Weakened Tuskers Still Confident Of Good Show At Hong Kong

Asian Sevens Rugby  – Hong Kong

The Sri Lankan rugby sevens squad left for the Asian Hong Kong Sevens brimming with confidence despite missing some key players owing to injury.
The Carlton International Sevens tournament which concluded last week was both a blessing and a concern for local rugby selectors. The tournament provided some intense rugby over the last month and the last two legs involving overseas stars , raised the game by several notches but also took its toll on some of the players.

One of the key players sidelined through injury was nippy scrum half Srinath Sooriyabandara who has been the sevens sensation for the Tuskers in the last two years. Sooriyabandara was also adjudged as the best player in the recently concluded Carlton Sevens but unfortunately suffered a knee injury which has forced him to miss the Hong Kong leg of the Sevens series.

Joining Sooriyabandara on the sidelines is Yoshitha Rajapakse who skippered the winners of the Carlton Sevens Western Warriors, Mithun Hapugoda, Roshan Weeraratne and Shenal Dias who were all key members of the sevens squad that emerged third in the Asian region last year.
Skipper Fazil Marija was however optimistic that the team would do well as the replacement players were also good quality players and had been playing together for sometime now.

Marija will have the support of players in the caliber of Shehan Pathirana who led the Uva Vipers in the Carlton tournament and together with teammate Sadun Herath the duo would have benefitted immensely from playing alongside the All Blacks players DJ Forbes, Tomasino and Tim Mikkelson.

Sudarshana Muthuthantri, Danushka Ranjan , Richard Dharmapala, Nigel Perera and Lavanga Perera are all in good form. Gayan Weerarathna ,  Dinusha Chathuranga  and Anurudda Wilwara  will lend that much needed experience and muscle to the team which also has young Hirantha Perera who makes his debut in the big league with some impressive performances.
Sri Lanka are drawn in Pool C together with Chinese Taipei and China. The Tuskers should have no problem winning these two games and topping their group to move into the knock out round on the next day where they will have to face the likes of Japan, Hong Kong and South Korea who are all likely to emerge as group leaders after the opening round.

The team is coached by Fijian Stefano Cakaunivalu who has been coaching the champion Navy teams and who also coached the Sri Lankan team which won the shield at the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The Sri Lanka Squad: Fazil Marija (capt), Dinesh Chaturanga, Sadun Herath, Sudarshana Muthuthanthri, Nigel Perera, Danuskha Ranjan, Shehan Pathirana, Gayan Weeraratne, Richard Dharmapala, Lavanga Perera, Anurudha Wilwara and  Hirantha Perera. Coach -  Stefano Cakaunivalu, Manager – Rohan Chintaka, Physio – Amith Jayasekera.