by Ravi Nagahawatte
The selectors and coaches handling the National junior ruggerites are reported to be facing the burden of handling an excessive squad, ‘The Island’ learns.

According to sources, even the present pool of 78, picked from the mammoth 160 odd hopefuls, seems a bit too much for the authorities to handle.

These ruggerites are training for the forthcoming Junior Asian Rugby Championship, to be staged in Japan, in December,

Most of these ruggerites are said to be from the oustations and find it difficult to travel to Colombo for practices.

According to close associates of the players, the general opinion is that the pool should be pruned down, with a view to curtailing the expenses incurred by the players.

It is also said that another reason which forced the local rugby authorities to have such a large pool was to avoid complaints from the schools in the outstations. Reports reveal that last year, the selectors had come under heavy criticism from Kandy schools officials, who thought their players were discriminated against during selections.

Tikiri Marambe, the present chairman of the selection committee and the head of selectors last year, said, when contacted, that the one’s selected were the best players the country had.

"We gave all an equal chance. The final squad of players displayed tremendous potential and skills. Apart from a few players the rest are potential Sri Lanka players. We are not super humans. We accept criticism that is thrown at us," said Marambe.

Asanga Seneviratne, the present coach of the junior ruggerites, told ‘The Island’ that the pool is to be reduced to 30 on November 2, after a trial.

"I think such a large pool was selected to give everyone a fair chance. The cut off date for the pool has been given as November 2. Only 23 will make the tour" said Senev-iratne. Seneviratne, who also handles the national senior ‘Sevens’ squad, further said that there has been two practice sessions a week despite most of the players being involved in the ongoing Western Province Under 21 Rugby Tournament.