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by Lal Gunesekera

If Sri Lanka does beat Kazakhastan at Almati on October 25 and also in the 'return' on November 12 at Longden Place, they will then have to play the losers of the China vs Arabian Gulf game before March next year (2006) in their campaign of the Rugby World Cup (RWC) qualifying event.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU), Dilroy Fernando, told the Sunday Observer that the national pool consisting of 46 players will be pruned down to 35 after "trials" on October 9, and a coaching camp which started in Colombo last Wednesday (September 28) will end today (Sunday).

He further said that another 'camp' is to be staged from October 5 to 9 after which the national pool is to be pruned down with a further 'camp' scheduled for Diyatalawa from October 11 to 20 after which the final 22-member team will be selected for the game with Kazakhastan on October 25.

Fernando said that the pool is under national coach, George Simpkin, who is assisted by Chandana Abeygunawardene with manager, Sanjay Fernando, looking after every aspect of the players.

Earlier in their campaign, Sri Lanka, beat India 54-17 at Mumbai and Thailand 35-14 at Longden Place in the first-round last year (2004), while earlier this year, won their games over Thailand (48-38) at Suphumbari and Singapore (34-17) at Longden Place.

Meanwhile, Japan and South Korea have confirmed that their 2007 RWC Asian qualifier will be played in Colombo during the 20th Asian Championships scheduled to be staged in Sri Lanka from November 17 to 26 next year (2006).

Countries have time up to June next year to confirm their participation in Colombo, but the 17 nations scheduled to compete are: Japan, South Korea, Chinese, Taipei, Hong Kong, China, Arabian Gulf, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, Guam, Kazakhasthan, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, Krygistan, Philippines and Kampuchea.

The Junior Asiad (Under -19)is to take place in Lahore, Pakistan in December, during which period the Council meeting of the Asian Rugby Football Union (ARFU) too is scheduled to be held.

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