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Carlton Sri Lanka Rugby Sevens 2009:
Radhika boost for the Sri Lanka Sevens team
Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE
The Sri Lanka Sevens rugby team received a morale-booster with the
inclusion of the experienced Radhika Hettiarachchi in the squad for the
Carlton Sri Lanka Rugby Sevens 2009 which kicks off at the Sugathadasa
Stadium today.
Hettiarachchi was banned for two years by the Minister of Sports and
Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge. Last week he tendered a letter of
apology to the SLRFU Interim committee for pulling out of the Sri Lanka
squad in protest over the appointment of Pavithra Fernando as skipper of
the Sri Lanka team for the Asian Five Nations in Dubai in April this
year.
Radhika who has been practising with the team for the last two weeks
has received the greenlight from the Sports Minister to play for Sri
Lanka.
Radhika Hettiarachchi has been a regular member of the Sri Lanka
Sevens team for the last six years and has played a key role in the
team�s success and this year he scored two scintillating tries against
Australia in the Hong Kong �Sevens�.
Sri Lanka will have the services of seasoned campaigners in skipper
Chamara Vithanage, Ashan Karthelis, Dilip Selvam and Radhika
Hettiarachchi in addition to talented youngsters Saliya Handapangoda,
Samantha Lakshan, Nuwan Hettiarachchi, Suranga Pushpakumara and
schoolboys - Kingswoodian Roshan Weeraratne and Rajan Darshana Etipola
(both of whom will be making their debut for Sri Lanka).
Sri Lanka which has been drawn into Group �D� will confront lowly
placed Pakistan in their first match on November 28 at 2 p.m. before
taking on the mighty South Koreans at 5.00 p.m. on the same day.
The tournament is being conducted by the Tharunyata Hetak
Organization in collaboration with the Interim Committee of the SLRFU
with the blessings of the International Rugby Board.
Asian Heavyweights Japan who are tipped to win the Asian segment of
the tournament will field a star studded outfit under the leadership of
Koji Wada.
The Japanese are in peak form having won the Malaysian �Sevens� last
month and having earlier emerged runners up of the Shanghai �Sevens� and
will have the services of Shinichi Yokoyawa, Konji Shomen and skipper
Koji Wada all three of whom are world class players who are likely to
play a vital role in their bid to emerge champions.
Sri Lanka Sevens squad:
Chamara Vithanage (captain), Ashan Karthelis, Dilip Selvam, Samantha
Lakshan, Radhika Hettiarachchi, Nuwan Hettiarachchi, Suranga
Pushpakumara, Chula Susantha, Saliya Handapangoda, Dinesh Kumara, Roshan
Weeraratne and Darhsana Etipola.
Rugby fans in Sri Lanka will get the rare opportunity of seeing some
of the best rugby players in the world in action in the Carlton-Sri
Lanka Rugby Sevens 2009.
Australian Legends, New Zealand Legends, Western Samoa Barbarians,
Flji, Papua New Guinea and South African Vipers will scrum down in the
International exhibition tournament which will be conducted
simultaneously with the final log of the Asian Sevens Series and the
Schools Tournament.
Asian rugby heavyweights Japan and South Korea along with Asia�s
fourth ranked Kazakhastan, China, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, Malaysia,
Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Iran Jordan and Brunei will vie for honours in the
Asian Sevens Tournament.
League champions Royal College will confront Uva Province in the
curtain raiser of the tournament at 11.00 a.m. today followed by the
match between St. Anthony�s College, Kandy and Sabaragamuwa Province at
11.20 a.m. The formidable Isipatanians will lock horns with Nalanda
College in their first match at 11.40 a.m. followed by the game between
St. Peter�s College and Carey College at 12.00 noon.
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