Sri Lanka Rugby picks initial Men’s and Women’s rugby pool

• Samuel Ogbebor makes into initial sevens pool

By Shamseer Jaleel

Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) has selected the initial squad of the Men’s and Women’s national teams encounter for the Asian sevens three leg in South Korea, China, and Sri Lanka, plus the Asia Rugby Division 1 XV a side tournament, which is scheduled to take place in September in Colombo.

Samuel Ogbebor

Defending league champions Kandy Sports Club dominate the initial pool with their 15 players selected, but a surprise omission was their play maker and former Peterite player Sayuru Anthony not being named. Wesley skipper Samuel Ogbebor comes into the sevens squad after an outstanding performance in China with the National Under 19 outfit last year, plus his sevens skills.

The final touring squad of 12 players will be selected from the Men’s and Women’s outfit each. The Asia Rugby Division 1 XV a side event will see 30 players making into the final squad. 

Kandy SC

Charles Praveen, Lasitha Aththanagoda, Yakoob Ali, Damith Dissanayake, Mohamed Shabeer, Jason Dissanayaka, Tharindu Chathuranga, Buwanaka Udangamwa, Roshan Weerathne, Nigel Ratwatte, Tharinda Ratwatte, Buddima Piyarathana, Kavindu Perera, Danushka Dayan and Shean Pathirana 

Havelock SC

Charana Chamikara, Azmeer Fajudeen, Umesh Madushan, Shawket Lahir, Dayan Sabar, Vimukthi Rahul, Theekshana Dissanayaka and Faizal Abdulla

Police SC

Danushka Edirisooriya, Lahiru Pavithra, Rasith Silva, Mohan Wimalarathne, Udara Sooriyapperuma, Wageesha Weerasinghe, Iroshan Silva and Sachith Silva

CR & FC

Omalka Gunarathne, Rahul De Silva, Kalindu Nandila, Dinuk Amarasinghe, Reza Rafaideen, Janidu Dilshan, Mursheed Zubair and Kevin Dixon.

Army SC

Danuka Wijethilake, Sudaraka Dikkumbura, Chameera Silva, Chamoth Fernando and Ashan Bandara.

Navy SC

Adeesha Weerathunga and Chathura Senavirathne

CH & FC

Jason Melder and Samuel Maduwantha

Air Force SC

Imesh Aponso

Men’s Sevens squad

Air Force SC

Ravindu Hettiarachchi

Police SC

Iroshan Silva and Sachith Silva

Army SC

Sudharaka Dikkumbure

CH & FC

Sudam Sooriyaarachchi, Warren Weerakoon, Thuwan Wazeem and Hirusha Sampath

Havelock SC

Raveen Fernando and Kavinda Keshan

 Navy SC

Adeesha Weerathunga and Chathura Senavirathne

Kandy SC

Buddima Piyarathna, Danushka Dyan, Jeson Dissanayaka, Kavindu Perera, Srinath Sooriyabandara and Tharinda Ratwatte

CR & FC

Dinuk Amerasinghe, Gemunu Chethiya, Janidu Dilshan, Kevin Dixon, Reza Rafaideen, Omalka Gunaratne, Thulaib Hassen, Zuabir Doray and Kalindu Nandila

Wesley

Samuel Ogbebor

Women’s Sevens squad

Army SC

Nimesha Sudarshani, Ayesha Perera, Charani Theekshana, Dilini Kanchana, Dulani Pallekondage, Shanika Dilani and Umayangana Thathsarani.

Navy SC

Dasuni De Silva, Gayani Geethika, Sanjeewani Wijeethilaka, Nipuni Warshavithan, Randika Kumudumali, Samantha Jayamali and Kumari Dilrukshi.

Air Force SC

Sanjeewani Perera, Jeewanthi Gunarathna and Anushika Thushari

CR & FC

Kanchana Kumary and Anusha Aththanayaka

Schools

Hekashini Krishnakumar, Chamodya Madumali, Kavisha Perera and Madusha