Schools rugby kicks off on April 24

The eagerly awaited schools rugby season kicks off on April 24 (Friday) with two key matches the confrontation between traditional rivals Royal and S. Thomas’ at Mount Lavinia and the clash between the strong Isipatanians and Peterites at Bambalapitiya.

Despite the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association deciding to scrap the schools ‘A’ Division League Rugby Tournament these two matches will evoke tremendous interest among rugby fans.

S. Thomas College under the leadership of centre Shavin Kapuwatte will also have the services of prop forward Janik Jayasuriya, flankers Rajinda Gunasekera, Jeewaka Hewavitharana and Asela Kohona and should give the strong Royalists a close run with the advantage of playing on their home ground.

The Thomians have been training hard under the watchful eyes of their coach Jeevan Gunatilleke assisted by former Sri Lanka skipper Viraj Prasantha and will go all out to regain the Michael Guneratne Trophy which they last won in 2005 under the leadership of Namal Rajapaksa.

The Royalists led by fly half Naren Dhason will field a team packed with experienced players.

Their formidable pack will comprise Sri Lanka youth players Kalana Amarasinghe and Hasthika Bandaranayake in addition to seasoned campaigners Nikira Senanayake, Udara de Silva, Shamir Fajudeen and Ranga Perera while the back division will have players of the calibre of centres Duminda Attygalle, Shamil Ahamed, Winger Nabeel Faizer, full back Shailendra Chandrasekaran and skipper Naren Dhason.

The Royalists are being coached by Bilal Yusuf and will strive to retain the Guneratne Trophy for the fourth successive year.

Isipatana - St. Peter’s

A star studded Isipatana team led by fly half and Sri Lanka youth player Niroshana Fernando will be the guests of St. Peter’s College at Bambalapitiya. Last year St. Peter’s edged out Isipatana by 8-7 at Havelock Park and another thriller is on the cards this year.

Isipatana will have a formidable pack which includes prop forwards Dinuk Dananjaya, Danusha Suriyarachchi, hooker Thilina Lanka, No. 8 Tharindu Siriwardena, lock Sajid Suhayb, Flanker Deshan Arachchige and Uthpala Seneviratne.

The back division is spearheaded by Sri Lanka youth player and winger Vishwamithra Jayasinghe and also includes centre Ashan Gallage, full back Prasad Devinda besides skipper Fernando.

The lads from Hevalock Town are being coached by former CR skipper Shamly Nawaz assisted by Daham Sampath.

The Peterites who emerged champions in 2006 and 2007 will be led by Sri Lanka youth player and centre Dilshan Paul and will have the services of three other senior players - centre Keith Gurusinghe, full back Dishan Gunaratne and lock Shenal Dias and will have the services of several talented youngsters.

With Sri Lanka under 19 coach Sanath Martis guiding them once again the lads from Bambalapitiya will continue to be a force to be reckoned with this year.