Schoolboy Zumri in national sevens outfit

Isipathana College is immensely proud to announce that crack centre three-quarter Shahid Zumri has been named in the Sri Lanka national squad for the Asia Rugby Emirates Trophy Sevens Tournament. The tournament will be held at the Dasharath Rangasala Stadium in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

What makes this selection truly remarkable is that Zumri is the only schoolboy in the entire touring party. To earn a place in a national squad alongside seasoned club players while still in school speaks volumes about his talent, maturity, and the quality of rugby development at Isipathana College.

The tournament at a glance

The Asia Rugby Emirates Trophy Sevens is a high-stakes event that serves as a gateway to the elite level of Asian rugby. The winners of both the men’s and women’s tournaments will secure their berth in the prestigious 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Sevens Series, making every match a battle with real consequences.

The two-day competition will feature 14 men’s teams and eight women’s teams representing all five subregions of Asia. Sri Lanka will face stiff competition from the likes of India, Kazakhstan, Philippines, Chinese Taipei, and hosts Nepal, among others. It promises to be an intense contest as emerging rugby nations fight for promotion to the top tier of Asian sevens rugby.

The touring squad

The national sevens outfit will be captained by former Trinitian, CR and FC, and Kandy SC player Tarinda Ratwatte. The full touring squad, subject to approval, is as follows.

Kandy SC: Tarinda Ratwatte (Captain), Srinath Sooriyabandara, Kavindu Perera, Heshan Jansen, Dinal Ekanayake

Police SC: Akash Madushanka, Yomal Saranga, Sachith Silva, Hirantha Perera

CH and FC: Janidu Dilshan

Air Force SC: Darshan Dabare

Isipathana College: Shahid Zumri

Flying the green flag on the international stage

For the Isipathana rugby family, seeing one of our own stand shoulder to shoulder with the best club players in the country is a moment of genuine pride. Zumri’s selection is a reflection of the hard work put in by the player himself, his coaches, and the entire rugby setup at the college.

We wish Shahid and the entire Sri Lanka squad the very best as they take on Asia’s finest in Kathmandu. The whole of Isipathana will be cheering you on.