President Rajapaksa to grace historic rugby match today

President Rajapaksa to grace historic rugby match today


The inaugural President Rajapaksa trophy rugby match between Defense Services and Sri Lanka Rugby Union XV will be played today at Navy rugby grounds, Welisara with kick off at 4.30 pm.
This fixture will become an annual encounter and will be in the SLRFU tournament calendar from this year onwards.

According to the CEO of SLRFU Lasitha Gunaratne, this would provide an opportunity for Sri Lankan rugby players to develop their skills during the off season.

Defence Service team will be captained by President’s son Yoshitha Rajapaksa and coached by Ronny Ibrahim.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa who has donated the Trophy for the fixture would be the Chief Guest at today’s match.

SLRFU XV is coached by Sanath Martis.

SLRFU XV- Henry Terence, Danushka Botheju or Jayantha Ranaweera, Anjua Perera,Asean Karthelis(captain), Kalana Amarasinghe, Danushka Perera,

Sharo Fernando, Diren Waranakulasuriya, Dilan Soysa, Harshana Wijeweera,

Naren Dasan, Niroshan Karunaratne, Shakeer Badurudeen, Milinda Jayasinghe and Reeza Mubarak.

Reserves- Arujana Bopitiya, Akmal Hossen,Shenal Dias, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Harsha Weerakkody, Mithun Chamith and Jeewan Amaradasa

Defense Service- R.M Meepage, W.M.A.Jayalal, A.Silva, B.W.M.A. Susantha, A.P.C. Kurukulasuriya, S. Rathnayake, Yoshitha Rajapaksa (captain), Sumedha Malewana, Saliya Handapangoda, A. Devananda, M. Silva, P. Perera, Nilufer Ibrahim, Arunashantha and Eranda Weerakoddy.

Reserves- M.P. Manchanayake, R. Piries, Y.T, Mathakaweera, D. Weerarathne, Namal Rajapaksa. Dulip Methruwan, A.N. Hettiarachchi.