Asian Sevens to kick off in China

The Sri Lanka Sevens team will look to replicate the success of their Fifteens side when competing at the Asian Sevens this year.

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Sri Lanka Sevens rugby team will lock horns with leading rugby outfits from Asia, such as Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea, in the Asian Sevens series which will kick off this year in Shanghai, China on 5 September. 

The second leg will be worked off in Thailand during the last weekend of September. Sri Lanka will make their debut as Asian Sevens series hosts for the very first time when the Race Course Rugby grounds in Colombo hosts the Sri Lankan series, the last leg of the Asian Sevens on 10 and 11 October. 

The Olympic qualifier will be worked off in Hong Kong the following month with 12 leading Asian teams locking horns with the champions booking their berth for the 2016 Rio Olympics.

The local inter-club sevens will be worked off at the end of this month and will be used as a yardstick for the selections of the national team which will give them nearly one month of preparation for this Asian event. 

Kandy fly-half Fazil Marija, who also led the 15-a-side outfit to success in the Philippines with a Division I victory, is very likely to lead the Sevens team as well. Speaking to Daily FT, the Sri Lankan star said: “We have done well in Sevens rugby in Asia. Locally, we had the Singer Sri Lankan Sevens and then the Carlton Sevens. We have finished third several times on the Asian circuit but want to make an impact and feature in the Cup Final. With nearly one month of preparation we will be in great form for the three legs before the domestic rugby season will kick-off in mid November.”