Muthu returns to lead Sri Lanka

By Shamseer Jaleel

Former Thomian, Havies, and CH and FC player Sudarshana Muthuthanthri returned to the squad for the Korean leg after he missed out on the first leg in Hong Kong due to injury.

The Sri Lankan squad will leave the island tomorrow to Seoul, South Korea ahead of the Asian Sevens Series second leg. The tournament will be played on 29 and 30 September at the Namdong Stadium. 

Sri Lanka will need a top-three finish once again if they are to have any hopes of a Hong Kong Sevens 2019 appearance. Only the top two teams (other than Japan) will be invited from Asia for the World Series event which will take place in April 2019 at the Hong Kong Stadium.

Former Peterite Nishon Perera and the Wesleyite Shehan Dias both were named to tour South Korea. Nishon has also been a part of the Under-20 sevens team which won the Asian Under-20 Series Championship in 2016 under Kevin Dixon.

Dhanushka Ranjan, Kavindu Perera, and Gayan Weeraratne will miss out due to injuries. Ranjan was fit and attended training for a couple of days, but he will only be fully fit for the third and the last leg in Colombo during mid-October.

Jason Dissanayake was left out of the squad though he attended training with Rohan Abeykoon and the team. He missed out on the Hong Kong tour but was in UAE with his club, which left Sri Lanka Rugby and the national selectors fuming over his decision. A hearing will take place today at Sri Lanka Rugby.

Touring Squad – Sudarshana Muthuthanthri  (Captain; CH), Srinath Sooriyabandara, Danushka Dyan (both Kandy SC), Sudam Sooriarachchi, Naveen Henakankanamge, Nishon Perera (all from CH and FC), Kevin Dixon, Reza Rafaideen (both from CR&FC), Buddima Piyaratne, Adeesha Weeratunge (both from Navy SC), Dinuk Amarasinghe and Shehan Dias (both from Havelocks)

Head Coach – Peter Woods