Sri Lanka to take part at Youth Rugby Asiad in Brunei

Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE

RUGBY: The Sri Lanka under-20 rugby team will get the much needed foreign exposure when they take part in the Youth Rugby Asiad which will be worked off in Brunei from December 16 to 23, 2007.

Last year, the Sri Lanka under-19 team led by Haren Ariyawardena took part in the Youth Rugby Asiad in Chinese Taipei and finished in sixth position beating Singapore and losing to Korea and Chinese Taipei in Group 'A'. This year, the age rule has been changed and players born after January 1, 1988 are eligible to take part in the tournament.

Sri Lanka will field a formidable team this year and are expected to put up a much better performance. With the age rule being changed to under-20 years Sri Lanka will have the services of outstanding ruggerites of the calibre of Haren Ariyawardena, Arjuna Bopitiya and Irfath Meedin (St. Peter's), Gayan Weeraratne and Thillina Manoj (Kingswood), Kasun Gamage and Chulan Nanayakkara (Isipatana), Roshan Wijesiri, Kusal Rankothge and Sashika Jayawardena (St. Anthony's), Zaffer Jhan (Wesley) all of whom represented the Sri Lanka under-19 team in Chinese Taipei last year.

Outstanding schoolboy ruggerites from Western Province are requested to be present at Havelocks Sports Club on October 10 (Wednesday) at 3.30 p.m. for registration after which a pool will be formed which will go into training under Sri Lanka under-19 Coach Sanath Martis.

Players from Central Province should report to Assistant Coach of Sri Lanka under-19 team Ananda Kasturiarachchi at Trinity College Auditorium on October 11 (Thursday) at 3.30 p.m. after which a pool will be picked and will go into training under Kasturiarachchi. National Coach Rob Yule will be the Manager and Technical Adviser of the Sri Lanka youth team.