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 |
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