Under-19 squad named for Hong Kong games

By Shamseer Jaleel 

The Sri Lanka Rugby National Selection Committee named the 31-member pool ahead of the Under-19 Asia Rugby Championship, which will take place on 10 December at Havelock Park, with the return leg to be played in Hong Kong on 16 December.

Defending champions Hong Kong and Sri Lanka will battle it out for the sole berth in the World Rugby Junior Trophy (second tier world championship) to be held in 2018. Sri Lanka will be without one of their best standoffs, Antonian and current CH&FC player Samuel Maduwantha. 

Speaking to Daily FT, CH&FC Rugby Chairman Ronny Ibrahim said: “Samuel Maduwantha did not train with the squad for the last two days. He is having a head injury. He will start kicking sessions tomorrow. This is the reason behind him not attending national junior training.” 

Further, former Antonian player and current Air Force Centre Seelagama is a shocking omission by the selectors as he is faring well in the current club season.

The outfit will be led by former Thomian player Naveen Heenakankanmge.

Squad: Naveen Henakankanamage (captain), Harith Senanayake (S. Thomas’), Aveesha Priyankara (Vice Captain), Shaveen Ekanayake, Rishen Madena and Dilruk Dange (Trinity), Ashen Fernando (Royal), Dinesh Rodrigo, Mohamed Shabeer and Dinuk Amarasinghe (St. Anthony’s), Vimukthi Gamage, Timira Amanda, Shashika Fernando and Zayan Sabar (Wesley), Suen Muller, Madushanka Perera, Chathura Seneviratne, Gemunu Chethiya and Tehan Seneviratne (Joseph’s), Thekshana Dassanayake and Umar Mohideen (Peter’s), Nipuna Tharaka and Dulanjana Piyatissa (Dharmaraja), Harith Bandara, Randi Silva, Chamod Fernando and Sudeera Gayantha (Isipathana), Lakshitha Ranaweera and Shanon Jenson (Kingswood), Ashan Madumadawa (Science) and Gaveen Perera (D.S. Senanayake). Coach Rajeev Perera and Lasitha de Costa.