The Sri Lanka Rugby team (Tuskers) will depart the island on Wednesday evening to Qingdao, China for the first leg of Asia 7s series on 5th & 6th September. Six (6) players from Kandy SC and five (5) players from Havelock’s are being included along with Kanchana Ramanayaka of CR&FC.
Captain Fazil Marija will miss the first leg due to an injury but still it is a good looking squad that will be touring. Last year’s Havelock’s captain Sudarshana Muthuthantri will lead the Tuskers for the first time. This team is mixed with experience players especially sevens sensation Srinath Sooriyabandara coming in along with Gayan Weerarathne. Hirantha Perera who debuted last year and toured Hong Kong and China is also included in to the squad of 12.
Richard Dharmapala the man of the finals in the concluded Dialog inter club 7s, is in a fine form along with the iron man Anurudda Wilwara. The other speedster Lavanga Perera is another option to play in the middle and creating spaces in the attack despite playing in the wing which is his usual position. Shehan Pathirana and Sooriyabandara who used to be regular players in the shorter version of the game are fit from injury.
Dhanushka Ranjan who was the top try scorer in the club 7s his performance will play a vital part. Havelock’s captain Sandun Herath is expected to play only one minute in the centenary match against CR&FC before the team depart on that night. Dulaj Perera and Kanchana Ramanayake are the other two debutants from the last year’s tour. Nevertheless, quite interestingly Rochana Hettiarachchi of CR&FC was left out although he was outstanding in the club 7s and the Merc 7s.
Selection is always tough and the selectors will revamp after the performance of the players in the first leg and will do the changes when necessary for the second leg.
Meanwhile coach Matt Turner also posted his comment on selection via Twitter
Picked the 12 players for the first leg of the Asia nations, Telling players they aren’t going is just as hard as being told. #bothsides
— Mathew Drew Turner (@Mat_turner11) August 31, 2015
However, the only issue for the Tuskers would be that, can they finish in 3rd spot?
The final 12
Havelock SC
Sudarshana Muthuthantri (C), Sandun Herath, Dhanushka Ranjan, Dulaj Perera, Hirantha Perera
Kandy SC
Gayan Weerarathne, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Richard Dharmapala, Sehan Pathirana, Lavanga Perera, Anurudda Wilwara
CR&FC
Kanchana Ramanayake
