Asia Rugby Sevens Series 2025: Kandy-flavoured Sri Lanka Men’s Sevens outfit finish third

Sri Lanka’s Gayan Perera (R) watches on as Japan score a try

Akash Madushanka on the attack with Srinath Sooriyabandara (L) closing in for support - Pix by Kushan Pathiraja

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Sri Lankan men’s rugby sevens outfit produced a spirited performance to finish third at the second leg of the Asian Sevens Series, held at the Race Course ground in Colombo last evening. Under the leadership of Kavindu Perera, the islanders displayed resilience, teamwork, and passion despite having limited preparation ahead of the tournament.
The Kandy-flavoured outfit, featuring several promising young players, started the tournament in style, winning all three of their group matches. They defeated Uzbekistan, Singapore, and China in convincing fashion, showing sharp pace and defensive commitment throughout.
Their performance earned them a semi-final clash against tournament giants Japan, one of Asia’s rugby powerhouses. In a fiercely contested encounter, Sri Lanka went down narrowly 12- 15, though several questionable refereeing decisions and an early final whistle, almost a minute short, raised eyebrows among the local fans. A yellow card issued to Gayan Perera also proved costly, as Japan crossed over twice during his two-minute suspension to edge out the hosts.
Despite the disappointment, the Tuskers regrouped well for the third-place playoff. Facing China once again, they delivered another composed display to secure a 19-14 victory, sealing the bronze position on home soil.
Sri Lanka’s tries came through Sori, Dabare, and Dange, whose attacking flair and coordination thrilled the Colombo crowd against China. Their defensive work in the dying moments of the game also reflected the team’s determination to make a statement despite limited exposure.
The third-place finish marked a notable improvement from the first leg in China, where Sri Lanka finished fourth. The result also highlighted the growing depth and fighting spirit in the squad.
In the men’s final, Hong Kong China edged Japan 12-7 to claim both the leg and the overall series title. Meanwhile, in the women’s competition, Japan beat China 29-0 to win the Colombo leg and the overall championship as well.