Sri Lanka Rugby has made three changes ahead of the second leg of the Asia Sevens Series that will kick off at the Namdong Stadium in South Korea and skipper Sudarshana Muthuthanthri will make his entry back into the side.
The national selectors have picked two new national caps to fill the void of the injured Gayan Weeraratne and Kavindu Perera.
Former Havelock SC and current CR & FC recruit Shehaan Dias is set to start in his first national jersey when the team makes it to South Korea. Dias, who played as an utility forward last season for Havelock SC, was a highlight for the all round performance he showcased and was later headhunted by CR for this Dialog Rugby League season.
The former Wesleyite has been in training with the national side for the past four months and it is a deserving call up for Dias.
Meanwhile, CH & FC crossover Nishon Perera will also be in line for a debut in the national sevens jersey this second leg. Perera was a part of the U20 national sevens side that won the Asia Under 20 sevens series in 2016 and later represented the Sri Lanka XV’s in 2017.
The 22-year-old was nominated on the team sheet for the Paris tour in May but unfortunately missed out due to an error in the paperwork.
Meanwhile, Reyhan Silva, who played the 1st leg will have to sit out of the 2nd leg Skipper Sudarshana Muthuthanthri will be back with him recovered from his wrist injury while
Danushka Ranjan is still recovering from his hamstring injury.
The 12-member touring squad is as follows:
Sudarshana Muthuthanthri (CH & FC), Srinath Sooriyabandara (Kandy), Danush Dayan (Kandy), Kevin
Dixon (CR & FC), Reeza Raffaideen (CR & FC), Dinuk Amerasinghe (Havelock), Naveen
Henakankanamage (CH & FC), Sudam Sooriyarachchi (CH & FC), Buddhima Piyarathane (Navy),
Adeesha Weerathunga (Navy), Shehaan Dias (CR & FC), Nishon Perera (CH & FC)
