A blend of youth and experience for Rugby Asiad

By Harry Jayachandra

The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union’s Selection Committee under the leadership of Anton Benedict has selected a provisional squad for the Rugby Asiad to be held in Sri Lanka beginning on November 3.

The squad is blend of youth and experience. Four schoolboys from St. Peter’s find themselves in the squad along with an identical number from Isipathana, There are also one each from Royal, Kingswood and St. Anthony’s Kandy.

National 15’s Pool for the Rugby Asiad 2007 is as follows:

Prop Forwards; S. Mohamed (CR and FC) , N. Meepage (Army) , J. Galagamuwa (Kandy), J. Ranaweera (CH and FC), K. Jehan ( Kandy) and A. Bopitiya ( St. Peter’s).

Hookers; A. Walpola ( Kandy) , A. Perera ( CH and FC) , S. Kumar ( CR and FC) and Bilal Hassen (Royal).

Lock Forwards; T. Henry (CR and FC) , S. Jayasinghe (Kandy) , S. Bandara (Kandy) , D. Sanjeewa (CH and FC), Z. Jhaan ( CH and FC) and T. Bulner ( St. Peter’s).

Flankers; A. Karthelis (CR and FC), R. Jayasuriya (Havelocks) , I. Bistamin (Kandy) , I. Noor ( St. Peter’s) , K. D. Silva (CR and FC), D. Wijesekara (CH and FC) and S. Wijesinghe (Kandy).

No. 8; D. Lewke ( Kandy) , S. Malawana (CH and FC), S. Saranga ( Isipathana) and H. Ariyawardena ( St. Peter’s).

Scrum Halves; A. Buksh (CR and FC), T. Shamrock ( CH and FC), Saliya Kumara ( Kandy) and Z. Hamid ( CR and FC).

Fly Halves; F. Marija ( Kandy), A. Costa ( CR and FC) and N.C. Fernando ( Isipathana).

Centers; A. Hettiarachchi (CR and FC), N. Karunanayake ( Havelocks) , P. Liyanage ( Kandy) , G. Weeraratne ( Kingswood) and L. Costa( CR and FC).

Wing three quarters; S. Jayasinghe (Kandy), M. Jabbar (Kandy) , Dinesh Kumara (CR and FC), Lakala Perera (CH and FC), D. Chathuranga ( Isipathana) and K. Rankothge ( St. Anthony’s).

Full Backs; R. Hettiarachchi (CR and FC), E. Weerakkody (Kandy) , R. Mubarak ( Isipathana) and D. Wijeratne (CH and FC).

Practices are scheduled to commence on September 27. The selected players are requested to contact the Team Manager Mr. S.W. Chang at the SLRFU for further details.

Meanwhile on the schools scene, Isipathana held a felicitation ceremony for their sponsors and players at the Colombo Swimming Club yesterday.

Chairman of Isipathana’s Rugby Committee speaking to The Sunday Times said: “We had this ceremony for two reasons. One was obviously to thank the sponsors. As has been the case over the years we won two sevens tournaments and lost only to St. Peter’s in the league. All our teams in the different age groups did well despite the obstacles. The second reason was we need more sponsorships to go forward. We desperately need a ground of our own and also a fully equipped gymnasium. Since we started playing rugby, practically every year we have produced quality ruggerites who have gone on to win honours for their respective clubs and country.”