Singer ARFU Junior Asian Rugby Championships - 2014:

Hong Kong take on Chinese Taipei, Sri Lanka confront South Korea today

By Ranjan Anandappa

RUGBY FOOTBALL: The Sri Lanka junior ruggerites will be aiming at the World Junior Rugby Cup 2015 in Portugal by winning the Singer sponsored Asian Rugby Football Union tournament which is scheduled to be kicked-off today (Sunday) at the Racecourse grounds.

The four-nation tournament comprising hosts Sri Lanka, Chinese Taipei, South Korea and Hong Kong in a weeks long tournament will confront each other to find who will be the qualifier for the Junior World Rugby Tournament in Portugal in 2015.

Sri Lanka will take on South Korea today (Sunday) and will meet Hong Kong on Wednesday and Chinese Taipei on (September 27, Saturday). All matches will be played at the Racecourse Rugby Complex.

The President of the SLRFU Asanga Seneviratne said at a press briefing held in regard to the tournament at the Olympic House Auditorium, that the main purpose of hosting a tournament of this nature was to get Sri Lanka qualified from the Asian region for the Junior World Rugby Tournament to be held held in Portugal in 2015.

“Sri Lanka qualified last year by virtue of being the runner-up with Chinese Taipei securing the first place, and now we are on par with the top teams at junior level. However, to keep going on at top level you need a colossal sum of money, and it is impossible to maintain and for the up keep of the game without the help of the government. All counties get the backing of their respective governments, We are hoping to take the game to the north and east as well by next year,” he said.

Mahesh Wijewardena Director - Marketing and Commercial, who handed over the sponsorship package also spoke and said that Singer was delighted to sponsor the tournament, especially rugby. He further said that the tournament will give a big boost for junior rugby in schools.

‘In the last decade or so there has a been a big improvement in rugby in the country as it has rapidly spread to the outstations too. For that a lot of credit should go to the SLRFU in promoting the game. Singer has also gone beyond rugby, besides sponsoring the ‘Bradby Shield’ between Royal and Trinity for over two decades and also Kandy SC. They have sponsored more competition from school to mercantile level,” said Mahesh Wijjewardena.

The match schedules:

Sunday- 21st September: Hong Kong Vs Chinese Taipei (2.30 pm),
South Korea Vs Sri Lanka (4.30 pm)

Wednesday 24th September: South Korea Vs Chinese Taipei (2.30 pm),
Hong Kong Vs Sri Lanka (4.30 pm)

Saturday 27th September: Sri Lanka Vs Chinese Taipei (2.30 pm)
Kong Kong Vs South Korea (4.30 pm)

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Sri Lanka’s Under 20 squad:

Props: Stephen Gregory ( St. Joseph’s), Danuka Dissanayake (Isipathana), Dilendra Ratwatte (Trinity), Anurada Basu (Trinity).

Hookers: Supun Warnakulasuriya (Royal), Nisal deshat (Isipathana).

Second row: Umesh Madushan (Royal), Sithum Peiris (Wesley), Akila Perera (Isipathana).

Third row: Isuru Rangana (Trinity), Tariq Salaih (St. Joseph’s), Omalka Gunaratne (Isipathana), Shenal Deelaka (Isipathana), (Vice captain), Chatura Dilshan (Isipathana).

Scrum halves: Prasad Malinda (Science College), Sudam Suriyaarachchi (Isipathana).

Fly halves: Tharinda Ratwatte (Trinity, captain), Rehan Romesh (Isipathana).

Centres: Lochana Girihagama (Trinity), Asela Wijesinghe (Kingswood), Kevin Dixon (St. Peter’s), and Sanchana Sheik (Trinity).

Wingers: Banuka Gamage (Royal) and Prince Chamara (Science).

Fullback: Nimshan Jayawardena (Royal)