Shenal Dias to lead Lanka Under-20 team

Peterite flanker Shenal Dias will lead the Sri Lanka Under-20 team which will take part in the Asian Youth Rugby Championships which will be worked off in Bangkok, Thailand from August 22 to 28, 2010.

Dias who also represented the country at last year’s Youth Rugby Asiad in Hong Kong had an excellent season for the champion St Peter’s team and is a utility player who could either play as a flanker, number eight or lock forward.

Kingswood full back and skipper Rajitha Sansoni who too enjoyed a fine season has been picked as the Vice Captain. Sansoni who too represented the country at last year’s Youth Rugby Asiad is an attacking full back who scored many tries this season and also excelled with his safe collections and booming kicks to touch.

The National Selection Committee comprising Michael Jayasekera (Chairman), Tikiri Marambe, Chandrishan Perera, Savantha de Saram and Pradeep Basnayake picked the team and have submitted it to Sports Minister CB Ratnayake for his approval. Sri Lanka Youth coach Sanath Marlis will be once again in-charge of the team assisted by Nihal ‘Viper’ Guneratne. Sen Wi Chang will be the Manager of team.

The Sri Lanka Youth Rugby team: subject to ratification by the Sports Minister. Shenal Dias (Captain, St Peter’s), Rajitha Sansoni (Vice Captain, Kingswood), Steve Nelson (St Peter’s), Mohamed Nizmi (Trinity), Anjula de Silva (S Thomas’, Mt Lavinia), Soyuru Anthony (St Peter’s), Shehan Pathirana (Royal), Shehan Muthuthantri (S Thomas’, Mt Lavinia), Keith Gurusinghe (St Peter’s), Azmil Oumar (Wesley), Tharindu Chanaka (St Anthony’s, Kandy), P Jayalath (Kingswood), Anuruddha Wilwara (S Thomas’, Mt Lavinia), Kanchana Ramanayake (Trinity), Sandun Herath (St Peter’s), Yudith Karunaratne (Royal), U Jayasuriya (Kingswood), Chetiya Wadugodapitiya (Kingswood), Asitha Ratnayake (St Peter’s), Mushin Faleel (Royal), Sanka Rajaguru (St Anthony’s, Kandy), Chamara Dabare (Royal), Bhanuka Nanayakkara (St Peter’s), Prasad Devinda (Isipatana).

STAND-BYES: N Sooriyabandara (St Anthony’s, Kandy), Mayura Sanjeewa (St Joseph’s), Lakith Perera (St Peter’s), H Kalhara (Kingswood), Murad Ramzean (Trinity), Chilanka Samaraweera (Royal), Ranjula Perera (Wesley).

OFFICIALS: Sanath Marlis (Coach), Nihal ‘Viper’ Guneratne (Assistant Coach), San Wi Chang (Manager).