The Sri Lanka rugby selection committee cut down the junior rugby squad down to a 28 man squad yesterday after having their final selections at the Sugathadasa Stadium. However the squad of 28 is yet to confirmed and is awaiting ratification by the sports minister.
ThePapare conducted the final trial in form of the All star rugby encounter in which the new selection committee headed by Chandrashan Perera chose a squad of 35 players. An interesting inclusion amongst the final 28 players is St. Peters College fly half Dulaj Perera who was not in the initial squad of 35 players. ThePapare earlier mentioned that Dulaj Perera was a player who should be included in the final selection due to his obvious skills displayed in the schools rugby league tournament. His inclusion however has come in the expense of Royal College fly half Arshad Jamaldeen who is also the highest point’s scorer of the season.
The ARFU u-20 Asian championship which is supposed to be worked off on the 26th of June will feature 4 of the top teams in Asia which will include Japan, Hong Kong, Thailand and Sri Lanka who will be playing this tournament as a JWRT qualifier.
DATE- MATCH- TIME
26th June- Japan vs. Sri Lanka- 1800 hrs
26th June- Hong Kong vs. Thailand- 1939 hrs
29th June- Hong Kong vs. Sri Lanka- 1800 hrs
29th June- Japan vs. Thailand- 1930 hrs
2nd July- Thailand vs. Sri Lanka- 1730 hrs
2nd July- Japan vs. Hong Kong- 1900 hrs
Below is the squad of 28 which is yet to be ratified by the sports ministry
Props – Heshan Kalhara (KCK), Timira Galapaththige (TCK), Hafeez Adahan (TC), Kokila Hiran (WC),Nipuna Devinda (IC)
Hookers – Murad Ramzeen (TCK), Isuru Alwis (SPC) Prasad Madushanka (IC)
2nd Rows – Sachinthaka Perera (TCK), Randika Alwis (TCK)
Flankers – Jason Dissanayake (Vidyartha), Savinda Unamboowa (TCK), Sean Foster (TCK), Sajid Suhaib (IC)
Number 8 – Sanka Rajaguru (SACK), Shehan Pathirana (RC)
Scrum halves – Sanjaya Somasiri (TCK), Banuka Nanayakkara (SPC)
Fly halves – Devinda Prasad (IC)
Centers – Kanil Seneviratne (TCK), Dilshan Chathuranga (TCK), Danushka Ranjan (SPC), Shamal Chathuranga (IC), Oshan Perera (KCK)
Wing three’s – Lavanga Perera (KCK), Shashan Mohomed (TCK), Sandun Herath (SPC), Mekalanda Praboda (IC)
Full back – Dulaj Perera (SPC)
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