Sri Lanka’s men’s and women’s rugby teams were in a buoyant mood and high spirits upon their arrival on Monday for the XXII Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
They were greeted by traditionally cool British weather summer in complete contrast to the heatwave experienced in the United Kingdom the previous week that sent temperatures soaring to 40 degrees Celsius.
Both Sri Lanka teams are up against rugby heavyweights England, New Zealand, and Samoa in their group matches but they are determined to walk the talk after gelling together as a unit over three months, including team bonding sessions in Colombo, Kithulgala, and Hatton.
“Those three weeks were crucial for team building and bonding,” said Sri Lanka women’s head coach Saliya Kumara who is quietly confident of achieving targets if they perform to their strength.
His team revolves around five who made their debut during the Rugby World Cup Sevens qualifiers in China in 2019 when took over as head coach.
Among them are Umayangana Thathsarani while Kanchana Dilini, half back Shanika Madumali and Sandika Hemakumari took part in the Asian Rugby Sevens Championship in Dubai last year.
The newest addition to the side will be Kanchana Kumari Mahendran from CR&FC who will perform the role of the ball carrier. The six seniors on the side include skipper Anusha Attanayake and Army winner Dulani Pallikkondage who are the flyers on the side. The playmaker will be Army’s Anushika Kumari.
“No doubt it’s a tough draw but for the first time we have been training together for three months,” Kumara said, crediting Motital Jayatilleke for beefing them up with weight training.
“I see a difference in the player. Sevens are not just about power and strength. First, we developed their muscle endurance before finally drilling explosive energy,” said Kumara unfazed by the challenge of facing England, Canada, and New Zealand in their opening matches.
“It is mentally challenging as a team to match them. We know their level. If we can perform to 100 percent we can achieve our goal. If we keep the ball alive, we can put pressure on any team,” said Kumara, a former assistant coach of Kandy SC and presently head coach of Isipathana.
Sri Lanka men’s head coach Nilfer Ibrahim was buoyed by the return of experienced campaigners such as former captain Dansha Dayan of CR&FC and Nigel Ratwatte who missed the Asian Rugby Sevens tournament in Dubai last year.
He is banking on skipper and scrum half Srinath Sooriyabandara to launch the platform for attacks and Buddhima Piyaratne to provide the finishing touches.
Sri Lanka is mentally and physically prepared despite being drawn with New Zealand, England, and Samoa. “The boys have been working very hard and I am confident they will put on a good show,” said Ibrahim who had the distinction of securing a third-place finish at the Asian Sevens Series in 2013 and 2014 during his previous stint as head coach.
He believes in the adage attack is the best form of defence with the key being ball retention.
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