The Dubai Rugby Sevens Stadium came alive once again with another versatile rugby club with Sri Lankan roots clinching the silverware when Lanka Lions won the Gulf Men’s Open Cup Championship at the Dubai Emirates Rugby 7’s for the fifth consecutive year. With this remarkable achievement, the club etches its history as the sixth instance where they clinched this coveted championship, which is considered a blockbuster event in the global rugby calendar.
The captain duo, Sefanaia Waqa Basiyalo, who is a top-class Fijian player with vast international experience, and the local talent, Shazard Deen, led the team well under pressure situations, kept calm, held their nerve and managed the rest of the team and showed the way to the significant milestone.
The addition of versatile rugby talent, Nigel Ratwatte, who just retired from domestic rugby, gave extra mileage for the outfit. The well-experienced Sri Lankan national player and former Kandy SC captain Lavanga Perera was a catalyst for the team’s unmatched and unique performance. Another experienced national player, Dulaj Perera, also featured in the champion side, and his nippy sidesteps, lightning speed and kicking abilities gave an extra depth for the team.
Apart from them, Anojan Balasundaram, Adil Deen, Abdul Khaleel, Faris Ali, Milan Ramesh, Gihan Silva, and Rinesh Silva represented the Lanka Lions along with three heavyweight and fast-paced Fijian players (Iliesa Rakabu and Enesi Waqanisau) by adding much-needed physicality to overcome the foreign challenges. The coaching duo of former Fiji national player and veteran coach Rockini Saimoni and former Trinity and CH rugby player Azarath Deen played a crucial role in guiding the team to this remarkable success.
The following teams were in the fray for the coveted championship (from the Gulf Men’s Open Category) and were pooled as follows.
- Pool A: Lanka Lions, LSB Dragons Bench Boys (Dubai), Fiji Water Desert Fijians Rugby (UAE based Fijian club), Al Ain Amblers (UAE)
- Pool B: Band of Misfits (Dubai based club), Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Riyadh Falcons (Saudi Arabian professional club), Dubai Hurricanes 2, Dubai Tuskers RFC (Dubai based Sri Lankan Club)
- Pool C: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors (UAE based European Club), Kuwait Scorpions, Dubai Tigers Open, Riyadh Warriors (Saudi Arabian Club)
Lanka Lions displayed solid performance during the pool stage and overcame the hurdles one by one without any sort of a challenge. During the first phase of games, Lanka Lions received a bye, and in the second round of the games, they faced LSB Dragons Bench Boys Club and posted a thumping 44-00 victory after scoring eight unanswered tries.
Then Lanka Lions fought with Fiji Water Desert Club, where the rising talents from the rugby seven expert nation are represented. But the local boys were up to the task and meddled with the fast-paced rugby through an excellent defence. Finally, local boys planted five tries to defeat the opponents with a commanding score of 31 – 07 points. In the final pool game, Lanka Lions clinched another easy victory over Dubai-based Al Ain Amblers Club, and Lions scored six tries by executing an electrified game.
After the preliminary round, the Lanka Lions and Riyad Worriers outfits walked into the semifinals as the group tops of the respective pools. During Group B’s crucial game between the two unbeaten sides, Band of Misfits and Abu Dhabi Harlequins, ended in a tie at 14 all. But the Band of Misfits entered the semifinals as the group tops due to the point difference, while the Abu Dhabi Harlequins outfit also earned a position in the cup semifinal as the best second-seed team of the championship.
Lanka Lions had a tough task in the cup semifinals against star-studded Abu Dhabi. Harlequins gave them immense pressure for the first time in the competition. But the Lions were equipped with well-experienced players who can handle the pressure of knockout stage games, and they delivered their best at the key moments of the game to earn a 26 – 17 tough victory. Lions scored four tries, while their rivals replied by planting three tries.
The defending champions faced the star-studded Band of Misfits outfit in the epic final, which included Premier League players representing top UAE clubs. The Lanka Lions executed a remarkable performance from the start of the game. Though experienced opposition players used many tactics to break the defence, the local club resisted well and attacked at the right time to secure a stunning 17 – 05 victory, clinching the title for the fifth consecutive year.
The Fijian trio played a pivotal role behind this victory, and this blend gave Lanka Lions a complete sevens package to provide the cutting edge. Further, the title victory can be considered as a testament to the capabilities of Sri Lankan rugby on the global stage by delivering a message on the true spirit of Sri Lankan rugby and camaraderie.
Pool Matches
- LSB Dragons Bench Boys 00 – 44 Lanka Lions
- Lanka Lions 31 – 07 Fiji Water Desert Fijians Rugby
- Al Ain Amblers 05 – 32 Lanka Lions
Cup Semifinals
Lanka Lions 26 – 17 Abu Dhabi Harlequins
Riyadh Warriors 17 – 24 Band of Misfits
- Bowl Final Riyadh Falcons 38 – 5 Dubai Tuskers RFC
- Plate Final Dubai Tigers Open 14 – 33 Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
- Cup final Lanka Lions 17 – 5 Band of Misfits
The victorious Lanka Lions Outfit
Some of FIjian flair in the Lanka Lions side
