Confident Sri Lanka out to regain Division 1 title

Friday, 24 May 2019 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Omalka Gunaratne retains his leadership for Taipei tour

Asia Rugby Championship Division 1 in Taipei

By Shamseer Jaleel

A confident Sri Lankan XV-a-side rugby outfit, under the youngest-ever national skipper Omalka Gunaratne, will depart to Taipei tomorrow in order to gain qualification for Top 3 in the Asian region for 2020.

The Sri Lankan outfit underwent a 2 match tour to Malaysia 2 weeks ago and looks solid and well balanced, with youth being the majority due to several national players nursing injuries, who opted out of this tour. Roshan Weeraratne, who opted out of the Malaysian tour, too is available and will be a major bonus for Head Coach Matt Lee.

Omalka, after representing the “Green Shirts” leading from Under 12 to Under 20, was the deputy skipper of the Sri Lanka Under 20 outfit at the Asian Sevens, which won the Cup in Hong Kong. Omalka started off his club career with Navy and later on moved to the Longdon Place Club, where he led the outfit this year with the regular skipper Kavindu Perera being side-lined due to an injury.

Sri Lanka will lock horns with Philippines on 29 May and play their last game 3 days later. Hosts Taipei will lock horns with Singapore on the opening day. Sri Lanka was fortunate not to be demoted after opting to stay out of the XV’s in 2018. They held talks with Asian Rugby and successfully appealed to stay in Division 1. Two wins in the 4 teams’ event will book a berth for Sri Lanka to feature in the Top 3 in Asia for 2020, alongside South Korea and Hong Kong who are likely to retain their position in the Top 3.

Touring squad

Omalka Gunaratne (capt), Jason Melder (vice capt), Kavindu Perera (vice capt), Roshan Weeraratne, Sajith Saranga, Prasad Madushanka, Thilina Wijesinghe, Umesh Madushanka, Nivanka Prasad, Mithun Hapugoda, Theekshana Dissanayake, Sachith Silva, Buddima Piyaratne, Lasindu Ishan, Gihan Perera, Uchitha Jayasooriya, Charles Praveen, Thilina Bandara, Prabath Kumara, Samuel Maduwantha, Reza Rafaideen, Dinuk Amarasinghe, Sudaraka Dikkumbura, Kasun de Silva, Yakoob Ali and Ashan Bandara

Head Coach

Matt Lee (New Zealand)

Assistant Coaching staff

Viraj Prasanna

Fazil Marija

Trainer

Dilan Zoysa

Chief de Mission

Rear Admiral Hettiarachchi

Physiotherapist

Hasitha Vithanage