Final chance for Sri Lankan ruggerites

By Shamseer Jaleel

Road to Rio and its final berth qualification in the Men’s segment will be worked off in Monaco on 18 and 19 June, with 16 teams around the globe who have done well in their region but ended in the top four locking horns. 

From Asia, Japan already being qualified for this event with Hong Kong, South Korea and Sri Lanka will try their luck at this rugby tournament which will be a tough battle for the sole position among the 16 top teams locking horns in the two-day event. 

Meanwhile the Women’s final berth encounter will take place in Dublin, Ireland on 25 and 26 June. Host nation Brazil’s men and women qualified automatically for Rio 2016.

The Sri Lanka outfit is under training with the former England Sevens player Matt Turner operating as the head Coach for the sevens outfit. The final touring 12 will be selected early next week, with most of the players recovering from their injuries which they sustained during the Inter Club league tournament. 

The majority of them did not attend training for the Asian Rugby Championship Division I which took place in Malaysia last month. Former Thomians and Havies player Sudharshan Mthuthanthri is tipped to lead the outfit. 

Men’s

Monaco Sevens: Men’s Repechage: Stade Louis II, Monaco, 18 and 19 June

Pool A: Samoa, Zimbabwe, Tonga, Ireland

Pool B: Canada, Germany, Uruguay, Sri Lanka

Pool C: Russia, Chile, Morocco, Tunisia

Pool D: Hong Kong, Spain, Mexico, South Korea

Women’s

Dublin: Women’s Repechage: UCD Bowl, 25 and 26 June

Pool A: Russia, Samoa, Zimbabwe, Madagascar

Pool B: Spain, Mexico, Venezuela, Tunisia

Pool C: Ireland, China, Portugal, Trinidad and Tobago

Pool D: Hong Kong, Argentina, Kazakhstan, Cook Island