CR pull out of Dialog Inter-Club Rugby Sevens

Wednesday, 30 May 2018 01:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

CR&FC have pulled out of the first leg of the Dialog Inter-Club Sevens 2018 citing injuries to some of their leading players plus a lack of preparation for the first leg of the tournament which will take place at the Racecourse rugby grounds this weekend.

The team is coached by Nilfer Ibrahim, the current Head Coach of St. Joseph’s College who was also the Asian Sevens coach of the national team while guiding the junior national outfits at many tournaments.

CR&FC are led by former Vidyartha player Kavindu Perera, with Tharinda Ratwatte assisting him. Kavindu will also have Kevin Dixon, Reza Rafaideen, Shehan Dias, Omalka Gunaratne and Adeesha Weeratunga in the starting line-up. Dixon, who is in New Zealand, will be returning for the club season.

CR Team Manager Mohamed Mushtaq, the former Zahirian and national Sevens player, said: “Many of our players are injured and they need a break. They played at the Commonwealth Games, Borneo Sevens and then underwent national Sevens training. We will focus more on the Fifteens this year around.”

He went on to hint that they were unlikely to feature in the second leg of the tournament as well. (SJ)