Schoolboy Zumri in National Sevens outfit

By: Shamseer Jaleel

Crack Isipathana College centre three quarter Shahid Zumri has been named in the national outfit for the Asia Rugby Emirates Trophy Sevens Tournament, which will take place at the Dasharath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu Valley, Kathmandu, Nepal. 

Former Trinitian, CR and FC and Kandy SC player Tarinda Ratwatte will lead the national sevens outfit for this tournament. 

The winners of the Men’s and Women’s Tournaments in Nepal will secure their berth at the 2025 Asian Rugby Sevens Series. 

This tournament will feature 14 Men’s teams and eight Women’s teams, representing all five subregions of Asia. 

This two-day event promises intense competition as teams vie for promotion to the prestigious Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series 2025.

The Men’s teams competing in this tournament includes Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan. 

The Women’s teams competing in this tournament are Guam, India, Indonesia, Iran, Nepal, Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan. 

Both the Men’s and Women’s champions will secure their spots in the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series, creating the pathway for emerging teams to join the ranks of Asia’s rugby elite. 

The Touring Squad (Subject to approval): Tarinda Ratwatte (Captain), Srinath Sooriyabandara, Kavindu Perera, Heshan Jansen, Dinal Ekanayake (all from Kandy SC), Akash Madushanka, Yomal Saranga, Sachith Silva, Hirantha Perera (all from Police SC), Janidu Dilshan (CH and FC), Darshan Dabare (Air Force SC) and Shahid Zumri (Isipathana). 

• Head Coach: Nilfer Ibrahim.