Rugby 7s “Road to Rio” Olympic Qualifier will take place on the 18th & 19th of June in Monaco. Sri Lanka have been drawn in Pool B alongside some big names; Canada, Germany and Uruguay.
In the first qualification stage last November, the Tuskers finished 4th in Asia behind Korea, Hong Kong and Japan, the latter being crowned Champions and thereby securing their place in Rio. Interestingly both Korea and Hong Kong will compete in Pool D alongside Spain and Mexico in Monaco. Only one of the 16 competing teams will make it to Rio.
Canada finished 13th in the concluded World Rugby 7s series and are favourites to top Pool B. The shorter version of rugby can be quite unpredictable. Sri Lanka will look to emulate the success of Kenya who recently stunned all by winning the Singapore 7s beating Fiji in the finals, Samoa who won the Paris 7s a fortnight ago and Scotland who won their first ever Cup title in the home of English Rugby last weekend beating South Africa in the London 7s final.
The Tuskers 7s team has been training under former English 7s star Matt Turner. The 20 man pool will be cut down to 12 by the end of this week.
The current training squad
Sudarshana Muthuthantri, Dhanushka Ranjan, Hirantha Perera, Sandun Herath, Rehan Thyagaraja, Nishon Perera, Kevin Dixon (Havelock SC), Fazil Marija, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Danush Dayan, Richard Dharmapala, Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, Suhiru Anthony (Kandy SC), Jason Dissanayake, Rochana Hettiarachchi, Kavindu Perera, Kanchana Ramanayake, Roshan Weerarathne (Kandy SC), Reeza Raffaideen (Police SC) and Omalka Gunarathne (Navy SC)
