Perry, Gauder for Sri Lanka?

By Harsha Amarasinghe

Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR), following a meeting with the Minister of Sports Namal Rajapaksa, are considering the possibility of bringing in foreign players who are eligible to represent Sri Lanka.

Daily Mirror can confirm that the former CR and FC flanker Rowan Perry and CH and FC centre Adam Gauder are two names which have been already discussed.

In fact, Rowan Perry who represented the Red Shirts in one match before his season came to a premature end a few of years ago due to an injury, had previously claimed that he was keen to represent Sri Lanka having been born in Belihuloya, Sri Lanka in 1994.

“I want to contribute to CR and Sri Lankan rugby and see what the pathway may look like further down the track,” the former Canberra Vikings and ACT Brumbies player said in a previous interview.

Daily Mirror can also confirm that SLR President Rizly Illyas has already contacted the former Australia Under-20 player via e-mail to discuss the possibility of him returning to Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, Adam Gauder had a successful stint with CH and FC in 2009 making a real difference in the inter-club fifteen a side rugby tournament playing as a centre. The Australia-based back is also eligible to represent Sri Lanka as his father Ralph was born in Sri Lanka.

However, SLR would need to handle this well as they were previously penalized by World Rugby in 2016, for a serious breach of laws having fielded Emori Waqavulagi of Fiji illegally.

In addition to that Sri Lanka Rugby is keen on organizing an international sevens tournament in near future with the participation of top class overseas players which would once again provide a great opportunity to for the local players to go head to head against the best in the world.