With less than 3 days left for the kick-off of the most anticipated rugby match of the season, ThePapare All Star Rugby Encounter 2014 – the elite schools rugby showdown between Kandy Reds vs Colombo Blues which will take place on the 26th of July 2014 at Race Course International Rugby Stadium.
The Colombo Blues squad is mixed with the cream of Sri Lanka’s best rugby playing schools in the capital city. The Blues won the previous two editions of the ThePapare All Star Rugby Encounter which was held in 2010 and 2011 convincingly beating their counterparts from Kandy. Unlike the Kandy Reds team, the Colombo Blues will be represented by players from 7 schools around the suburbs of Colombo. Unbeaten triple champions, Isipathana College have fed 8 players to the squad, which is the highest representation from one school. Four players each from St. Peter’s College, Royal College and Science College will make up the strong Blues outfit while 2 players apiece from St. Joseph’s College and Wesley College have also been included to the squad by the neutral selection committee appointed by Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association(SLSRFA) after conducting trials over the week.
The Colombo Blues squad is highly talented and they possess some of the best play-makers who excelled throughout the 2014 schools rugby season. Colombo Blues players are enriched with overwhelming confidence to topple the Kandy Reds and they will be looking to unleash their heavy-duty strength in forwards and backs to win the coveted ThePapare All Star Trophy. Most of the players went against each other in the schools season and now they will be combined together in one course which will be essential to selecting the best crop of players to represent Sri Lanka in the upcoming Junior Asiad.
We take a look at the Colombo Blues squad in our buildup to the star-studded All Stars encounter.
Triple crowned Work Horse Shenal to captain Colombo
Hard working flanker led his unbeaten ‘Green Machine’ Isipathana to conquer all the trophies during the recently concluded season and he is all set to keep his unbeaten record intact in leading out the strong Colombo squad. Shenal Deelaka planted 4 tries during the Singer league and his work rate in attack and defense were exceptional. Mobility and correct techniques are the strong points of Shenal and he will be itching to put up another strong performance on 26th July.
Coaching Staff
One of the most experienced tacticians in the Sri Lanka, Sanath Martis who coached Royal College for the 4th position of the League and runner-up trophy in the Milo Knockouts Championship will join hands with Nilufer Ibrahim who made golden history for Isipathana College winning the triple crown during the 2014 schools season will act as the Colombo Blues coaches for this star-studded encounter.
Martis is vastly renowned for his basic style of open rugby and he will no doubt work perfectly with Nilfer Ibrahim who is a pioneer coach in working with the backs. Martis will be handling the forward pack while Nilfer will obviously be in charge of the back line. Asela Deshappriya, head coach of upcoming C.W.W Kannangara Vidyalaya will be doing his duties as the assistant coach for the Colombo Blues squad.
Players to watch out for
Omalka Gunarathne – The unstoppable number 8 of Isipathana College will no doubt be the main attraction of the ThePapare All Star Rugby Encounter 2014 due to his unique and extraordinary playing style. Robust and energetic Omalka scored over a dozen tries during the schools season and he will certainly look to score few more eye-catching tries for Colombo Blues as well.
Kevin Dixon – The dashing center-three quarter from Bambalapitiya is indeed one of the brightest prospects for Sri Lanka in the near future. Dixon was the highest try scorer in the Singer league championship scoring 11 tries. Dixon`s superior knowledge about the game provides the force to display his ball and foot skills which he will use to create gaps in the opponents line and to break down the opposition defense.
Nimshan Jayawardene – Place kicking duties have been given to Royal skipper who will play as the last man of defense. Nimshan’s versatility at full back coupled with an aggressive running game made him the standout player for Royal College in the 2014 schools season. Nimshan scored 6 tries in his total points tally of 106 during the Singer league and he was instrumental in taking his team to the finals of the Milo knockout championships.
Full Squad
Props –
Ganuka Dissanayake – Isipathana College, Colombo
Lasindu Ishan – Science College, Mount Lavinia
Stephan Gregory – St. Joseph’s College, Colombo
Udara Anjana – St. Peter’s College, Colombo
Hookers –
Supun Warnakoolasuriya – Royal College, Colombo
Nishal Deshantha – Isipathana College, Colombo
Second Row –
Umesh Madushan – Royal College, Colombo
Sithum Peiris – Wesley College, Colombo
Akhila Perera – Isipathana College, Colombo
Flankers –
Taariq Salih – St. Joseph’s College, Colombo
Shenal Deelaka Silva (Captain) – Isipathana College
Chathura Dilshan – Isipathana College, Colombo
Number 8 –
Omalka Gunarathne – Isipathana College, Colombo
Scrum Half –
Sudam Parinda Sooriyarachchi – Isipathana College
Prasad Malinda – Science College, Mount Lavinia
Fly Half
Rehan Silva – Isipathana College, Colombo
W.P Vishwawijeya – St. John’s College, Nugegoda
Centers –
Kevin Dixon – St. Peter’s College, Colombo
Shamri Burah – St. Peter’s College, Colombo
Nishon Perera – St. Peter’s College, Colombo
Wingers
Bhanuka Gamage – Royal College, Colombo
Prince Chamara – Science College, Mount Lavinia
Chathura Gomez – Science College, Mount Lavinia
Full Back –
Nimshan Jayawardene – Royal College, Colombo
Lahiru Prasad – Wesley College, Colombo
Officials
Coach – Sanath Martis
Coach – Nilfer Ibrahim
Assistant coach – Asela Deshapriya
MIC – Amal Jayasooriya
Manager – Malaka Ihalagedara
