The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) has named a squad of 25 ahead of the Asia Rugby Championship in Malaysia to be held from the 8th – 14th May 2016. The squad features a nice mix of youth and experience.

Havelock’s versatile third row forward Sudarshana Muthuthantri (Muthu) will skipper the national team for the first time. Muthu was named as Fazil Marija’s successor last September in the shorter version of the game and this will be a great opportunity for the former Havelock’s captain to lead the team on the big stage once again.

Photo Album – Tuskers last training before ARC 2016

The highest try scorer of the concluded Dialog Rugby League Prasath Madhusankha will debut alongside eight others, namely Rahul De Silva, Janik Jayasuriya (Havelocks) Nivanka Prasad (Navy), Kavindu Perera, Banuka Nanayakkara (CR&FC) and Dhanush Dayan (Kandy SC). Last year’s national XV’s U20 Captain Omalka Gunarathne and 7s Captain Kevin Dixon are the youngest members of the squad.

Speaking to ThePapare.com the chairman of selectors Michael Jayasekera stated that “We have injected young blood who are capable of fitting into this team (to replace) some big names missing due to injuries”.

Srinath Sooriyabandara, Shehan (Lema) Pathirana, Nigel Ratwatte, Gayan Weerarathne and Anurudda Wilwara (Kandy), Dulaj Perera and Niroshan Fernand (Havelocks) are the players who are missing out due to injury while Richard Dharmapala is overseas for his studies.

Fazil Marija has postponed the laser treatment on his spine but will serve as the backs coach for this tour. He is also hoping to be fit for the Olympic Qualifiers in Monaco next month.

The highest points scorer of the league, Thilina Weerasinghe is a notable absentee from the squad after playing the season of his life for Navy SC. Mr. Reliable Rizah Mubarak fits into the starting XV while Dixon will be the utility player who is expected to come off the bench.

Henry Terrance, Piumal Manchanayake, Damith Dissanayake and Thilina Weerasinghe, will be standby players who won’t be touring.

The squad
1 Prop Dushmantha Priyadarshana  (Havelock)
2 Hooker Prasath Madusanka (Havelock)
3 Prop Ganuka Dissanayake (Havelock)
4 Lock/Prop Jason Melder (Havelock)
5 Lock Sharo Fernando (Police)
6 Captain / flanker Sudharshana Muthuthantri  (Havelock)
7 Lock / flanker Jesan Dissanayaka  (CR&FC)
8 No8 Buwaneka Udangamuwa  (Kandy)
9 Scrum half Roshan Weerarathna (Kandy)
10 Fly half Chanaka Chandimal (Navy)
11 Center / wing Kavindu Perera (CR&FC)
12 Center / wing Kanchana Ramanayaka (CR&FC)
13 Center Danushka Ranjan (Havelock)
14 Wing Sandun Herath (Havelock)
15 Full back Rizah Mubarak (Police)
16 Hooker Achala Perera (Police)
17 Prop Kishore Jahan (Kandy)
18 Lock/flanker Suhiru Anthony (Kandy)
19 Flanker Niwanka Prasad (Navy)
20 Utility back Kevin Dixon  (Havelock)
21 Fly half / center Banuka Nanayakkara (CR&FC)
22 No8 / flanker Omalka Gunaratne (Navy)
23 Wing / full back Dansha Dayan (Kandy)
24 Scrum half Rahul De Silva (Havelcok)
25 Lock Janik Jayasuriya (Havelock)

 

1 Manager Rohan Chinthake
2 Coach Johan Taylor
3 Asst. Coach Fazil Marija
4 Asst. Coach Rajeew Perera
5 Physio Amith Jayasekara
6 Masseur Asitha Lakruwan