Soori out due to an injury

 Sri Lanka Womens squad before their departure to China

Asia Rugby Sevens 2nd leg in China

By Shamseer Jaleel

Sri Lanka will kick off the second leg of the Asia Rugby Sevens 2019 in China on 14 and 15 September, making a brave effort to do well after securing the fifth spot in the first leg in South Korea two weeks ago.

Srinath Sooriyabandara will miss out the second leg due to an injury and his place will be taken over by his club mate Thilina Wijesinghe. Meanwhile Chathura Seneviratne too was injured and his place will be taken over by former Thomian and Junior Skipper Naveen Heenakakamge.

Sri Lanka who won the plate (fifth place) at South Korea will be running a yard faster to end in the top four in order to get selected for the Hong Kong Sevens 2020 emerging teams event in case they end at number four or above in aggregate from all three legs (South Korea, China and Colombo).

Meanwhile the women’s outfit sponsored by SAGT ended at number 6, losing finalist in the Plate segment to their usual opponents, Thailand. They too will be making a better effort to climb up their ranking in the Asian region’s fastest growing sport.

Sri Lanka will host the third leg in Colombo on 28 and 29 September at the Racecourse rugby ground.

Men’s touring squad

Danushka Dyan (Kandy SC), Jason Dissanayake (Kandy SC), Thilina Bandara (Air Force SC), Reza Raffaideen (CR & FC), Dinuk Amerasinghe (CR & FC), Janidu Dilshan (CR & FC), Gamunu Cheethiya (CR & FC), Iroshan Silva (Police SC), Adeesha Weerathunga (Navy SC), Sudaraka Dikkumbura (Army SC), Thilina Wijesinghe (Kandy SC) Kevin Dixon (CR & FC) and Naveen Heenakankanmge (CH & FC)

Head Coach Matt Lee

Men’s Pool A: Japan, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taipei

Pool B: Hong Kong, China, Philippines, UAE

Women’s touring squad

Sanjeewani Wijetileke (captain), Ayesha Kaluarachchi (vice captain), Thanuja Weerakkody, Anusha Athanayake, Dulani Pallikkondange, Wasana Weerakkody, Nimesha Wijewardena, Dasuni de Silva, Dilini Kanchana, Nadeeka Munasinghe, Kumari Dilrukshi and Sanjeewani Dilini Kanchana, Nadeeka Munasinghe, Kumari Dilrukshi and Sanjeewani

Manager: Rupika Jayasinghe

Head Coach – Sudath Sampath

Assistant Coach – Upali Wickramasinghe

Physio – Ruwani Deepika

Trainer – Dilan Soyza

Women’s Pool C: Japan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Singapore

Pool D: Sri Lanka, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia