Soori returns for Colombo leg of Asian 7s Series
Sri Lanka is set to fire on all cylinders as the second and final leg of the Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s and Women’s 7s Series kicks off next weekend, October 18 and 19, at the Racecourse ground in Colombo.
The national sevens teams will be buoyed by home advantage, and the spotlight is firmly on the men’s squad with the return of seasoned campaigner and former Sri Lanka captain Srinath Sooriyabandara. His experience is expected to add a crucial edge alongside captain Kavindu Perera, especially with flyhalf Shaahid Zumri still recovering from surgery after a stellar first leg in China.
Playmaker Srinath Sooriyabandara will return after an injury
The men’s competition will see Sri Lanka pitted in Group ‘C’ alongside China, Uzbekistan, and Singapore. A clean sweep in the group stage would put Sri Lanka in a strong position to reach the Cup semi-finals. Their outstanding fourth-place finish in the first leg in China—behind Hong Kong, Japan, and China—marks their best performance in four years, and the home crowd could prove decisive in pushing them further this weekend.
Sri Lanka’s preparation received a final boost with few practice matches. These games allowed the team to sharpen their strategies, build team chemistry, and get a feel for match intensity ahead of the series.
Head coach Shamly Nawaz and assistant coach Rajeew Perera were able to test combinations and fine-tune set plays, giving confidence to both the men’s and women’s squads. A total of 24 teams, 12 each in men’s and women’s, will compete in the two-day event in Colombo.
The men’s tournament comprises three groups. Group ‘A’ features Hong Kong, Malaysia, Korea, and the Philippines. Group ‘B’ will see Japan, UAE, Chinese Taipei, and Thailand battle it out, while Group ‘C’, Sri Lanka’s pool, remains tightly contested with China, Uzbekistan, and Singapore. With the return of Sooriyabandara and tactical acumen from the coaching staff, Sri Lanka is expected to bring rejuvenated energy and smart plays to the field.
On the women’s side, Sri Lanka face a challenging Group ‘F’ with Hong Kong, Thailand, and Singapore. Japan leads Group ‘D’ with India, UAE, and Indonesia, while China tops Group ‘E’ alongside Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Ranked ninth after the first leg, Sri Lanka will aim to climb the leaderboard and strengthen their position for next year’s Asian Games qualification.
This year’s series shows a significant expansion from previous editions, offering more competitive exposure to Asian rugby nations. For Sri Lanka, the second leg on home soil is not just about individual matches but securing momentum to cement their position among the continent’s elite. With home support, strategic play, and seasoned leadership, Sri Lanka will look to translate preparation into results, aiming to reach the Cup final and finish the series on a high note.
| Men’s Teams (Rankings after 1st Leg in China): 1) Hong Kong, 2) Japan, 3) China, 4) Sri Lanka, 5) UAE 6) Malaysia, 7) Korea, Women’s Teams (Rankings after 1st Leg China): | |
Chinese Taipei, 9) Uzbekistan, 10) Singapore, 11) Thailand, 12) Philippines