigel Ratwatte who displayed loads of versatility in the recent league comes into the side to reinforce kicking. 

Nilfer Ibrahim as head coach has once again been handed over the reins.  His credentials over the years are numerous having coached the Sri Lanka 7s in to the Asian 7s series and U 20 Junior Asiad side in 2009 side previously and many top schools team through his coaching career.

Performing Manager duties for the side, former Isipathana and CR player Rohan Chinthaka, fondly known as ‘nana’ by the community is an understated asset to the side.  It is popularly accepted that he is competent at his job and the players respond well to him.  

Sri Lanka will come up against the best nations in world rugby sevens and are drawn in Pool – A where they face the mighty Fijians, Kenya and Wales. In Pool – B Australia. France, South Africa and Spain while Pool – C Argentina, Canada, England and Portugal and Pool – D  New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland and USA

Sixteen top nations will participate in the 3 day tournament in which 4 teams will be seeded for each pool. 

The top 2 teams from each pool will qualify to play in the cup quarter final and the bottom 2 teams will qualify for the bowl quarter final. The losing teams in the cup quarter finals will play in the plate semi finals while the losing teams in the bowl quarter finals will play in the shield semi finals

Sri Lanka Squad for the Hong Kong Sevens 2014 and Fixtures

The Match Official’s for the Hong Kong Sevens 2014

Sri Lanka Group Fixtures for the Hong Kong Sevens 2014 – Pool – A

Hong Kong 7s 2014 – Sri Lanka Captain – Fazil Marija

Hong Kong 7s 2014 – Sri Lanka Coach – Nilufer Ibrahim