Five schoolboys in 39-member rugby pool

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

Five outstanding schoolboy ruggerites - Isipatanians Dinusha Chathuranga, Sajith Saranga, Royalist Bilal Hassen, Peterite Ishan Noor and Josephian Shanaka Pietersz have been picked for the 39-member pool in preparation for the Asian Nations division one rugby tournament which will be worked off in Chinese Taipei from November 12 to 15, 2008.

The National Selection Committee of the SLRFU comprising Brigadier Jupana Jayawardena (Chairman), Savantha de Saram, Graham Raux, Norman Silva and Lanil Tennakoon which met on Monday pruned down the 61-member pool to 39 after taking into consideration their performance at practices conducted by national coaches - South Africans Dawie Snyman and Norman Laker during the last one week.

Both Saranga and Hassen had a marvellous season excelling for their schools in the ‘A’ division league and later turned out for CH and FC in the second round matches of the Caltex ‘A’ division league.

Chathuranga had an excellent season for his school and came off with flying colours in the schools segment of the Singer-SriLankan Rugby Sevens in Nittawala. Sri Lanka youth players Ishan Noor and Shanaka Pietersz too enjoyed a fine season and played a key role in the success of their schools - St. Peter’s and St. Joseph’s respectively.

Sri Lanka will compete with China, Singapore and host nation. Chinese Taipei in this four nation tournament.

The Sri Lanka rugby pool:

Prop forwards: Shamil Mohamed (CR and FC), Shashika Cooray (CH and FC), Danushka Boteju (CR and FC), Terrence Henry (CR and FC), Nushal Meepage (Army) and Nishantha Kotelawela (Army).

Hookers: Achala Perera (CH and FC), Bilal Hassen (Royal), Navin Wijetunge (CR and FC).

Lock Forwards: Anuradha Dharmatilleke (CR and FC), Dinesh Sanjeewa (CH and FC), Sathya Ranatunge (CH and FC), Pradeep Wilson (Police), Ashen Karthelis (CR and FC).

Flankers: Danushka Perera (CR and FC), Dilanka Wijesekera (CH and FC), Sharo Fernando (Havelocks), Pavithra Fernando (CR and FC), Sajith Saranga (Isipathana), Kasun de Silva (CR and FC).

Number eight: Dushanth Lewke (captain, CR and FC), Ishan Noor (St. Peter’s).

Scrum halves: Amjad Buksh (CR and FC), Radeesha Seneviratne (Air Force), Tuan Shamrock (CH and FC).

Fly halves: Ashan de Costa (CR and FC), Wasim Thajudeen (Havelocks), Shanaka Pietersz (St. Joseph’s).

Centres: Lasintha de Costa (CR and FC), Chula Susantha (Police), Dinusha Chathuranga (Isipatana), Ambuwangala (Army), Niroshan Karunanayake (CR and FC).

Wingers: Saliya Handapangoda (Army), Ruchira Ratnage (Havelocks), Zakir Badurdeen (Havelocks).

Full backs: Reza Mubarak (CR and FC), Mohamed Sheriff (CR and FC), Dilip Methruwan (Havelocks).