By Thilina Rajapaksa  

Sooriyabandara comes in as replacement skipper and takes over a new-look Lankan Rugby Sevens side. Will they be able to take the heat of the first-leg of Asia Sevens Series in Hong Kong next week?

  Sreenath Sooriyabandara is set to lead Sri Lanka Sevens Rugby Team in the first-leg of Asia Seven Series in Hong Kong next weekend, starting on September 14. Sooriyabandara is an experienced player who has represented Sri Lanka for nearly a decade, but this decision to appoint him as the Captain has been taken after regular skipper Sudharshana Muthuthanthri and key player Dhanushka Ranjan sustained injuries. New-look side – Sri Lanka selectors have selected a relatively new-look side as some regular Sevens players such as Jason Dissanayake and Tharinda Ratwatte have decided to withdraw from the squad due to personal reasons. Kevin Dixon has made a steady progress after his injury and sealed a place in the squad while youngster Dinuk Amarasinghe has also been included. Another young player in the squad is Naveen Henakankanamage who did play well during the Commonwealth Games held early this year. Though Sri Lanka have selected a young team, it clearly has the potential to beat the top teams in Hong Kong. Sri Lanka Rugby Sevens Squad for in the first-leg of Asia Seven Series in Hong Kong: Srinath Sooriyabandara (Captain) (Kandy SC), Gayan Weeraratne (Kandy SC), Dinuk Amerasinghe (Havelock SC), Danush Dayan (Kandy SC), Kavindu Perera (CR & FC), Naveen Henakankanamage (CH & FC), Sudam Sooriyarachchi (CH & FC), Reeza Raffaideen (CR & FC), Kevin Dixon (CR & FC), Buddhima Piyarathane (Navy), Adeesha Weerathunge (Navy) and Reyhan Silva (CR & FC).