Schoolboy rugby stars join Navy

Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE

Several outstanding schoolboy ruggerites have joined the Navy Sports Club and will turn out for them in the 2011 rugby season.

Thomian centre Shavin Kapuwatte, Royal and Sri Lanka under 20 full back Chamara Dabare, Wesley skipper and Sri Lanka Youth player Azmil Omar, Trinity and Sri Lanka under 20 prop forward Mohamed Nazmy, Trinity flanker Shannon Armstrong, Peterite winger Lakith Perera and lock forward Soyuru Anthony have joined the Navy.

CH and FC and Sri Lanka prop forward Sathya Ranatunge too has crossed over to Navy and will turn out for the sailors next year.

The Sri Lanka Navy enjoyed one of their finest seasons this year in which they finished third in the Caltex 'A' Division league and stormed into the Clifford Cup final with a 19-12 win over the formidable CR and FC in extra time in the semi-final before losing to Kandy SC in the final. They also pulled off a stunning 14-13 win over Kandy SC at Welisara in the Caltex 'A' division league.

Having an abundance of talent the aim of the sailors next year will be to clinch the Caltex 'A' division league rugby title.

They will have the services of seasoned campaigners Suranga Swarnatillaka, Piumal Manchanayake, Ransith Peiris, Tyronne Harrison, Yoshitha Rajapaksa, Namal Rajapaksa, Suranga Pushpakumara, Dev Anand, Chula Susantha, Nuwan Hettiarachchi, Niranjan Wickremaratne, Samantha Lakshan, M E R C Silva and Eranda Weerakkody in addition to the above named youngsters which would make them a strong contender for the title.

The man who has taken great pains to mould them into a formidable outfit is their dedicated coach Ronnie Ibrahim with the encouragement and assistance of their Rugby Chairman N K D Nanayakkara which resulted in the sailors entering a Clifford Cup final after 21 years.