Pavithra leads Sri Lanka rugby team to Dubai
Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE
CR and FC’s crack flanker Pavithra Fernando has been picked to lead
the Sri Lanka rugby team which will take part in the Asian Division One
Rugby Tournament which will be worked off in Dubai from April 8 to 11,
2009.
Pavithra Fernando who first represented the country as a schoolboy in
1999 against the Australian Northern Territories was a regular member of
the national team till 2005 till he withdrew from the national team in
2006. He led the CR and FC from 2004 to 2006 and under his leadership
the Red Shirts won the Clifford Cup in 2006 with a smashing 37-5 win
over Havelocks in the final.
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Pavithra Fernando (Captain) |
He played for the country in the 2000, 2002 and 2004 Rugby Asiads.
Twenty-nine year old Pavithra a hard tackler and a terrific player in
the loose has been a source of inspiration to his team-mates with his
fiery loose play.
The Lankan team is a blend of youth and experience. Seasoned
campaigners Sanjeewa Jayasinghe, Kishore Jehan, Pradeep Liyanage, Sajith
Mallikarachchi, Mohamed Sheriff, Dilanka Wijesekera and skipper Fernando
will play alongside talented youngsters Dinusha Chathuranga, Chanaka
Chandimal, Prasad Chathuranga, Henry Terrance and Sajith Saranga. Sri
Lanka will confront Chinese Taipei in the semi-final on April 8 while
Thailand will take on Arabian Gulf in the other semi-final with the
final scheduled for April 11.
The Sri Lanka squad to Dubai:
Prop Forwards: Kishore Jehan (Kandy SC), Eranga. Swarnatilleke (Kandy
SC), Sathya Ranatunge (CH and FC)
Hooker: Anuja Perera (CR and FC)
Lock Forwards: Zaffer Jahn (Kandy SC), Dinesh Sanjeewa (CH and FC),
Sumedha Jayasinghe (Kandy SC), Henry Terrence (CR and FC)
Flankers: Dilanka Wijesekera (CH and FC), Pavithra Fernando (Captain,
CR and FC), Sean Wijesinghe (Kandy SC), Shero Fernando (Havelocks)
Number Eight: Sajith Saranga (Kandy SC)
Scrum Halves: Prasad Chathuranga (Kandy SC), Tuan Shamrock (CH and
FC)
Fly Halves: Fazil Marija (Kandy SC), Chanaka Chandimal (Air Force)
Centres: Mohamed Sheriff (Kandy SC), Gayan Weeraratne (Kandy SC),
Sajith Mallikarachchi (Kandy SC), Pradeep Uyanage (Kandy SC)
Wingers: Sanjeewa Jayasinghe (Kandy SC), Dinusha Chathuranga (CR and
FC)
Full Back: Radhika Hettiarahchci (Kandy SC)
Stand Byes: Achala Perera (CH and FC), Suranga Arunashantha (Air
Force), D. Sandaruwan (Havelocks)
Manager: Lasitha Gunaratne
Coach: George Simpkin
Tour Selector: M. H. Marso
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