Royal field an experienced side

Thushan JAYASURIYA

Defending champions Royal College which is studded with eleven coloursmen will be determined to retain the Singer Segment One 'A' Division League Rugby title this year. In addition they will be striving to regain the Bradby Shield which they surrendered to Trinity after three years, last year.

They beat St. Joseph's (38-31), Wesley(33-32), Isipatana (11-10), Kingswood (35-23), St. Anthony's Kandy (40-13), Dharmaraja (50-05), Trinity (33-25), S. Thomas' Mount Lavinia (22-07), Science College(18-15) and St. Peter's (50-41) to emerge unbeaten league champions. Their only setback was at the hands of Trinity in the second leg of the Bradby Shield which they lost 5-40 which saw the lions from Kandy wrest back the Shield with an aggregate of 65-38.

This year the Royalists have an experienced side captained by Arshad Jamaldeen. The dashing fly half had a memorable season last year scoring over 100 points and played a key role in the team's success.

This year too he will play in his pet position of fly half and will pair off with last year's scrum half Ravishan Dassanayake. The other players who could fit into the scrum half berth are Newaan Perera and Praveen Dambawinne. The experienced Damian Ratwatte, a fine runner and a fierce tackler will once again play as a centre with either second coloursman Asman Khan or newcomer Devin de Silva.

Ijaz Bohoran who has impressed with his dazzling runs is assured of one winger's berth. The quartet who are fighting for the other winger position are the experienced Anjana Kudahetti, Rukshan de Alwis, Sahan Ferdinando and young Nimshan Jayawardena (who had a good outing against DSS).

The seasoned Rimzi Jamaldeen will once again occupy the last line of defence. The other player who could fit into this position is Shahid Bahudeen. The lads from Reid Avenue will once again field a formidable pack spearheaded by vice captain Eroshan de Alwis who will once again play as a prop forward while the duo fighting for the other position are Kaveen Perera and Savinda Dharmadasa.

The battle hardened Lahiru Pavithra is the first choice for the hookers berth. But he is facing a strong challenge from Shuaib Jabbar. The experienced duo of Wasim Bawa and Malaka Ihalagedara will be the two lock forwards. Shuaib Muthalip, Ashan Perera, Ashan Bandara and Jayasanka Hinduranwala are making a strong bid to oust them. Coloursman Madusha Kularatne and Pasindu Perera will battle it out for the Number eight position.

Andrew Siriwardena, a fierce tackler and a tireless player in the loose is assured of one flanker berth while those who are fighting for the other flanker positions are Yasun Weerasuriya, Sachin Vihanga, Priyesh Perera, Duneth Palitharatne and Dineth Karunaratne.

Bilal Yusuf who was Royal's assistant coach in 2009 has taken over as head coach of his school this year.

Bilal who played for Royal in 2001 and 2002 is determined to mould the team into a champion outfit this year assisted by former Royal Full Back and ex-Sri Lanka skipper Asanga Rodrigo and former Kandy SC skipper and Sri Lanka prop forward Dunstan de Silva.

Their remaining fixtures will held on April 29 against Vidyartha College Kandy at Nittawela, May 12 against Science College at Mount Lavinia, May 19 against St. Joseph's at CR and FC, May 26 against St. Anthony's at RC Sports Complex, June 2 against Kingswood at Kandy, June 9 against St. Peter's at RC Sports Complex, June 16: Bradby first leg at RC Sports Complex, June 22 vs Isipatana at Longden Place, June 30: Bradby second leg at Kandy, July 14 against S. Thomas' College at RC Sports Complex.

Royal College rugby squad:

Prop forwards: Kaveen Perera, Savinda Dharmadasa, Eroshan de Alwis (vice captain).

Hooker: Lahiru Pavithra, Shuaib Jabbar

Lock forwards: Malaka Ihalagedara, Ashan Perera, Shuaib Muthalip, Ashan Bandara, Jayasanka Hinduranwala, Wasim Bawa.

Flankers: Andrew Siriwardena, Yasun Weerasooriya, Sachin Vihanga, Priyesh Perera, Dinesh Palitharatne, Dineth Karunaratne.

Number eight: Madusha Kularatne, Pasindu Perera.

Scrum half: Ravishan Dassanayake, Newaan Perera, Praveen Dambawinne.

Fly half: Arshad Jamaldeen.

Centres: Damian Ratwatte, Devin de Silva, Azman Khan, Udesh Udawatte, Nipun Weerasinghe.

Wingers: Ijaz Bohoran, Sachin Unamboowa, Anjana Kudahetti, Rukshan de Alwis, Sahan Fernando, Banuka Gamage, Nimshan Jayawardena.

Full back: Rimzi Jamaldeen, Shahid Bahudeen.

Coach: Bilal Yusuf.

Assistant coaches: Asanga Rodrigo, Dunstan de Silva.