Lanka Lions hunting big game

How a band of ex-Peterites, Isipathanians, Trinitians and Kingswoodians are bringing smiles to Sri Lankans domiciled in Dubai filling a void that their country has failed to oblige:

by Allaam Ousman

DUBAI: Lanka Lions have begun preparations in earnest forthe forthcoming Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens tournament, determined to triumph in the invitation segment of the competition.

In the absence of a Sri Lanka team in this annual rugby extravaganza, rugby fans in the UAE flock to cheer the Lanka Lions. During the last two years, the Lanka Lions came up short during the knockout stages of the Gulf Men's Open despite some gallant performances and flashes of individual brilliance.

Each year before the tournament, Lanka Lions promise to deliver but find the going tough on the field against superior opposition.

The Sunday Observer ventured to find out how serious they are about winning some silverware this time around as against merely making up the numbers.

"Lanka Lions take the Dubai Sevens seriously as clubs in Sri Lanka take playing in the league or Clifford Cup. It's as serious as that," said former Havelocks coach Richard Murcott, who has been elevated as Lanka Lions coach having assisted Niloufer Ibrahim last year.

"Most of the boys have been playing club rugby.

"There are Peterites, Isipatanians, Kingswoodians, and Trinitians. They played for their schools and they played club rugby also," said Murcott who feels there is no shortage of talent or passion. "Initially I guess it started as a social thing.

"Over the years, it has grown into something they are very passionate about. Fact of the matter is none of the players are paid for their job. They come here on their own accord," said Murcott who is heartened by theirperformances in the recent past.

"One of the key areas we see is that the boys' physical conditioning has to be taken care of. That is why this year we are more into that. Their skill levels are there, talent is there," he assured.

With less than two months to go for the Dubai Sevens, the Lanka Lions squad are undergoing physical conditioning under a reputed Nigerian fitness trainer before focussing on game plan next month. "We are hoping to change our game plan this year. We have been playing a certain style of rugby, which I guess others have been used to.

"We are looking at a few different options from what people expectfrom us. More hemisphere oriented style that we are looking at this year just to spice things up and make some changes," explained Murcott who was encouraged to become a coach by Ana Saranapala.

Chairman of Lanka Lions rugby committee Azarath Deen believes they could field a potent unit with some players adding "lot of punch to the team."

"New inputs are all those who haveplayed club rugby back home. There are many youngsters. We are trying to move senior players who have been playing for several years to the Vets and bring in young players to boost the team," said the 43-year-old former Trinity and CH and FC centre who will be captaining Lanka Lions Vets this year.

"Most of time they train in the gym on their own. Two-three months before the tournament, we get together.

"This time we had a different strategy and got a fitness trainer. So we get our fitness right and next month we will be starting to do normal drills," he said on their preparations."

"This time we have a very good chance because we have a very good side," he added.

Among the new faces in the Lanka Lions side are former Isipatana and Upcountry Lions fly half Akalanka Dabare, former Trinity and CR and FC player Dilshan Kelaniyangoda and former Royal flanker Gayashan Wijayasinghe who moved to Dubai from Australia a month ago."

"I just want to play rugby and love playing rugby.

"It feels good to play with the boys because I've played with some of them since I was small," said Wijayasinghe, who represented the Sri Lanka Youth team and turned out for CH and FC.

"We want to be champions at the Dubai Sevens.

"We play our hearts out as Sri Lankans," said former Trinity flanker Hilmy Mohamed who has represented Lanka Lions since 2011."

"We take seriously as playing for the country," added former Isipatana and St Joseph's three-quarter Dulanga Gunasekera.

"I feel like it's a unit. We are playing for each other not for money," said former Science College captain Ameen Jamail who represented the Sri Lanka Youth team and Uva Vipers at the Carlton Sevens."

"We have won tournaments together earlier and the morale is high," said former Kingswood and CH flanker Tharindu Ratnage.

Madisha Silva, who represented Sri Lanka at the Singer Sevens in 2006 and at the Asian Games in Doha, leads Lanka Lions for the third year.

"We represent Sri Lanka here (Dubai Sevens). We are training hard to improve our speed and endurance, which is a most important factor in Sevens. I think we are ready," said Silva, 28, whose ultimate goal is to win the Cup.

"This is our year. We have made up our mind to win the Cup," declared the former Peterite Sevens captain who has represented Lanka Lions since 2008.

Even Sri Lankan rugby great Roger Rodrigo is positive the Lions will roar louder.

"This year I'm sure the boys are going to do it," said the former Isipatana and Police scrum half who has been running rugby at Lanka Lions for over two decades.