Lanka Lions look to regain Dubai Rugby Sevens crown

Matt Jones - Editor 14:53 14/11/2017
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  • New Lanka Lions captain Zalique Jayah is determined to regain the Gulf Men’s Open title at next month’s Dubai Rugby Sevens after relinquishing their grip on it last year.

    Former Wesley and Colombo Hockey and Football Club three-quarter Jayah will be leading the side, also known as the Ceylon Warriors, for the first time at the tournament, which begins on November 30 at The Sevens Stadium.

    The Lions are bolstered by a raft of fresh young talent, and Jayah says there is only one aim.

    “I’m really honoured to become the captain of Lanka Lions and thank the committee for supporting me and the boys and having faith in me to lead this side,” said Jayah, 27, who captained Wesley College in 2008 and represented Southern Sharks at the Carlton International Sevens in Sri Lanka in 2013.

    “I hope to give my best to the team and expect the same from boys with the aim of lifting the cup.”

    Jayah will be able to call upon the services of Madisha Silva, who led the Lions to an historic triumph in Dubai in 2015 as they won the Gulf Men’s Open title for the first time.

    “We have a very good set of boys who are very keen on winning the cup this year,” added Jayah, an Emirates cabin crew member who is playing in the Dubai Sevens for the fourth year.

    “We have many new players coming in and they are gelling into the team very nicely.”

    Former Trinity College, Kandy, players Dilshan Kelaniyangoda, Hilmy Mohammed and Anojan Balasundaram are the other experienced players in the side, which has been infused by new blood in Tharindu Malikge and Miyuru Sandaruwan.

    Dubai Exiles youngsters Adil Deen and UAE sevens international Jerry Kilicanasau also give them a cutting edge.

    The Lions will get the chance to get their team combinations and strategies right when they compete in the Eden Park Sevens, a traditional warm-up tournament to the Dubai Sevens for local teams, which is taking place at The Sevens this weekend.

    Lanka Lions coach Richard Murcott, who guided the side to a historic double of Eden Park and Gulf Men’s Open success in 2015, says they have learnt from the mistakes of last year where they crashed out in the semi-finals.

    “We didn’t recover enough from injuries. We had quite a lot of the squad carrying injuries. It has been taken care of this year,” said the former Havelocks coach who will be unleashing a new strategy this year.

    “We are going to work towards the strengths of side which of course is our speed and agility. Having said that we will have to change our patterns because teams have learnt it now.”

    How seriously the Lions are taking this year’s tournament can be gauged by the fact preparations for Dubai began in August with the appointment of a new manager in Jeremy Emmanuel, with Kilicanasau as assistant coach.

    “We won’t be committing a lot into set-pieces but when required we will change our plans,” added Murcott.

    “We will try these new patterns on Friday and see whether it’s going to work for us in the Dubai Sevens.”

    Former Sri Lanka and Arabian Gulf legend Roger Rodrigo, chairman of Lanka Lions Sports Club, expressed his gratitude to the team sponsors, including Ice Watch, Sri Lankan Airlines, Suren Agencies and World Wide.

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