Former England Hooker Phil Greening (37) who is a Level 3 Rugby coach will be in the Island in order to take charge of the national rugby team. This was disclosed by President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) Asanga Seneviratne. Phil’s first task would be to take Sri Lanka from Division I to the Top 5 in the HSBC Asian Five Nations Tournament. The Asian Five Nations tournament will be kicked off in Manila Philippines in mid April. His initial contract would be for two years.
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Former England forward Phil Greening |
Greening who was an assistant of Coach of the England outfit got some very good history behind when they ended as Silver Medal winners in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne Australia. He continued the good work when England became champs in the shorter version of the game for a record four times at the famous Hong Kong Rugby Sevens. Before this involvement he was in charge of London Wasps.
In his playing career which spanned over four years winning 27 test caps for England outfit. He represented in Five Nations Championship, British and Irish “Lions” touring party, Rugby World Cup 1999 and in the shorter version of the game the Hong Kong sevens and captain of the Commonwealth Games 2002.
Speaking to the Sunday Times Asanga Seneviratne said that the season for 2013 will kick off in late November and would be completed in March 2013. This will give ample opportunity for the spectators and availability of the grounds and referees for both schools and club games. He welcomed the Upcountry “Lions” team from Nawalapitiya which will give more opportunity for the outstation players. Further he also indicated that there would be a team from Kurunegala for the next season.
Asanga continuing said that out of the players of 40 they will be down sized to 27 and contracted with the SLRFU and they would be in the pay list starting from February 2012.
Saliya Handapangoda and Randeera Meepage (Sri Lanka Army)
Mohamed Sheriff, Reza Mubarak and Shehan Pathirana (CR & FC)
Terence Henry, Anuruddha Wilvara, Bodi Priyadharshana, Richard Dharmapala, Shiran Muthuthanthri, Zaffar Jhan and Dinesh Kumara (Havelocks)
Fazil Marija, Kishore Jehan, Denish Sanjeewa, Achala Perera, Senaka Bandara, Sajith Saranga, Roshan Weeraratne, Gayan Weeraratne, Pradeep Liyanage, Kasun Yasaisuru and Anuruddha Walpola (Kandy SC)
Dinusha Chathuranga, Chanaka Chandimal, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa, Dev Anand, Sathya Runathunge, Kalana Amarasinghe, Suranga Pushpakumara, Sumedha Malawana and Pubudu Kodagoda (Sri Lanka Navy SC)
Romesh Achirige (Sri Lanka Police SC)
Srinath Sooriyabandara, Vishvamithra Jayasinghe and Sharo Fernando (Upcountry Lions)
Dushanth Lewke, Viran Warnunakulasooriya. |