Dixon leads Sri Lanka Under 20 to Malaysia

Thursday, 28 July 2016 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Untitled-5 By Shamseer Jaleel

Sri Lankan Under-20 Sevens outfit will fly to Malaysia in order to participate in the first leg of the Under-20 Asian Rugby Sevens 2016 (Johor Sevens) on 28 July. The tournament will be worked off on 30 and 31 July with a two-leg event which will feature 10 teams, with the second leg slated to be worked off in Hong Kong during the second week of August.

Former Peterite and Havies player Kevin “Kutty” Dixon will lead a well-balanced outfit which is blended with youth and experience. This will be Dixon’s third time as skipper, having led the Under-18 Sevens, Under-20 Sevens in 2015 and 2013 on previous occasions. He will have the former Isipathana and former Sri Lanka Under-20 fifteens skipper Omalka Gunaratne as his deputy. The squad also includes top class players former Joes flanker Tariq Salih and Kingswoodian Reza Rafaideen. Sri Lanka ended as runner-up to Hong Kong in the last event but this year, the Asian giant Japan will be in the same group.

Sri Lanka will play Philippines (7.38 a.m. SL time), Thailand (10.14 a.m.) and Japan (3.30 p.m.) on the first day while on day two (31 July), they will play their final group encounter against UAE (7.36 a.m.).

Former Isipathana, Police SC, CH&FC and Kandy SC player, Sri Lanka sevens specialist, Sudath Sampath will be the Head Coach on this tour. The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) made a decision not to appoint coaching staff who are currently serving at any school in the senior level for this vital position.

Groups – Men’s: Group A – Hong Kong, Malaysia, Taipei, Singapore and South Korea; Group B – Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UAE and the Philippines; Women’s: Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore and hosts Malaysia.

Touring squad: Kevin Dixon (Capt.) (St. Peter’s and Havelocks SC), Omalka Gunarathne (Isipathana and Navy SC), Nishon Perera (St. Peter’s), Reza Rafaideen (Kingswood and Police SC), Vimukthi Rahula (Joes), Shamri Burah (St. Peter’s), Lasindu Ishan (Science), Tariq Salih (Joes), Rehan Silva ( Isipathana), Buddhima Priyarathana (DS), Chamika Kusal (Wesley), Asitha Punchihewa (Isipathana); Head Coach – Sudath Sampath.