Pradeep Liyanage says captaincy issue should be solved through dialogue

RUGBY: Sri Lanka Sevens rugby captain Pradeep Liyanage who withdrew with another 12 Kandy SC players from the national 15-a-side pool training ahead of the Asian Five Nations Rugby Tournament, says that so far he has not encountered any problems continuing to train for the 2008 Rugby World Cup qualifiers in Hong Kong next month. Liyanage, was, however optimistic that the matter could be resolved amicably, if a proper dialogue is held between the SLRFU, selectors and the aggrieved party.

He says he and his club colleague Saliya Kumara have reported for practices regularly, since the pool was formed and that he was satisfied with the training schedule drawn by the two new South African coaches Dawie Snyman and Norman Laker.Liyanage said that his decision to withdraw from fifteens practices was a gesture of solidarity for his former country and club captain Sanjeewa Jayasinghe who lashed out at the selection of Dushanth Lewke as skipper for the inaugural Asian Five Nations Division 1 tournament in Chinese Taipei in November.The Kandy SC Centre Three-quarter added that according to his conscience, he cannot continue to train in fifteens rugby while majority of his club teammates had taken a firm decision to revolt against Dushanth Lewke being handed the national team captaincy. J. K.