First leg of Commander’s Cup Rugby 2021

Young guns to get exposure

By samseer jaleel

The return of rugby will happen when two ‘A’ Division rugby clubs, Sri Lanka Air Force and CH&FC lock horns in the first leg of the Commander’s Cup 2021 rugby encounter at Ratmalana today (13).

Kick-off is scheduled at 4:45 p.m. CH&FC and Sri Lanka Air Force were to play their first leg in Kurunegala but later shifted to Ratmalana for better control of health and precautions taken by both management of the teams. 
This encounter has got the green light from both Ministry of Health and Sports. This encounter will be giving more prominence for young school leavers to exposure who make up their numbers in both teams. CH&FC will be led by former Thomian and national sevens skipper, Sudarshana Muthuthanthri while the Sri Lanka Air Force outfit will be led by W. A. K. N. Perera.

Hon. Prime Minister, Mahinda Rajapaksa will grace the occasion as the Chief Guest. The second leg will take place at the same venue on August 20.

The teams

CH&FC- Prasath Madushanka, Joel Perera, Senura Perera, Yohan Fernando, Wajid Fawmy, Sudarshana Muthuthantri (Capt), Shehan Diasz, Sudam Sooriyaarahchci , Avishka Lee, Kushan Indunil, Reza Raffaideen, Hirantha Perera, Janidu Dilshan, Thenuka Nanayakkara, Rashen Gunawardena, Avantha Lee, Hirusha Sampath, Chinthaka Lahiru, Shemal Weerasekara, Kevin Dixon, Udara Lakshan, Shenuka Herath and Malinga Perera 
Head Coach- Rohitha Rajapakse

Sri Lanka Air Force- H. R. Wasantha, U. V. P. N. S. Weralla, W. M. S. Bandara, S. S. M. Kaushan, K. G. C. B. Senavirathna, M. M. G. Iddamalgoda, R. P. Medagedera, W. A. K. N. Perera, J. P. I. Madushan, R. M. P. S. B. Ratnayake, U. N. G. Silva, H. M. R. Perera, W. W. S. S. H. Thilakaratne, K. N. W. Wickremasinghe, G. L. D. Weerasinghe, G. M. I. C. Aponso, R. A. Hettiarachchi, K. H. R. Madushanka, Y. D. Perera, M. A. S. Fernando, A. T. D. Dabare and A. K. M. F. Ali
Head Coach- Shamly Nawas
Air Force Rugby Chairman-Group Capt. Subash Jayathilake