Questions how Lewke was appointed ahead of more qualified candidates
By Asanka Gammanpila
Sri Lanka’s star winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe dropped a bombshell yesterday walking out of the national rugby pool, in protest over the appointment of a junior player Dushanth Lewke as the skipper of Sri Lanka team for the Asian five-nation division one rugby championships to be held in Chinese Taipei from November 12 to17.
He would hand over an official letter intimating his decision to the rugby union today.
The highly talented Kandy Sport Club winger who has excelled for the country for over a decade has pulled out of the side in disappointment saying he was dejected about the way country’s rugby officials have treated him for the hard work he has put through the years.
“I feel cheated after doing the hard work for all these years for my country. I think I have a right to be the captain of the side. Even if I am overlooked, there are many other senior players who should get the captaincy before Lewke. I don’t wish to remain a passive observer in the face of injustice. So, pulling out of the pool is the best course of action I can take according to my conscience” said the 29-year old who has captained Sri Lanka previously at both XVs and 7s.
Jayasinghe pointed out senior players Dilanka Wijesekera, Radhika Hettiarachchi, Pradeep Liyanage, Pavithra Fernando, Jeewa Galgamuwa in addition to himself as more qualified candidates for the captaincy than Lewke.
Ex- Science college ruggerite Jayasinghe has been an automatic choice in the Sri Lanka sevens and XV-a-side and has done a remarkable job in the national jersey as any Sri Lankan rugby fan could vouch. He scored nine tries in last week’s Singer Sri Lankan sevens in Kandy indicating he is in top form.Jayasinghe questioned Lewke’s captaincy credentials as the CR Number 8 has no experience of captaining even a school or club team.
“I know some people say that the team needs a young captain. I can’t see why a player who is young enough to be in the team can’t be young enough to be the captain. Sean Wijesinghe who successfully led Kandy SC to three titles or Jeewa Galgamuwa who achieved the same feat the previous year are the top contenders with proven track records if anyone wants a young captain” he said, adding that the national selectors have little idea of the really good players as they witness only a few matches during the season.
“Everyone can see there is an invisible hand behind Lewke’s appointment. Selectors never tell us why they remove someone from the captaincy. Last year I was appointed captain and was removed giving a flimsy excuse that I went to watch the world cup without union’s approval tough I actually had the approval” Jayasinghe reasoned. “Jeewa Galagamuwa captained the national team admirably after I was removed and Sri Lanka ended up the runner-up of the Rugby Asiad in Colombo last year. So why isn’t Jeewa good for another turn?” asked Jayasinghe.
Jayasinghe also said that their was an organised attempt to include Lewke over more qualified players in to the Sri Lanka Sevens squad for Hong Kong Sevens and the other players had to protest against the move.
“This captaincy plan has carefully been hatched by interested parties for over an year. We request the Sports Minister to take notice of what is taking place in rugby and intervene immediately to avert the crisis” said Jayasinghe.
National rugby committee chairman Jupana Jayawardena said that they haven’t received any letter from Jayasinghe and refused to comment on the matter.
“We picked Dushanth Lewke according to the criteria that had been laid out clearly. We wanted a young player to lead the national team. I know some people are saying that he has no experience as a captain at club level, but there have been some instances in the past when players like Lanil Tennekoon, Hadjie Omar and Indrajith Coomaraswamy captained Sri Lanka without captaining a club side,” said Jayawardene.
seems that rugby selections are same as cricket selections.
By Asanka Gammanpila
Sri Lanka’s star winger Sanjeewa Jayasinghe dropped a bombshell yesterday walking out of the national rugby pool, in protest over the appointment of a junior player Dushanth Lewke as the skipper of Sri Lanka team for the Asian five-nation division one rugby championships to be held in Chinese Taipei from November 12 to17.
He would hand over an official letter intimating his decision to the rugby union today.
The highly talented Kandy Sport Club winger who has excelled for the country for over a decade has pulled out of the side in disappointment saying he was dejected about the way country’s rugby officials have treated him for the hard work he has put through the years.
“I feel cheated after doing the hard work for all these years for my country. I think I have a right to be the captain of the side. Even if I am overlooked, there are many other senior players who should get the captaincy before Lewke. I don’t wish to remain a passive observer in the face of injustice. So, pulling out of the pool is the best course of action I can take according to my conscience” said the 29-year old who has captained Sri Lanka previously at both XVs and 7s.
Jayasinghe pointed out senior players Dilanka Wijesekera, Radhika Hettiarachchi, Pradeep Liyanage, Pavithra Fernando, Jeewa Galgamuwa in addition to himself as more qualified candidates for the captaincy than Lewke.
Ex- Science college ruggerite Jayasinghe has been an automatic choice in the Sri Lanka sevens and XV-a-side and has done a remarkable job in the national jersey as any Sri Lankan rugby fan could vouch. He scored nine tries in last week’s Singer Sri Lankan sevens in Kandy indicating he is in top form.Jayasinghe questioned Lewke’s captaincy credentials as the CR Number 8 has no experience of captaining even a school or club team.
“I know some people say that the team needs a young captain. I can’t see why a player who is young enough to be in the team can’t be young enough to be the captain. Sean Wijesinghe who successfully led Kandy SC to three titles or Jeewa Galgamuwa who achieved the same feat the previous year are the top contenders with proven track records if anyone wants a young captain” he said, adding that the national selectors have little idea of the really good players as they witness only a few matches during the season.
“Everyone can see there is an invisible hand behind Lewke’s appointment. Selectors never tell us why they remove someone from the captaincy. Last year I was appointed captain and was removed giving a flimsy excuse that I went to watch the world cup without union’s approval tough I actually had the approval” Jayasinghe reasoned. “Jeewa Galagamuwa captained the national team admirably after I was removed and Sri Lanka ended up the runner-up of the Rugby Asiad in Colombo last year. So why isn’t Jeewa good for another turn?” asked Jayasinghe.
Jayasinghe also said that their was an organised attempt to include Lewke over more qualified players in to the Sri Lanka Sevens squad for Hong Kong Sevens and the other players had to protest against the move.
“This captaincy plan has carefully been hatched by interested parties for over an year. We request the Sports Minister to take notice of what is taking place in rugby and intervene immediately to avert the crisis” said Jayasinghe.
National rugby committee chairman Jupana Jayawardena said that they haven’t received any letter from Jayasinghe and refused to comment on the matter.
“We picked Dushanth Lewke according to the criteria that had been laid out clearly. We wanted a young player to lead the national team. I know some people are saying that he has no experience as a captain at club level, but there have been some instances in the past when players like Lanil Tennekoon, Hadjie Omar and Indrajith Coomaraswamy captained Sri Lanka without captaining a club side,” said Jayawardene.
seems that rugby selections are same as cricket selections.
