- Royal College
The defending champions, Royal College, will be led by their most senior campaigner in the team, Thulaib Hassen. Hassen has been a consistent performer for Royal specially in the last two concluded seasons as the ‘Hassen-Janidu’ combination played a big part in Royal’s success story.
Making it to the U20 National Seven’s team last year is a highlight in his schooling career, as the junior Tuskers’ ended in 3rd place. However, known for his aggression in the inside center position, Hassen will be leading a Royal College team looking to achieve something that no schools team has achieved in the 21st century; win three back-to-back league titles.
- St. Joseph’s College
Bulldozing No.8, representing his school for the 5th year in the 1st XV jumper, Tharindu De Alwis has been tasked with leading the Josephian outfit for the 2019 Schools’ rugby season. Young Alwis played a big part in 2017, when St. Joseph’s went onto win their maiden Knockout trophy beating Isipathana.
Having represented Sri Lanka at the U18 7’s Youth Olympics in 2017 and at the U19 Asian Rugby Championship in 2018, Tharindu is no stranger to the International stage and he will surely be aiming to bring in all his experience leading his school out this season.
Team 2019 will no doubt face an uphill task if they are to match the heroics of 2018, following arguably the best season of Josephian rugby history in which they finished the league and knockout as runners up while taking home the sevens title for the first time in their rugby history.
- St. Peter’s College
A dynamic utility player, steering the scrums from the third-row, Bilal Hilmy, will lead the “Bamba Brigade” this year following his instrumental performance for the Peterite outfit last year after playing a key role in the forward pack.
Having represented his alma-mater for the past 3 years, Hilmy, definitely is the most experienced campaigner in the team. With his unique abilities in winning turn overs and being cheeky in the rucks – a lot is expected from the newly appointed skipper, in his first match against the Thomians’ for the Archibald Perera Trophy.
- Isipathana College
3rd year coloursman and flanker, Janith Serasinghe, will lead the “Green Machine” in the upcoming 2019 schools rugby season, taking up the captaincy band from his fellow teammate Manilka Rubeyru. With ample experience and good understanding Serasinghe was a standout player in the green jersey last year, showing great potential from the back of the scrums and at the breakdowns. His impressive performance and seniority earned him this privileged position in the team and he will look forward to put Pathana back on track in the schools rugby arena.
- Kingswood College
Standout prop forward from the 2018 season, Milan Weerasinghe, has been handed over the captaincy duties of the Kingswood College rugby team ahead of the 2019 schools rugby season. The young Kingswoodian was a revelation last year, showing great strength and technique in the front row, his contribution made a difference which eventually helped his team end the season on a satisfying note.
Playing at two vital positions, prop and hooker – Weerasinghe’s 4 years of experience donning the first XV jersey will undoubtedly play a part in his new journey as a leader. Weerasinghe represented the ‘Kandy Reds’ in the 2018 edition of ThePapare.com’s annual ‘Colombo Blues vs Kandy Reds’ encounter. He was also amongst the try scorers for Kingswood last season, after marshaling his forwards steadily from the back of the driving mauls.
- Trinity College
Reshan Bandaranayake, the young full-back/wing three-quarter is one of the most senior campaigners who now has been given the privilege of captaining his alma mater in his third and final year. Bandaranayake first donned the red, gold and blue jersey in 2017 and has been a consistent member of the starting line-up.
Displaying great leadership skills in the team’s coaching tour in New Zealand, Reshan was the top pick for captain, especially after being awarded the ‘Best Development Player’ by the Wellington Rugby Academy (WRA) in New Zealand. Bandaranayake has represented Trinity College from the junior levels, and was a key player for the Lions having being a part of four Bradby shields. His first task as captain will be to outplay Zahira College in their league opener, this Saturday.
- Wesley College
Leadership duties has been handed over to 4th year player Murshid Zubair, who has been an outstanding performer for the “Double Blues”, scoring tries, making the kicks and creating opportunities for Wesley over the past couple of seasons.
He is one of the, if not the most, impact players in the upcoming league, considering his awareness, gameplay and attacking skills. Although he may not be the fastest in the park, he can slice straight through any defence and spark things up for his side. He will begin his stint as skipper when Wesley take on Kingswood for the L. E. Blaze trophy, this weekend.
- Zahira College
Zaid Thajudeen will lead the Maradana pack for the upcoming league as the most experienced campaigner in the team. The young loose forward has been the go-to man in the flanks for Zahira College, since their year of promotion in 2016.
Known by many as ‘Cheena’, Thajudeen is fearless in defence, rarely missing any tackles. He’s also a specialist in winning turnovers and making cheeky moves for his side, and is always well-aware of what is happening around him. His first task as skipper will be to tame the Lions of the Hill Capital and create a new beginning for Zahira College.
- S. Thomas’ College
Coming from a family of Thomian rugby captains, Harith Senanayake is the youngest of the Senanayake brothers’, who have been handed this privilege of captaining his alma mater in his fourth and final year. His older brothers’ – Hashaka Senanayake and Hasitha Senanayake led S. Thomas’ in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Playing as a second row jumper, Senanayake is undoubtedly the most experienced campaigner in the team. The newly appointed skipper also donned the Colombo Blues jersey in ThePapare.com Colombo Blues vs Kandy Reds encounter 2018.
Senanayake is well known for his reliability in the lineouts and his game awareness in broken play. He is also a specialist in winning possession for his side at the breakdowns using his turn over abilities. His first encounter will be for the Archbald Perera Trophy against the Peterites.
- St. Anthony’s College
Coming off a pretty average season the young Eagle Mohommed Makarim who had a superb season in 2018 will lead the boys from the hill capital in the new season. The 5th year colours-man who played at the inside center position last year scored for the Antonians when they needed it the most. His best outing last season was against St. Joseph’s at the Havelock Park. Originally a scrum-half and a fly-half Markarim has gradually made the transition into the Antonian midfield.
Antonians managed to stay in the top flight for the new season before being demoted to the plate championship after the first-round last season. Markarim’s game sense will be of vital importance as he guides traffic in his newly found fly half position.
- Maliyadeva College
Kaushalya Gunaweera will take the added responsibility of the captain duties for the newly promoted team from the North Western Province, Maliyadeva College. Playing alongside Lahiru Daulagala last season Gunaweera was a vital cog in the Maliyadeva wheel which earned themselves a worthy promotion.
A utility back in nature Gunaweera is lethal in exploiting space under pressure through some smooth stepping. Also taking up the kicking duties from Ishara Herath from last year, Gunaweera will be looking to secure Maliyadeva another moral boosting year after battling in tough conditions in C and B Divisions in previous years.
- Science College
Bulldozing No.8, representing his alma mater for the 5th year in the 1st XV jersey, Sashin Munasinghe has been tasked with leading another newly promoted outfit Science College for the 2019 Schools’ Rugby Season. Experienced 5th year colours-man played a big part in 2018, when Science College went onto defeat the B division teams with authority as they earned a top flight spot.
Science College has been the underdogs of the schools rugby arena with a reputation of being giant killers. Munasinghe has been a rock in defence leading the Science forwards pack for a couple of years now. Leadership hasn’t been an alien job for the bulked up number 8 as Science will yet again look to live up to their reputation of being giant killers under his captaincy.
