MOSELEY prop forward Mani Samra (pictured above) headed to Sri Lanka this week to team up with the Indian national rugby team.

And the former Bromsgrove Colts player will have his family cheering him on - albeit from the other side of the world.

Samra has been a regular with National Two side Moseley for four years but still lives at the family home in Sidemoor.

He has already been capped twice and also played in three exhibition games last December when India toured England to promote the game.

Samra hopes to line-up against Sri Lanka in a friendly before the team heads to Hong Kong to take part in the All Asia Tournament.

But the 21-year-old admits his teammates are likely to find it tough going.

"India is one of the developing countries in the tournament so it is going to be difficult," he said. "There are a number of players flying over from this country - three or four of them heading out from the North East."

Samra scored his first international try last year but admits that the call-up could have come at the wrong time.

"I have featured in the last three games for Moseley and was getting on well. But this was something I had to do - it is all about representing your country."