Sri Lanka name squad for ARC Division I

The Sri Lankan Tuskers will be led by their youngest-ever captain for this year’s Asia Rugby Championship Division I.

Omalka Gunaratne has been named captain for the tour to Chinese Taipei, with their first match coming against defending champions Philippines on 29 May.

13 debutants have been named in the 26-man squad for the tour, including several players from the sevens set up.

Reeza Raffaideen, Mithun Hapugoda, Dinuk Amerasinghe and Buddhima Piyarathane are set to make their debuts in the fifteens jersey having all represented Sri Lanka Sevens.

Sajith Saranga and Roshan Weeraratne provide experience to the squad which has beeb selected based on performance during the domestic competition.

Sri Lanka will go in to the tournament as favourites based on their world ranking of 44th.

Hosts Chinese Taipei and Singapore will compete in the other semi-final, with the two winners facing each other in the final on 1 June.

Squard: Omalka Gunaratne (Captain), Jason Melder, Kavindu Perera, Kasun De Silver, Charles Praveen, Yakoob Ali, Prasath Madusanka, Uchitha Jayasuriya, Sajath Saranga, Umesha Madushan, Prabath Kumara, Thilina Bandara, Niwanka Prasad, Gihan Perera, Lasindu Ishan, Roshan Weeararatne, Mithun Hapugoda, Samuel Maduwatha, Ashan Bandara, Dinuk Amerasinghe, Theekshana Dassanayake, Reeza Raffaideen, Buddhima Piyarathae, Sachith Silva, Sudarak Dikkumbura, Thilina Wijesinghe