Air Force SC set to fly high in Nippon Rugby League
Air Force Sports Club, having retained most of their senior players from last year, will be determined to make a huge impact in the current Inter-Club rugby season.
The Airmen have already made their presence felt as they brought down the CH and FC 30-22 in their opening match of the SLR Nippon Paint League Rugby Tournament on their home grounds at Ratmalana.
That was the perfect start for this team as they look to extend their dominance after having emerged Cup champions in the SLR Inter-Club Sevens Tournament held at the Racecourse Grounds recently. Air Force SC went through a successful season last time as well where they finished in fourth place in the league tournament points table behind the champions Kandy SC, Havelock SC and the CH and FC.
In fact, the Airmen had the satisfaction of defeating the CR and FC 19-11 in a first-round game at Longden Place in the previous season and went on to overcome Army SC (12-5) and Navy SC (12-10) respectively.
The star performer this season has turned out to be their fly half Nuwan Perera, who seems to have taken over from where he left last season where he collected 36 points from nine outings inclusive of seven penalties, five conversions and one try. This time, he has already collected a tally of 20 points from just one outing and looks set for another dominant performance as their reliable place kicker.
Air Force SC have always proved to be a tough competitor ever since they were promoted to the ‘A’ Division in 1972 and in 1986 they went on to win their first Clifford Cup while defeating Police SC 10-8 in the final.
Air Force SC Rugby Squad for 2022/23
Prop forwards: Niroshan Rajanayake, Prasanna Madushanka, Kanishka Nirmal, Dilanka Rajapakse, Manuka Perera, Navindu Ashan.
Hooker: Tuan Dilshan, Vimukthi Fernando, Muditha Kasun.
Second row forwards: Nilantha Jayaweera, Sashika Fernando, Praboda Lakmal, Supun Liyanage, Supun Madushanka, Pradeep Kumara, Haaziq Fhuazi.
Flankers: Revanka Abeywardena, Romesh Wasantha, Isuru Jayaratne, Dilan Madushanka.
Number Eight: Saraka Weralla.
Scrum half: Kaveesha Kaluarachchi, Nadeesha Perera.
Fly half: Nuwan Perera, Kaushika Kaluarachchi.
Centres: Ishara Madushan (Captain), Soorya Krishan, Ramzan Amith, Arosh Ratnayake, Kavindu Dilshan, Gayantha Iddamalgoda. Wingers: Sudath Bandara, Aruna Hasitha, Kalana Chamuditha, Darshana Dabare.
Full back: Sanjaya Weerasinghe, Charith Seneviratne, Nadun Kaveesha.
Head Coach: Shamly Nawaz. Assistant Coach: Dilan Soysa.Forwards Coach: Ranuka Madagedera.
Trainer: Amantha Perera. Physiotherapist: Rathma Kumara and Gihan Perera.
Manager: Nalaka Kulasekera. Upcoming fixtures (first-round):
December 17: Air Force SC v Havelock SC at Ratmalana.
December 31: Air Force SC v Kandy SC at Nittawela Stadium.
January 6: Air Force SC v Police SC at Ratmalana.
January 15: Air Force SC v CR and FC at Ratmalana.
January 22: Air Force SC v Army SC at Panagoda.
January 27: Air Force SC v Navy SC at Welisara.