Sri Lanka’s rugby selectors have picked a 60-member under-19 rugby pool that will go in for preparation for the Junior Rugby Asian Championship to be worked off in Chinese Taipei from March 31 to April 6.
The junior team won the Division One tournament held in China in 2019 and were promoted to play in the top division along with defending champions Hong Kong, South Korea and Taipei. The winners of this competition will secure a berth in the Junior World Rugby Tournament to be held in 2021.
Preparations for this tournament was scheduled to begin on January 31 and were postponed due to the coronavirus.
According to the chairman of the selection committee Asoka Jayasena, Sri Lanka is far behind in preparation and must start training at least from next week.
The pool of 60 include players who have been in the 2019 junior pool as Asia Rugby has changed the age category to allow players born after December 2000 to be eligible.
Sri Lanka is scheduled to play against defending champions Hong Kong on March 31, before meeting South Korea on April 3 and Chinese Taipei on April 6. (TBR)