After going down to host Malaysia in the opening game of the Asia division I rugby match last Sunday, UAE has stuck with a largely settled squad for today’s game against Sri Lanka who beat Philippines in their first outing.
The UAE squad is a multi-national one comprising mostly expatriate players eligible under World Rugby Regulations, which also features three Emirati nationals Ahmed Moosa, Majid Al Baloos and Walid Al Balooshi, who have made their way on merit through the Player Pathway Programme put in place by the union since 2011.
The Sri Lanka team under the leadership of Roshan Weeraratne are up for the occasion. In the opening game they earned their respect and if they can maintain that they should progress towards the final. Sri Lanka are hoping to play their best side and their rugby has really improved. They are highly motivated and they are going to have to front up with UAE which is going to be a good challenge. In this competition except for Sri Lanka the other three countries have foreign-born players.
Last year’s tournament was hosted by Malaysia who was promoted from Division 2 and also included Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka took the runner-up spot beating Singapore: 33-17 and Philippines 25-21 and losing to eventual champs Malaysia 42 -17. Singapore was demoted to Division 2 after ending at the bottom of the table.
Sri Lanka squad: Roshan Weeraratne (Captain), Ashan Darling, Ashoka Jayalal, Chanaka Chandimal, Danushka Ranjan, Dushmantha Priyadarshana, Fazil Marija, Ganuka Dissanayake, Jesan Dissanayaka, Joel Perera, Lawanga Perera., Lee Keegel, Niroshan Fernando, Nishon Perera, Omalka Gunaratne, Prasad Madusanka, Richard Dharmapala, Richie Dharmapala, Sajith Saranga, Sathya Ranatunga, Sharo Fernando, Suhiru Anthony, Taariq Salih, Thilina Wijesinghe, Umesha Madushan.
UAE squad: Ben Bolger (Captain), Paul Hart, Joshua Ives, Ben Blamire, Daniel Minks, Ross Byers, Christopher Jones-Griffiths, Daniel Perry, Edward Talbot, Christopher Masson, Jaen Botes, David Knight, Glenn Moore, Kristopher Green, Luke Stevenson, Majid Al Baloos, Scott Hayes, Andrew Powell, Sean Carey, Daniel Bell, Ryno Fourie, Walid Al Balooshi, Edward Lewsey, Rikus Swart, Toby Oakley, Ahmed Moosa.
Referee: Charlie Brown (Singapore), assistant referees: Lawrence Wilkinson (Hong Kong) and Abdul Hannan (Singapore),
For the second match of the day between Malaysia and Philippines the officials are: referee - Taku Otsuki (Japan), assistant referees - Lawrence Wilkinson (Hong Kong) and Abdul Hannan (Singapore).