The Sri Lankan Tuskers are well-prepared for their final clash in the Asian Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship Top Four against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) recently announcing a 25-member squad for the highly anticipated encounter. The much-awaited battle of the Asian heavyweights will kick off this Friday at 4:00 PM at the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo 07.
Sri Lanka will be aiming for victory to avoid finishing at the bottom of the table. Should they end up in last place, they will have to play in the Asia Rugby Emirates Playoff Match to retain their place in the Championship for 2026.
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The national outfit will be led by experienced campaigner and Kandy SC legend, Tharinda Ratwatte, while the iron man of the national side and No. 8 player, Lasindu Karunathilake, will serve as vice-captain for this high-stakes match.
Sri Lanka’s blindside flanker, Nizran Nillar, who impressed rugby fans earlier this year against the Malaysia and New Zealand Under-85 kg sides, returns to the national team. His surprising omission from the last two encounters became a hot topic within the Sri Lankan rugby fraternity.
Apart from that, several changes have been made—not due to tactical reasons, but rather due to player unavailability. A few players have either left the country, stayed away from practices, or are currently nursing injuries. As a result, Sri Lanka is forced to field a near second-string XV for this crucial encounter. However, the Tuskers boast a pool of talented and energetic young players who have already showcased their potential during the club league season, and they are eager to rise to the occasion on the national stage.
Accordingly, Danushka Ranjan, Senura Perera, Thanuja Jayaweera, Venura Kodagoda, Lahiru Thilakaratne Dahan, Wickramarachchi, Shenal Adikaram, and Heshan Jansen have been left out of the squad. Meanwhile, Nizran Nillar, Dushmantha Priyadarshana, Amjad Faumy, Dilshan Jayah, Chathura Soysa, Primesh Dhanushka, Naveen Kanishka, and Nirosh Perera have received call-ups to the national outfit.
In contrast, the UAE enters the match as a more settled side, fielding the same starting 1–11 lineup that defeated South Korea. However, first center Justin Walsh has been replaced by James Crossley. There’s also a slight reshuffle in the back three, with Jack Stapley, Niko Voloavola, and Gerard Pieterse named in the starting XV. Though not as physically imposing as other Fijians, Niko Voloavola—who scored a hat trick against Korea—will pose a clear threat to the locals.
Sri Lanka remains mathematically in the hunt for World Cup qualification, provided South Korea loses to Hong Kong and Sri Lanka secures a massive win over the UAE. Regardless of qualification outcomes, the Tuskers will be determined to finish their Asian Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship campaign on a high note, with a morale-boosting victory in front of their home fans.
Points Table
The 25-member Sri Lanka Squad
- Tharinda Ratwatte (Captain,Kandy SC – Center, Fly half)
- Lasindu Karunathilake (Vice captain, CR & FC – No. 08)
- Dinal Ekanayake (Kandy SC – Wing three quarter)
- Vimukthi Gamage (CH & FC – Prop)
- Thilina Bandara (Kandy SC – Lock Forward)
- Mohammad Rifan (Havelock SC – Scrum half)
- Thenuka Nanayakkara (CR & FC – Fly half)
- Shamika Kaushan (Air Force SC – Hooker, Flanker)
- Pasindu Bandara (CH & FC – Full back, Wing three quarter)
- Pulasthi Dassanayake (CH & FC – Hooker)
- Mursheed Doray (CR & FC – Full back)
- Tharindu Chathuranga (Kandy SC – Flanker)
- Shaahid Zumri (Kandy SC – Fly half, Full back)
- Akash Madushanka (Police SC – Center)
- Adam Gauder (from Australia, CH & FC)
- Malitha Wijesundera (Kandy SC – Prop)
- Naveen Marasinghe (CR & FC – Lock Forward)
- Nizran Nillar (Sri Lions SC – Flanker)
- Dushmantha Priyadarshana (Sri Lions SC – Prop)
- Amjad Faumy (Police SC – Prop)
- Dilshan Jaya (CR & FC – Prop, Hooker)
- Chathura Soysa (Kandy SC – Flanker)
- Primesh Dhanushka (Police SC – Scrum half)
- Naveen Kanishka (Police SC – Fly half)
- Nirosh Perera (CH & FC – Flanker)
Team Officials
- Rodney Gibbs – Head coach
- Dushantha Lewke – Forwards coach
- Lasintha de Costa – Backs coach
- Rohan Chinthaka – Team manager
- Sanka de Silva, Sameera Pathum – Masseur
- K.A.P Kiriella – Team Doctor
- Manoj Silva, Shafin Majeed – Physio
- Sampath Murugan – Support staff
 and the Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) recently announced a 25-member squad for the epic clash. The much-awaited battles of the Asian heavyweights will kick off this Friday at 4.00 pm at the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo 07.){kind=link}