Stallions add Samoan spirit to 2014 Carlton 7s lineup

Monday, 4 August 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Samoan Rugby Royalty joins the team

Sabaragamuwa Stallions, runners up at last year’s Carlton Sevens Tournament and winners of the Colombo leg, look set to make another big impression in this year’s championship, having graced the squad with a potential blitzkrieg of all Samoan Rugby Royalty. Alatasi Tupou, considered one of the best play makers in the current IRB Sevens circuit, has much experience under his belt having represented the National Sevens side since 2006. Joining him will be fellow countryman Tulolo Tulolo Jr, who is currently playing as Wing Three Quarter for the Samoa Sevens as well as for the Manu Samoan 15-a-side team. They both recently represented Samoa at the Commonwealth games. The rest of the brothers in arms are Fautua Otto, Meki Magelele, Fale Sooialo and Talaga Alafipo, who have been drafted to complete the Stallion’s 2014 Samoan powerhouse.

Otto has played center for Bristol for three years, having previously played for the Samoan Sevens side. He is now part of the National Fifteens setup together with rising star Magelele. Sooialo comes on board as a Utility player along with Forward Talaga who recently represented Samoa in the World Club Tens in Singapore.

Stallion’s local contingent includes the following players – Captain Dilip Selvam. Rajitha Abeykoon, Andrew Bradley Benson, Prasad Devinda, Richie Dharmapala, Dinesh Kumara, Nalin Kumara, Gayan Udara Liyanage, Mohamed Sashan and Thishan Wickremasinghe, The team’s Head Coach will be Stephen Betham, who is also currently the Head Coach of Manu Samoa Fifteens National Team, ranked number eight in the World. He is also known for having masterminded Samoa’s IRB World Series Title triumph in 2010. He will be joined by local Assistant Coach Lakala Perera. The Sabaragamuwa Stallions are managed by NSports; a national franchise of Sri Lanka’s elite Carlton Rugby Sevens. The franchise is owned by Nimal Perera who is the Managing Director of Royal Ceramics, Chairman of Pan Asia Bank and Deputy Chairman of Vallibel One.