National rugby players off to HK on Monday

Sri Lanka’s rugby football squad will take wing to Hong Kong on Monday in preparation for the upcoming Asian Division I rugby tournament. The squad is to spend three days i n Hong Kong and will undergo training sessions under the auspices of the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union representatives before leaving for Manila.

In the meantime a pre tournament drug testing was carried out last week on the 24 member squad under the supervision of Dr. Seevali Jayawickrema. The samples sent to the World Anti Doping As-

The national side led by third row forward Yoshitha Rajapaksa and guided by internationally renowned Phil Greening face a Herculean task of emerging victors in this second tier tournament, which would result in Sri Lanka returning to the top rung in the Asian circuit.

sociation (WADA) lab in India it is reported has cleared all players. The confirmation received over the phone was communicated to the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union last morning.

The national side led by third row forward Yoshitha Rajapaksa and guided by internationally renowned Phil Greening faces a Herculean task of emerging victors in this second tier tournament, which would result in Sri Lanka returning to the top rung in the Asian circuit. The first game is scheduled for the 15th of April against Chinese Taipei with the game against Singapore three days later. The final match would be on the 21st of April against hosts Philippines.

A number of first choice players are not part of the Sri Lankan contingent due to varying reasons leaving the untested and inexperienced back up squad to restore Sri Lanka’s fluctuating rugby fortunes.