Police rugby team filled with young blood

By Shamseer Jaleel 

The Police Sports Club will be led by Jayanga Silva with no big names in their ranks but a top five finish is possible as the outfit is a determined unit with plenty of young blood. 

They will have one of the best readers of the game in former Isipathana and Sri Lanka Sevens specialist and Zahira College Coach Shamly Nawas, who will be looking over the outfit. 

Police started club rugby in 1961 and became top division champions in 1967. Their golden era was from 1980 to 1989. They became triple champions in 1989 under national skipper, prop forward Hafeez Marso. They produced some top-class players during this period such as Sudath Sampath, Hemantha Yatawara, Muruga Jayaratne, Saman Kotalawela, Nizam Jamaldeen, Niranjan Abeywardena, Ajantha Samarakkon and Asoka Jayasena. 

The cops have lost two of their best players this season - former Royalist Musheen Faleel and Moahmed Abshal from Kingswood College. Both outstanding players have signed up to play with the sailors this season. Youngsters Romesh Arachchige and Wajid Fawmy will be the stars in the outfit. The cops will be more than happy to welcome former Zahirian and top try-scorer Zahid Singhawansa to their squad this season.   

Team: Jayanga Silva (Captain), Chanaka Udara, Lahiru Gurusinghe, Hasha Gomez, Ishan Mollagoda, Amila Pradeep, Romesh Archarige, Danushka Edirisooriya, Ruskhan Payantha, Sujan Kodithuwakku, Chanka Bandara, Hashan Fernando, Kavinda Jayasundara, L S Bandara, Vimukthi Perera, Zaid Singhwansa, Hashan Janaka, Pradeep Kumara, Lakshan Pradeep, Nisal Samdhi, Geevan Ekanayake, Udaa Sanjula, Sandesh Jayawickrama, Mahan Wimalarathna, Yohan Peiris, Deshan Fernando, Sumudu Manoj, Kasun Maudasanka, Vushon Andrian, Suranga Kasun, Dhushan Horanthara, Lahiru Pawithra, Janith Chanaka, Wajid Fawmy, Hansaka Liyanakge, Chamod Senevirathne, Sajith Seram, Kasun Perera, Vihanga Piwathu, Janith Chandimal and Anushka Uthipala. 

Head Coach: Shamly Nawaz.