Asia Rugby U19 Championships | World Rugby Trophy Qualifier | Sri Lanka U19

The Article about the Sri lanka U19 team has been kindly submitted by Sri Lanka Rugby

Sri Lanka u19 , who will take on Hong Kong U19 this coming Sunday (10th December) at the Racecourse ground are looking to conquer Asia for the first time in sixteen years.

The final team was announced yesterday as the Junior Tuskers are only two days away from game-day. Naveen Henakankanamage and Aveesha Piyankara were assigned the duties of Captain and Vice-Captain, respectively.

Since Malaysia and Chinese Taipei have opted to sit out from this year’s U19 Asiad, the tournament will be played in two legs accordingly, the 1st leg at Racecourse Ground Sri Lanka, and the 2nd leg at Hong Kong Football Club , Hong-Kong on 16th December.

Rajeew Perera and current Isipathana coach Lasintha De Costa have been entrusted with the responsibilities of grooming the Junior Tuskers.

Sri Lanka will hope to not let the past affect their aspirations, as Sri Lanka have a disappointing record against the defending champions, Hong-Kong. The Junior Tuskers will have to prevent Hong-Kong from getting into the game if they are to spring a surprise. Sri Lanka seem to have a balanced team this year similar to the previous years. The Hong-Kong players are well-known for their and physical strength and appearance, an area in which the Junior Tuskers may find it difficult to compete.

Players like Harith Bandara, Chamod Fernando and Dinuk Amerasinghe, who are experienced campaigners, will have to support Henakankanamage and Piyankara in bringing the best out of the team.

The Sri Lanka u19 team :

Props:

Aveesha Piyankara *VC (Trinity College, Kandy)
Ashane Fernando (Royal College, Colombo)
Vimukthi Gamage (Wesley College, Colombo)
Shaveen Ekanayake (Trinity College, Kandy)
Dinesh Rodrigo (St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota)

Hooker:

Sven Muller (St. Joseph’s College, Colombo)

Second Rows:

Rishane Madena (Trinity College, Kandy)
Thimira Amanda (Wesley College, Colombo)
Umar Mohideen (St. Peter’s College, Colombo)
Shashika Ashan (Wesley College, Colombo)

Third rows:

Daiyan Sabar (Wesley College, Colombo)
Gihan Perera (St. Joseph’s College, Colombo)
Nipun Tharaka (Dharmaraja College, Kandy)
Mohammed Shabeer (St. Anthony’s College, Katugasthota)

Half backs

Harith Bandara (Isipathana College, Colombo)
Hashan Madumadawa (Science College, Mount Lavinia)

Fly-half

Chathura Senevirathne (St. Joseph’s College, Colombo)
Lakshitha Ranaweera (Kingswood College, Kandy)
Randy Silva (Isipathana College, Colombo)

Centers

Dinuk Amerasinghe (St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota)
Theekshana Dassanayake (St. Peter’s College, Colombo)
Gemunu Chethiya (St. Joseph’s College, Colombo)

Wings
Naveen Henakankanamage – Captain (S. Thomas’ College, Mount Lavinia)
Diluksha Dange (Trinity College, Kandy)

Fullback:

Chamod Fernando (Isipathana College, Colombo)

The Match will be shown Live On Asia Rugby Facebook page www.facebook.com/Asia.Rugby

Asia Rugby U19 Championships 2017
World Rugby trophy Qualifier

#ARu19
10th and 16th December

Hong Kong , Sri Lanka