Standing from left to right - Milinda Jayasinghe, S.Sooriyabandara, Charith Seneviratne, Dinesh Chathuranga, Sajith Saranga, Shenal Dias, Romesh Archirige, Chanaka Chandimal, Saliya Handapangoda, Dilan de Soyza. Sitting from left to right - Imthi Marikkar (coach), Radhika Hettiarachchi (captain), Air vice Marshal Roshan Gunathileka (President SLRFU), Shane Dullewa (Secretary SLRFU) and George Simpkins (Head coach).
The SLRFU (Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union) held a press conference yesterday at the union before the Sri Lankan rugby team headed by experienced back Radhika Hettiarachchi left to India for the 18th Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.
At the head table, secretary of the SLRFU Shane Dullewa, manager of the Sri Lanka rugby side Imthi Marikkar and the captain of the side Radhika Hettiarachchi were present. Sri Lanka who are facing some tough opposition on the 11th of October will be going in with a young inexperienced side. Captain Radhika and Air Force scrum half Milinda Jayasinghe are the only two who have some kind of experience under their belt playing in these tournaments which are considered to be of the highest quality. Talking at the press conference, manager Inmhi Marikkar said that they have fallen in to a very tough group and will have an uphill task against the English and the Australians who are ranked 2 and 6 respectively. ‘Uganda seems to be our only hopeful match but that too since it is our last one might be a problem’. He went on to add that this tournament will be of the highest quality and also there will be talent displayed in abundance. Nine out of the 12 top teams in the world will be competing and they will be coming out with their strongest squads since this tournament will be a practice before the all important Hong Kong 7’s which is considered to be the pinnacle in 7’s rugby.
When you take the composition of the Sri Lanka 7’s side, the significant factor is that there is only one Kandy player – Sajith Saranga. All the others have backed out of national duty either due to injury or on other personal reasons. Imthi mentioned that it will be quite a difference without the Kandy players and having them would have definitely helped the composition of the side.
The manager of the national side assured that the team that is touring for the common wealth games though being young will give out their best and play their hearts out. One important fact that coach George Simpkins brought out was that comparing Australia with Sri Lanka the drastic difference in experience the two sides had was fascinating. Each Aussie player in the current squad has an average of 100 national caps and if you compare it with the current Sri Lankan squad they cannot make 100 national caps collectively. That’s how drastically different the level of experience is in the two countries. He was also saying that a revamp is needed in the system for us to move forward.
The Sri Lankan side is going against 3 tough oppositions on day one which is on the 11h of October. Thepapare crew wishes them the best of luck for the Commonwealth Games.
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