Adeesha to lead young national 12 member Sri Lanka squad

Former Isipathana College Colombo and present Navy Sports Club third row forward Adeesha Weerathunga will lead a young Sri Lanka Sevens squad to take part in the upcoming Asian Sevens Rugby tournament that will take place in UAE from 20-21 November.

The selectors headed by former Sri Lanka 15 a side captain Asoka Jayasena have also drafted in four young debutant players in the caliber of Ishara Madushan (former Wesley College/Air Force sports club), Samuel Ogbebor (Wesley College/CH and FC), Nuwan Perera (former Kingswood College Kandy/Air Force Sports Club) and Kushan Indunil (former Isipathana College/CH and FC) for this tournament.

Last time Asian sevens tournament was a miserable one for the Sri Lankan Tuskers men’s rugby sevens team, as they were poorly placed at fourth place.

Speaking to the Daily News, Sri Lanka assistant coach Nilfer Ibrahim said” “Selectors have named the 12 member squad according to the player’s performances. It’s tough work ahead for us with just less than a week left for the important rugby tour. We need to work harder to get the players in their correct positions.

“However, I feel we are in good shape and the players along with the coaching staff have put in a lot of hard work. It’s a very young outfit and absolutely a great opportunity for the young players to represent their country and show what they are capable of, when they come up against the foreign teams who have a lot of experience behind them”.

12 member pool is as follows:

Adeesha Weeratunga (capt), Nishon Perera, Kanchana Ramanayake (Navy SC), Sudaraka Dikkumbura (Army SC), Sachith Silva, Iroshan Silva (Police SC), Janindu Dilshan, Samuel Ogbebor, Kushan Indunil (CH and FC), Ishara Madushan, Anjula Hettiarachchi, Nuwan Perera (Air Force SC).