Sri Lanka face South Korea at Junior World Rugby Tournament

Saturday, 20 September 2014 00:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shamseer Jaleel Sri Lanka will lock horns with South Korea in their opening encounter at the Asian edition of the Junior World Rugby Tournament (JWRT) 2014, which will kick off tomorrow at the Race Course rugby grounds at 4.30 pm. On the same day, in the tournament opener, Hong Kong will battle it out with Chinese Taipei. .

This Under 20 rugby tournament will be played on a league basis between the four participating teams with the group champions moving towards the Youth Rugby World Cup in Lisbon, Portugal next year after a playoff against the Pacific Island winners. The Sri Lanka youth team will be led by former Trinity captain, Tharinda Ratwatte. The present head coach of Isipathana Nilfer Ibrahim will guide the young Sri Lankan outfit, with Anura Walpola assisting him. The Division II JWRT will take place in Manila, Philippines from 10 to 13 December, with Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Philippines participating in it. The Division III tournament will be worked off in India (11-14 December) with UAE, Uzbekistan, India and Pakistan battling it out for ranking promotions for next year’s tournament. Meanwhile, the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) in a goodwill gesture will provide 50% of the cost for the Sri Lanka youth team’s accommodation.

The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association (SLSRFA) will need to find a sponsor for the balance cost. Speaking to Daily FT, Sri Lanka Head Coach Nilfer Ibrahim said: “The boys are very eager to do well in front of the home crowd and we took the maximum out of the given time for us. All players are in good shape and we will come out on top.” Singer Sri Lanka is the sponsor of this tournament and all teams will stay at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. Props Stephan Gregory (St. Josephs), Ganuka Dissanyake (Isipathana), Direndra Ratwatte (Trinity), Anurada Karunathilake (Trinity) Hookers Supun Warnakulasuriya (Royal), Nisal Deysatha (Isipathana) 2nd rows Umesh Madushan (Royal), Sithum Peires (Wesley), Akila Perera (Isipathana) 3rd rows Shenal Deelaka Silva (Isipathana), Tariq Salih (St. Josephs), Isuru Rangala (Trinity), Chathura Dilshan (Isipathana), Omalka Gunaratne (Isipathana) Scrum Half Sudam Sooriyarachchi ( Isipathana), Prasad Malinda (Science) Fly Half Tharinda Ratwatte (Captain from Trinity), Rehan Romesh (Isipathana) Centers Ashela Wijesinghe (Kingswood), Kevin Dixon (St.Peter’s), Lochana Girihagama (Trinity), Sanchana Shiek (Trinity) Wingers Bhanuka Gamage (Royal), Prince Chamara (Science) Full backs Nimshan Jayawardena (Royal) Head Coach- Nilfer Ibrahim Technical Advisor-Ananda Kasturiarachchi