Army - a determined lot

Thushan JAYASURIYA

The Army SC Rugby Team

Props : Nisal Meepage, Nishantha Kothelawala, Charitha Premaratne, Asanka Dharmaratne.
Hookers : Asoka Jayalal, Jayanga Silva.
Locks :Ajith Pushpakumara, Gayan Ratnayake(Vice Captain), Sarath Kumara, Ajith Susantha.
Flankers : Mohamed Akram, Upul Abeyratne, Manoj Silva.
Number Eight: Savanaka Tukitoga, Dinesh Suranga.
Scrum Half : Mohamed Rizvi, Deshapriya Wickramarachchi.
Fly Half : Upul Kumara(Captain), Upali Wickramasinghe.
Centres : Epi Kokonosiga, Benjamin Macdougle,Pradeep Dinesh, Sampath Rosa and Ariyapala.
Wingers : Saliya Handapangoda, Thusitha Senanayake, Uditha Ruwan.
Full Back : SalindaEkanayake, Gayan Salinda
Coach : Benjamin Macdougle
Asst.Coach : Kapila Knowlton, Vajira Jayathillake and Major Ratnayake
Physical Trainer: Gemunu Wijesuriya

The Sri Lanka Army rugby team, studded with a bunch of talented players, is in a strong bid to outplay their counterparts in the ongoing Dialog League Championship. This time the team will have the services of experienced players, Upul Kumara,Gayan Ratnayake, Nisal Meepage, Nishantha Kothelawala, Ajith Susantha, Ajith Pushpakumara, Saliya Handapangoda, Asoka Jayalal, Upali Wickramasinghe and Dinesh Suranga.

After pulling out of ‘A’ division rugby in 1990 due to the country’s situation, the Army came back to the scene in 1995 but the team underwent severe defeats.

Their rugby revival was in 1999 with the appointment of the New Zealand Coach Kelvin who helped them to notch up many victories in the Caltex League ‘A’ division tournament, Clifford Cup Knockout Tournament and President’s Trophy Knockout Tournament.

Last year, they beat CH and FC, Sri Lanka Police in the league tournament and they ended the second leg of the match against Air Force with a draw of 19 all. This season, they have showed a better display of rugby, going down fighting to CR and FC (22 – 20), Havelocks (25-22), Navy (19 – 14).

The responsibility of leading the team has been bestowed on Upul Kumara and his deputy is Gayan Ratnayake.

Former captain Nisal Meepage along with Nishantha Kothelawala, Charitha Premaratne and Asanka Dharmaratne will play as Props while Asoka Jayalal and Jayanga Silva will occupy the Hookers berth. The people who could easily fit into Locks are Ajith Pushpakumara, Gayan Ratnayake, Sarath Kumara and Ajith Susantha. The trio of Mohamed Akram, Upul Abeyratne and Manoj Silva will play for the Flankers. Fijian Savanaka Tukitoga or Dinesh Suranga will contest for Number Eight. The duo Mohamed Rizvi and Deshapriya Wickramaarachchi will occupy Scrum Halves berth. Skipper Upul Kumara will play in his pet position of fly half along with Upali Wickramasinghe.

Foreign player Epi Kokonosiga is one Centres. The others who are eying for the same position are Benjamin Macdougle, Pradeep Dinesh, Sampath Rosa and Ariyapala. Saliya Handapangoda will play for the Wingers berth while he faces a strong challenge from Thusitha Senanayake and Uditha Ruwan. The last line of defence will be occupied by experienced Salinda Ekanayake or battle-hardened Gayan Salinda.

The assistant coach, former Army SC player Kapila Knowlton says that they are in good position when compared with previous years. There is a big improvement in the team and new players have been introduced to with foreign players.

Their prime intention for the season is to clinch the Dialog Rugby League title. Apart from that they hopes to win the match against defending champions Kandy SC.

The team gets the support from Army Commander Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya, Army Rugby Wing Chairman General Kamal Gunaratne, Vice Chairman Brigadier Lal Padmakumara, Secreatary Manjula Wijesinghe Team Manager Colonel Mohan Rathnayake and their sponsors Milco Ltd.