• Ruck and roll into heritage and chasing rugby dreams

 Today we bring to you the story of a rising star from the Land Down Under – home of Wallabies Rugby who is arguably the first player of Sri Lankan heritage to play for the Australia National 7s Rugby team. A product of Barker College in Sydney, Australia, our protagonist today has become a sensation in the Rugby circles and dubbed the next big sporting sensation in the oval ball game.

Ekanayake’s biggest highlight of his career recently came off a nail-biting injury time try to snatch victory for hosts Australia against a strong South Africa outfit in the Perth Sevens cup semi-finals last month. Wearing the No. 23 jersey, Aden made a strong impression during his debut at Dubai Sevens, scoring crucial tries against powerhouse teams France and Great Britain which led the path to secure him a spot in the squad for future tourneys. Aden who finished school early cruised through Gordon Rugby – Colts Programme into the Sydney Junior team which ended up the youngster being picked to the Australian Schools and Under-18 National team to play against New Zealand in 2024

The Sevens World Series (HSBC SVNS) circuit has been a thrilling showcase of world-class rugby talent, and among the emerging stars, Aden Ekanayake has captured the spotlight with his outstanding performances. His runner-up finish at the recent Perth Sevens has placed him firmly in the international rugby conversation, and his Sri Lankan heritage has made him a source of immense pride for the Sri Lankan community worldwide. As his name and photos spread across media platforms, in an interview with The Daily Morning Aden spoke about his rugby journey, his roots, and his aspirations for the future.

In the interview below Aden Ekanayake shares his insights into career, inspirations, and the unforgettable moments that have shaped him as an athlete.

Following are excerpts from the interview:

Congratulations on a remarkable runner-up finish at the recent World Seven Series. You are popular on multiple platforms, making Sri Lankans proud. Can you tell us about your journey through this Sevens season so far?

I made my 7s debut in Dubai at the end of last year (2024) and played in Cape Town, South Africa the week after that where there were many Sri Lankans in support, and then obviously played in Perth here in Australia a couple of weekends ago.

Aiden, tell us about your Sri Lankan heritage?

I do have Sri Lankan heritage, my dad was born and lived in Sri Lanka for a few years before moving to Australia, I was born in Sydney Australia and have been back once.

Could you share a bit about your family and their influence on your life and career?

My family members are my biggest supporters. They all flew over to Dubai to watch my debut and then all came over to attend the home tournament in Perth to watch me play. They always insist and want to come watch wherever I play.

How did your journey in rugby begin?

I started playing rugby for my local club when I was about 6 years old for a long time and then when I went to high school I just played for school and not club. After school I joined the Gordon rugby club who have been over to Sri Lanka for a 7s tournament in 2023 and have started playing full time for the Australian 7s since the start of this season.

Do you remember the day you were selected for the Australian national team? How did it feel to achieve that milestone?

I do remember it was an amazing feeling. I called both my parents straight away and they sounded like they had tears. They were that happy.

Are you also focusing on club rugby alongside your commitments to the national team?

At the moment I'm all in on 7s but when the season finishes in May, I'll focus more on club footy with Gordon.

Have you had the chance to follow Sri Lanka’s performances in Rugby Sevens? If so, what are your thoughts?

I have been keeping an eye on it. A contact I have in Sri Lanka is also keeping me updated with the games they are playing in the 15s game and their wins in 2024 which saw them win the Asian championship last year.

From your perspective, what are the major differences you notice in the rugby field in Australia compared to other regions?

It's hard to tell the difference between Australia rugby and other regions as there are all such good teams around the world that do things just as good if not better than what Australia is doing.

Who are some of the notable players you’ve had the privilege of playing with during your career?

A notable one I trained with was Michael Hooper last season but never got to play alongside him, and obviously the likes of Maurice Longbottom and Henry Hutchison in the Australian 7s team are world class players who I've had the privilege to play alongside recently

Who has been your role model in rugby, and how have they influenced your journey?

My role model would probably be my dad, he doesn't play much sport anymore but did when he was younger, he is just incredibly dedicated and hard-working which is valued I try to uphold when I train and play.

Do you have a favourite player who inspires you the most?

My favourite player when I was younger used to be Quade Cooper. The way that he used to back his abilities and the style of rugby he played for the wallabies was very inspiring for me at a young age.

What advice would you give to aspiring rugby players who look up to you?

The advice I would give is to always work hard and train hard, everything that happens on the rugby field will have happened at training before, so you need to work really hard at your skills and fitness at training to be able to perform well in games.

Can you share an unforgettable memory from your rugby career or personal life that has shaped you as a person?

An unforgettable moment I have is from the weekend winning the semi-final in Perth and making it into the cup final, although we didn't win the final the style of footy we played in the semi made me really proud to be in that team scoring the winning try in overtime was an amazing moment I won't forget.

Lastly, what is your ultimate goal or vision for the future, both in rugby and beyond?

Not too sure what my ultimate goal is just yet, playing for the wallabies one day would be pretty cool but at the moment just focused on 7s and our next tournaments.