Pavithra leads new look Sri Lanka rugby team to Dubai

RANJEEVA SENEVIRATNE

The new National Selection Committee of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union headed by former Sri Lanka number eight Ajith Abeyratne picked a new Sri Lanka squad to take part in the Asian five nations rugby tournament in Dubai from April 8 to 11, 2009.

The team led by CR and FC flanker Pavithra Fernando includes only eight players who were in the 24-member squad picked by the previous Selection Committee headed by Rohan Abeykoon who resigned on Saturday.

CR and FC and Sri Lanka number eight Dushanth Lewke who captained Sri Lanka at the Asian Five Nations in Chinese Taipei last year makes a welcome return to the team along with national players Pradeep Wilson, Ashen Karthelis, Zulki Hamid, Ashan de Costa, Niroshan Karunanayake, Lasintha de Costa and Danushka Perera.

The team which is packed with players from last year’s ‘A’ division league and Clifford Cup runners up CR and FC also includes players from Havelocks Sports Club, Air Force, Police, CH and FC and Kandy SC. CR and FC coach John Carrington will take over as coach from national coach George Simpkin.

The 24-member squad which was ratified by Sports and Public Recreation Minister Gamini Lokuge will leave for Dubai today and will confront Chinese Taipei on April 8 at Sevens Stadium, Dubai.

The 24-member Sri Lanka squad:

Prop forwards: Henry Terrence (CR and FC), Kasun Yasaisuru (Havelocks), Suranga Swarnatilleke (CR and FC), Danushka Sandaruwan (Havelocks).

Hookers: Anuja Perera (CR and FC), Rajiv Perera (Havelocks).

Lock forwards: Pradeep Wilson (Police), Sumedha Jayasinghe (Kandy SC), Ashen Karthelis (CR and FC).

Flankers: Pavithra Fernando (captain, CR and FC), Danushka Perera (CR and FC), Sharo Fernando (CH and FC).

Number eight: Dushanth Lewke (CR and FC).

Scrum halves: Zulki Hamid (CR and FC), Srinath Sooriyabandara (CR and FC).

Fly halves: Ashan de Costa (CR and FC), Chanaka Chandimal (Air Force).

Centres: Dinusha Chathuranga (CR and FC), Suranga Arunashantha (Air Force), Niroshan Karunanayake (CR and FC).

Wingers: Dinesh Kumara (CR and FC), Ravindra Wekadapola (CR and FC), Lasintha de Costa (CR and FC).

Full back: Reza Mubarak (CR and FC).