Two schoolboys in Lanka rugby squad for Chinese Taipei
Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE
Two outstanding schoolboy ruggerites - Sajith Saranga (Isipatana) and
Bilal Hassen (Royal) have been picked to represent Sri Lanka in the
Asian Five Nations tournament in Chinese Taipei from November 12 to 15,
2008.
Saranga, an outstanding flanker who represents the Sri Lanka sevens
team in the world cup qualifying sevens will replace Sanjeewa Jayasinghe
on the wing while Hassan a fine hooker and a tireless player in the
loose will take over from Anuranga Walpola in the front row.
With Sri Lanka sevens skipper Pradeep Liyanage too being not
available due to medical reasons former Thurstan and CH and FC centre
Shane Dissanayake has been brought in as a centre.
With former Sri Lanka full back Radhika Hettiarachchi too withdrawing
from the squad CR and FC full back Reza Mubark will be manning the last
line of defence for Sri Lanka.
Earlier Kandy SC's Sanjeeva Jayasinghe and Radhika Hettiarachchi
withdraw from the squad in protest over the appointment of Dushanth
Lewke as captain and the exclusion of Kandy SC number eight Imran
Bisthamin from the side.
Three other players centre Pradeep Liyanage, hooker Anuranga Walpola
and flanker Sean Wijesinghe pulled out from the squad as they were
nursing injuries.
The 24-member Sri Lanka squad for Chinese Taipei
Prop Forward - Sashika Cooray (CH and FC), Nushal Meepage (Army),
Shamil Mohamed (CR and FC)
Hookers - Achala Perera (CH and FC), Bilal Hassen (Royal)
Lock Forwards - Henry Terrance (CR and FC), Dinesh Sanjeewa (CH and
FC), Ashan Karthelis (CR and FC)
Plankers - Dilanka Wijesekera (Captain, CH and FC), Kasun de Silva
(CR and FC), Danushka Perera (CR and FC), Nilusha Fernando (Police)
No. 8: Dushanth Lewke (Captain, CR and FC)
Scrum Halves: Saliya Kumara (Kandy SC), Amjad Buksh (CR and FC)
Fly Half - Ashan de Costa (CR and FC)
Centres - Gayan Weeraratne (Kandy SC), Lasintha de Costa (CR and FC),
Shane Dissanayake (CH and FC)
Wingers - Chula Susantha (Police), Sajith Saranga (Isipatana)
Full Backs - Mohamed Shariff (CR and FC), Reza Mubarak (CR and FC)
Coaches - Dawje Snyman, Norman Laker
Manager - Chaminda Rupasinghe |
