The Sri Lanka National Rugby team took wing to Malaysia yesterday to conquer the Asia Rugby Championship to be held from the 8th – 14th May 2016. At a sendoff event held at the Havelocks Sports Club, the Tuskers were handed their playing jerseys.
The head table consisted of Asanga Senevirathne (President SLRFU), Nazeem Mohamed (Secretary SLRFU), former national players Sriyan Cooray and Ted Muthiah, Head Coach Johann Taylor and Assistant Coach Fazil Marija.
Addressing the gathering Mr. Asanga Senevirathne emphasized that wearing the national jersey is a rare honour only a few determined players who are ready to sacrifice achieve. He also spoke of the importance of playing with the right spirit, as many youngsters who are taking up the game and the rugby loving public of Sri Lanka will look up to the current crop of players as role models.
Speaking next Mr. Ted Muttiah, who donned the national jersey as a winger, spoke about the importance of wearing the national colours with pride, he added “I can vouch that, the feeling you get when you wear your jersey and sing the national anthem cannot be replaced by any other feeling in the world and it’s important that you boys hold that close to your hearts which will motivate you to go that extra yard in the games.”
The 9 debutants were handed their maiden test caps by former national players Mr. Sriyan Cooray & Mr. Ted Muttiah, followed by the 16 players who have achieved the distinction of representing Sri Lanka previously.
Sri Lanka 1st XV head coach Mr. Johann Taylor, addressing the players mentioned that “From all my time spent in Sri Lanka I have never had the chance to coach a bunch of players more enthusiastic than the current lot and they have really worked hard and mastered the structure and the pattern we are looking to execute within a very short period of time”.
Speaking exclusively to ThePapare.com Mr. Asanga Senevirathne mentioned that there have been huge steps taken by the SLRFU to improve the game and provide the players with the best possible support. Last year alone 36 million rupees have been spent by the SLRFU towards the development of the game and its players. Mr. Seneviratne had high praise for ThePapare.com adding “Rugby audiences worldwide grew by leaps and bounds due to the introduction of Setanta sports, the dedicated rugby channel, and the same can be said about ThePapare.com which takes the national game to the masses”
Fixtures with Local times
| 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 |
