West Asia Club Rugby Championship 2018 Injury-hit Kandy host Bahrain RFC

By Shamseer Jaleel

Injury-hit defending League and Clifford Cup winners Kandy SC will host Bahrain RFC at the Nittawela Rugby Stadium today in their West Asia Club Championship 2018 encounter.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4.00 pm. Kandy lost nearly 11 of their players to injury and national commitments at the Asian Games in Indonesia. This will mean that Nigel Ratwatte will lead the outfit for today’s encounter. Kandy will field as many as five junior players for this game.

Bahrain RFC has been participating in the West Asia Rugby event for the last 16 years. Last year they beat Kandy 24-23. A win is a must for both sides if they are to proceed to the second encounter in the UAE in two weeks. 

The visiting Bahrain RFC was involved in a coaching session yesterday and will give away rugby equipment to Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala. The other team in the West Asia Club Championship is Harlequins RFC. A win is a must for both sides if they are to proceed to the second encounter in the UAE in two weeks. The other team in the West Asia Club Championship is Harlequins RFC.

 Kandy SC

Nigel Ratwatte (Capt.), Roshan Weeraratne, Asitha Ratnayake, Heshan Silva, Lavanga Perera, Oshan Perera, Uchitha Jayasuriya, Thlina Wijesinghe, Tharindu Chathuranga, Arshad Jamaldeen, Yakoob Ali, Shehan Pathirana, Sayuru Anthony, Omantha Pathiyawatte, Lahiru Daulagalla, Gayan Jayawardena, Ganuka Dissanayake, Lastiha Attanagoda, Dilakshka Dange, Malitha Wijesundera,Shisharanga Herarath, Bbbuwanka Udangamuwa, Heshan Jansen, Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, Shanushka Abeywickrema, Shamika Perera, Himanka Danujya, Lakshitha Ranaweera and Kelum Madushanka.

Bahrain RFC

Oliver Sanson, Sunia Fumeitau, Richard Muncaster, Lindsey Gibson, Arron Dalgamo, Matthew Mckee, Callan Hope, Jack Parry, Mark Burnell, Richard Wilkinson, Max Sae, Thomas Bell, Jordan Viggers, Alastiar Cromble, Jack Sale, Elliot Behan, Thomas Booth, Rhys Fitzgerald, Aled Morris, Robert Bennett, luke Alexander Radley, Nicholas Annear, Ross Preedy, Adam Wellace, Jack Phillips, Ali Adajani, Gregory Heath and Graham Bishop.

Referee: Drake Norman

Assistant Referees: Maurice Butler and Praneeth Weranga 

Asian Games Rugby Sevens 2018

Sri Lanka edged out by South Korea

Sooriyabandara about to tackle a South Korean player with support coming in from Danushka Dyan

Sri Lanka were edged out by South Korea 31/26 in their second game at the Asian Games Rugby Sevens encounter at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex in Indonesia yesterday. 

At the short breather, Sri Lanka led 17/7. Sri Lanka beat UAE 68/0 in their opening encounter. Their last pool game against Afghanistan is a must-win encounter if they are to qualify for the quarter-finals today.

In the Men’s encounter, Japan scored the highest points when they handed off the hosts 92 to nothing. Meanwhile, in the Women’s segment, both China and Japan looked very strong probable Gold Medal hopes for their countries. (SJ)