Niroshan leads Sri Lanka Youth Rugby team

Ranjeeva Seneviratne

Isipatana skipper Niroshan Fernando has been picked to lead the Sri Lanka under 20 rugby team for the Youth Rugby Asiad which will be worked off in Hong Kong from September 5 to 12, 2009.

The final team was picked after a series of trials conducted by the two coaches Nilfer Ibrahim and Bilal Yusuf.

The Sri Lanka youth team is packed with outstanding ruggerites from the two champion rugby teams of 2009 - President's Trophy league champions Royal and Milo Trophy knock-out champions S. Thomas, Mount Lavinia.

The 24-member Sri Lanka youth squad was approved by Minister of Sports and Public Recreation Gamini Lokuge yesterday and was released to the media by the Secretary of the Interim Committee Kiran Atapattu.

Prop forwards - Nikira Senanayake (Royal), Janik Jayasuriya (S. Thomas'), Ashen Dassanayake (Royal), Sachin David (S. Thomas').

Hookers - Roshenka Kodituwakku (S. Thomas'), Hamza Hassen (Royal). Lock forwards - Kalana Amerasinghe (Royal), Shenal Dias (St. Peter's), Sandeep Jayawardena (S. Thomas').

Flankers - Hasthika Bandaranayake (Royal), Idris Omar (Trinity), M. Arshan (St. Anthony's, Kandy).

No. 8 - C. Honnanthara (Prince of Wales).

Scrum halves - Adeeb Hamid (Trinity), Roshan Weeraratne (vice-captain, Kingswood). Fly half - Naren Dhason (Royal).

Centres - Niroshan Fernando (captain, Isipatana), Shaveen Kapuwatte (S. Thomas'), Darshana Etipola (Dharmaraja). Wingers - Anuruddha Wilwara (S. Thomas'), Kennon Armstrong (Trinity), Chaminda Dabare (Royal).

Full backs - Rajitha Sansoni (Kingswood), Shabbir Mohamed (Royal). Coaches - Nilfer Ibrahim, Bilal Yousuf.

Manager - Rohan Guneratne.

vStand-byes - Udara de Silva (Royal), M. Kuthdoos (Isipatana), Jeevaka Hewavitharana (S. Thomas'), Aqueel Sathuk (Royal), Duminda Attygalle (Royal), Z. Jayah (Wesley).