(UTV|COLOMBO) – No less than 17 players will be making their debut for Sri Lanka at the Asia Rugby Championship Division I to be held in Chinese Taipei from May 29 to June 1.
“It is a very young side. Four of the players are just 21 years while 18 players are 25 and under,” said Rohan Abayakoon, chief rugby selector speaking to the Daily News after the tour squad of 26 plus two standbyes was released by Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) yesterday.
The debutants are Umesh Madushan, Mithun Hapugoda who has played sevens for Sri Lanka, Theekshana Dasanayaka, Sachith Silva, Buddhima Priyarathana, Lasindu Ishan, Gihan Perera, Uchitha Jayasooriya, Charles Praveen, Thilina Bandara, Prabath Kumara, Samuel Maduwantha, Reeza Rafaideen, Dinuk Amarasinghe, Sudaraka Dikkumbura, Kasun de Silva, Yaqoob Ali and Ashan Bandara.
The squad was finalized after the national pool which was trimmed to 35 regrouped after the Malaysian tour training for three weeks at CR and FC and a residential camp at Sugathadasa Stadium before their departure on Sunday.
Experienced Kandy SC scrum half Roshan Weeraratne makes a welcome return to the side along with his club team mate hooker Uchitha Jayasooriya and Police utility back Sachith Silva who missed the Malaysia tour.
CR and FC Number 8 Omalka Gunaratne, 23, has been appointed as the youngest Sri Lanka rugby captain for the Asiad where Sri Lanka take on Philippines in the semi-final on May 29 and either Singapore or hosts Chinese Taipei in the final on June 1. The former Isipathana and Sri Lanka Youth skipper led the Sri Lanka President’s XV admirably after being thrust into leadership role for the Malaysian tour after the withdrawal of Weeraratne.
The Sri Lankan side beat the Malaysian Barbarians 55-14 and lost narrowly to Malaysia 31-26.
In another first, Jason Melder and Kavindu Perera have been named as two vice-captains on this tour.
“We always need to have a senior leader on the park so we appointed a second vice captain for this tour. It is very difficult to lead with one captain and one vice-captain because when players rotate sometimes you don’t have another leader on the field,” said Abayakoon.
The Sri Lanka squad:
FORWARDS
Prop: Kasun de Silva (Navy), Yakoob Ali (Kandy SC) – (Courtesy: DN)
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