Gunadeera leads rugby outfit to Malaysia

Friday, 2 December 2016 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shamseer Jaleel

Former Royal skipper Nikila Gunadheera will lead the Sri Lanka Under-19 rugby outfit for the Asian Rugby fifteen-a-side championship top division which will be worked off in Malaysia from 11-17 December.

He will have former Isipathana captain Kushan Indunil as his deputy on tour.

The 28-member squad was finalised by head of selectors, Michael Jayasekara, with three on standby. Former Kingswood and Sri Lanka Sevens player and former Trinity and Isipathana Head Coach and current Joes Coach Nilfer Ibrahim will be looking after the team with Terence Henry serving as his deputy watching over the forwards. The majority of the selected players are from Isipathana (7) and S. Thomas’ College (4).

Sri Lanka Under-19 squad subject to the Sports Minister’s approval:

Nikila Gunadheera (Captain), Ashok Vijeykumar (both from Royal), Kushan Indunil (Vice Captain), Vageesha Weerasingha, Adeesha Eshan, Lahiru Wishwajith, Isuru Udayakumara, Gayan Wickramaratna, Harith Bandara (all from Isipathana), Sandesh Jayawickrama and Ramesh Fernando, Ravin Yapa (all from St. Peter’s college), Supun Wijesooriya (Kingswood), Udaya Sanjula (Prince of Wales), Nirosh Perera, Janith Laksara, Thanuja Maduranga (all from Science College), Samuel Maduwantha (St. Anthony’s College), Rumesh Priyankara (St. Joseph’s), Naveen Henakankanamge, Dhanuja Wijeratna, Ashvantha Herath, Pandula De Silva (all from S. Thomas’) and Rahul Karunathilake, Shalindra Alahakoon, Avisha Priyankara (all from Trinity College), Zayan Sabar (Wesley College) and Wajid Faumy (Zahira College).

Head Coach - Nilfer Ibrahim

Assistant Coach -Terence Henry

Match schedule

11 December

Hong Kong vs. Taipei

Sri Lanka vs. Malaysia

14 December

Hong Kong vs. Sri Lanka

Taipei vs. Malaysia

17 December

Sri Lanka vs. Taipei

Hong Kong vs. Malaysia