The Sri Lanka Schools Rugby Football Association in collaboration with Sri Lanka has finalised a strong 12-member squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Youth Games that is set to take place in Nassau, in the Bahamas.
The 12-member squad was finalised today (24th) after the trials that were conducted on the 23rd of May 2017 at the Race Course stadium. The Commonwealth Youth Games for the year 2017 is set to take place in Nassau in the Bahamas from the 19th to the 23rd July 2017 featuring 12 sporting disciplines that include sevens rugby.



Being a youth event, only players born after the 31st of December 1998 are eligible to participate and the initial cut shortlisted the 12-member squad while five players will be kept as stand-by.



Experienced campaigner Christian De Lile who was a part of the Asia Under 18 series winning side last year is set to be a key figure when it comes to leadership taking into consideration his performance.

The impact players from the concluded 2017 Singer Schools Rugby League have been included such as Antonian Mohammed Shabeer, NadeeshaChaminda of Isipathana, WorenWeerakoon of Trinity College and GemunuChethiya of St. Joseph’s.
The sevens matches will take place on the 19th, 20th and 21st of July at the QE Sports Centre and the teams and pools are yet to be finalised. With more than 50 days to go for the games, the Sri Lankan team should be having adequate time to train as a unit and give strong contest in the Bahamas in July.

The finalised 12-member-squad will be as follows:

1. Mohammed Shabeer – St. Anthony’s College
2. Naveen Rajaratnam – Trinity College
3. DaiyanSabar – Wesley College
4. Christian De Lile – S. Thomas’ College
5. Tharindu De Alwis – St. Joseph’s College
6. GemunuChethiya – St. Joseph’s College
7. Ravin Fernando – St. Peter’s College
8. VishwaRanaraja – Trinity College
9. NadeeshaChaminda – Isipathana College
10. DulanjalaPiyathissa – Dharmaraja College
11. WorenWeerakoon – Trinity College
12. IsharaLiyanage – St. Anthony’s College


Stand-by

1. TheekshaGurusinghe – St. Anthony’s College
2. DilanKavinda – St. Joseph’s College
3. HarithSenanayake – S. Thomas’ College
4. H. Dananjaya – Maliyadewa College
5. BawanthaUdangamuwa – Dharmaraja College

SudathSampath&Nalaka to coach

Experienced sevens player and champion coach of the Sri Lanka Under 20 Sevens team that won the Asia Under 20 Series has been tipped to coach the side while former Kandy Sports Club player and coach NalakaWeerakkodi will join the national coaching contingent in the position of assistant coach.