Asia Rugby Division 1: Anthony leads national XV side rugby outfit

Suhiru  Anthony 

National Rugby Selection Committee, headed by Sudath Sampath picked the former St Peter’s, Navy SC, Kandy SC and League winning CR and FC skipper, Suhiru Anthony to lead the national XV a side outfit at the Asia Rugby Division 1 Tournament.

Former Trinity Rugby Lion, CR and FC and present Kandy SC player, Tarinda Ratwatte will be his deputy for this event, which will take place at the Racecourse ground on 30 April and 4 May.

Selected pool of 39 players was reduced to 30 after the second warm up game, which took place at Longdon Place two days back.

Winners of this tournament will be promoted to Asia Rugby top 4 in 2025 while the last placed team will be demoted to Division 2 in the same year. Hosts Sri Lanka, Qatar, India and Kazakhstani will lock horns in the 4 teams’ event.

The outfit is Coached by Sanath Martis with Dushantha Lewke handling the forwards as well as the strength and conditioning coach, while Nilfer is the three quarter’s coach.

Sri Lanka national rugby pool of 30 players (subject to Ministry Approval)

Captain Suhhiru Anthony, Kavindu de Costa, Thenuka Nanayakkara, Zubair Doray, Venura Kodagoda, Adeesha Weerathunge, Lasindu Karunathilake, Raveen de Silva, Manilka Ruberu (all from CR and FC), Janidu Fernando, Faiz Abdulla, Azmir Fajudeen, Mohamed Rifan (all 4 from Havies), Lahiru Thilakarathne, Akash Madushanka, Hirantha Perera, Sachith Silva (all 4 from Police), Charith Silva, Dushmantha Priyadharshana, Pulasthi Dissanayake, Janith Laksara, Hirusha Sampath (all 5 from CH), Chathuranga Kudaleege, Heshan Jansen, Vice-Captain Tarinda Ratwatte, Dinal Ekanayake (all 4 from Kandy SC), Nalaka Maduranga, Sudaraka Dikkumbura (both from Army), Stephan Gregory (Navy) and Shashika Fernando (Air Force). - (SJ)