Former Fiji 7s players to bolster Sri Lions campaign at Dubai Invitational 7s

Four former Fiji Airways Fiji Men’s 7s players, Rauto Vakadranu, Tira Welagi Patterson, Manueli Maisamoa, and Jope Tikoilepanoni will line up for the Sri Lions Rugby Club in the upcoming Dubai Sevens International Open Men’s tournament that will kick off tomorrow, prior to the HSBC Dubai 7s tournament this weekend.

The Sri Lions won the Plate Championship in last year’s tournament and have built a strong squad for this year’s competition, blending Sri Lanka’s top schoolboy talent with experienced international players.

The squad will also feature some former international rugby players including Simione Moala from Tonga, a former national 7s captain and three-time national champion with over 200 top-level matches, former Springboks 7s player Jean van Schalkwyk, and former Australian 7s veteran Charles Philip Taylor.

Meanwhile, the Dubai 7s will kick off on Saturday with the Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s taking on Spain at 6.06pm in their first match, they will then take on the USA at 9.52pm Saturday before they play NZ at 3.16am Sunday in their final pool match. The men’s cup quarter finals will kick off at 6.48pm Sunday, the semi finals will start at 10.06pm Sunday and the cup final will be at 4.11am next Monday. The Fijiana 7s will take on Ireland at 5.44pm Saturday in their first pool match, they will then face Australia at 9.05pm Saturday and then play China at 1.13am Sunday in their final pool match. The women’s cup quarterfinals will kick off at 5.20pm Sunday, the semifinals will begin at 9.12pm and the cup final will be at 3.35am next Monday.