Galle Lions Rugby has confirmed its inaugural coaching staff and team management, headlined by a coaching trio with genuine pedigree from Sri Lanka's rugby scene, CR & FC's 2024 League Championship among them.

Rohan joins as Team Manager. Running the franchise day to day, Rohan keeps Galle Lions moving from the training ground through to matchday.

Lasintha De Costa takes on the Head Coach role. A former CR & FC captain with over a decade of playing experience across Sri Lanka Rugby, CR & FC, and Isipathana College, Lasintha now also serves as National Coach and CR & FC Backs Coach.

Suhiru Anthony joins as 1st Team Coach. A distinguished Sri Lankan rugby player and coach with over 12 years of national experience across Rugby 7s and 15s, Suhiru captained CR & FC to the 2024 League Championship, ending a decades-long title drought, and led Sri Lanka's National 15s Team to the 2024 Asia Rugby Division 1 title.

Omalka Gunaratne joins as 1st Team Coach. A former Sri Lanka Rugby 15s and 7s international who captained Isipathana College, CR & FC and the Sri Lanka 15s side, Omalka has been with CR & FC since 2016 and has coached at Wesley, DS Senanayake and St. Thomas, before his current role at Royal College.

Vageesha Weerasinghe joins as 1st Team S&C Coach. Currently working across Isipathana College, the Singhalese Sports Club, and Sri Lanka Cricket's National Super League, Vageesha is also the founder of ATHLETE O2, a training academy built on science-based, personalized programs.

Jude Reshwan Perera rounds out the group as Operations Manager. Working alongside Rohan, Jude keeps the franchise's operations running smoothly as Galle Lions builds toward its first season.

Together, the group brings championship experience, national team pedigree, and elite performance science to a franchise built from scratch. Season One begins 19 September at Havelock Rugby Grounds.

Galle Lions Rugby has confirmed its ownership group as the franchise prepares for the inaugural season of the Next 15 School Rugby Franchise League, one of four founding teams in Sri Lanka's newest elite schoolboy rugby competition. The franchise will be led by three co-owners: Dinuk Wijeyeratne, Shamal Perera, and Oliver Scarr.

Dinuk Wijeyeratne

Dinuk brings a lifetime of involvement in Sri Lankan rugby to the ownership group. He is the current President of the Colombo Rugby & Football Club and previously chaired the St. Joseph's College Rugby Advisory Committee during what is widely regarded as a golden era for rugby at the school. Alongside his rugby credentials, Dinuk heads a portfolio of companies spanning trading, domestic courier services, and travel. He has long championed player development off the field too, having created employment and scholarship opportunities for current players, and led his own team to back-to-back finishes as runners-up and champions at the Mercantile 7s.

Shamal Perera

Shamal is an established entrepreneur with a portfolio of companies spanning trading, healthcare, and sports and fitness, including Sri Lanka's first dedicated padel and Pilates business. His track record of building and scaling ventures from the ground up positions him to bring the same commercial discipline to growing Galle Lions Rugby, with a clear focus on developing the next generation of Sri Lankan sportsmen and women.

Oliver Scarr

Oliver is a Founding Partner of Aurello Corporate Services, with prior experience managing an investment portfolio exceeding USD 4.5 billion. He is also Co-Owner of Galle Fort Mariners, champions of the 2026 Sri Lankan Padel League, where he has driven sponsorship and partnership growth since the franchise's founding. A long-time supporter of the sport, Oliver sees Galle Lions Rugby as a pathway for Sri Lankan players to access international opportunities.

Speaking on the announcement, Oliver Scarr said:

Together, the three co-owners bring a combined background in sports franchise ownership, commercial growth, and rugby administration to Galle Lions Rugby as the franchise builds toward its first season, which kicks off in September 2026.

Galle Lions are pleased to announce FHIIT as the franchise's Official Gym Partner for the 2026 season of The Next XV Rugby League.

The partnership will provide the Galle Lions squad with access to a dedicated high-performance training environment as the franchise prepares for its inaugural campaign.

With player development forming a central part of the Galle Lions project, the partnership with FHIIT will support the team's strength, conditioning and physical preparation throughout the season. FHIIT's performance-focused facilities and training environment will complement the work of the Galle Lions coaching and performance team, giving players the opportunity to prepare to the standards expected at the highest level of the competition.

Oliver Scarr, Co-Owner of Galle Lions, said:

The partnership represents another important step in the development of Galle Lions' off-field performance structure ahead of the 2026 season.

As one of the founding franchises of The Next XV Rugby League, Galle Lions will assemble a squad of leading schoolboy rugby talent through the league's central draft and will represent Sri Lanka's southern region in the inaugural competition.

The franchise has continued to build an experienced coaching, management and commercial structure around the team as preparations accelerate for the start of the season.

FHIIT will serve as Official Gym Partner of Galle Lions throughout the 2026 campaign.

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Galle Lions is a founding franchise of The Next XV Rugby League, Sri Lanka's new schoolboy rugby talent pathway. Representing the south and based in Galle, the franchise is focused on providing emerging players with an elite environment in which to develop, compete and prepare for the next stage of their rugby careers.

Pride of the South.

The Galle Lions are proud to announce ISUZU as an Official Partner for the 2026 Next XV season.

The partnership brings together two brands with a shared emphasis on strength, reliability and performance, as the Galle Lions prepare for their inaugural campaign in The Next XV.

ISUZU will support the franchise throughout the 2026 season as the Lions build a new platform for some of Sri Lanka's most promising young rugby players to showcase their talent.

The Galle Lions were established to represent the South and to create an environment that gives emerging players greater exposure, opportunity and access to high-level coaching and competition.

Oliver Scarr, Co-Owner of Galle Lions, said:

The partnership forms part of the Galle Lions' wider commercial programme as the franchise continues to build a strong network of partners around the team.

Galle Lions x ISUZU. Driving forward together.

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Galle Lions is a founding franchise of The Next XV Rugby League, Sri Lanka's new schoolboy rugby talent pathway. Representing the south and based in Galle, the franchise is focused on providing emerging players with an elite environment in which to develop, compete and prepare for the next stage of their rugby careers.

Pride of the South.

The Galle Lions are delighted to announce Access Engineering as an Official Partner for the 2026 Next XV season.

The partnership sees one of Sri Lanka's leading engineering and infrastructure companies join the Galle Lions as the franchise prepares for its inaugural season.

The Galle Lions have been created with a long-term vision to provide a professional platform for emerging rugby talent, while building a franchise that represents the South with pride both on and off the field.

Access Engineering's support will help strengthen that platform as the Lions continue to develop their squad, coaching structure and wider franchise operations ahead of the season.

Oliver Scarr, Co-Owner of Galle Lions, said:

The partnership reflects the Galle Lions' ambition to work with established Sri Lankan businesses that share a commitment to development, excellence and creating opportunities for the next generation.

With preparations continuing for the 2026 campaign, the announcement marks another important step in the growth of the franchise.

Together, we build.

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Galle Lions is a founding franchise of The Next XV Rugby League, Sri Lanka's new schoolboy rugby talent pathway. Representing the south and based in Galle, the franchise is focused on providing emerging players with an elite environment in which to develop, compete and prepare for the next stage of their rugby careers.

Pride of the South.

The Galle Lions are proud to announce Aquafresh as the franchise's Official Water Partner for the 2026 Next XV season.

As part of the partnership, Aquafresh will support the Galle Lions throughout the season, helping ensure the squad remains hydrated across training, preparation and competition.

Hydration and recovery are fundamental to player performance, making the partnership a natural fit as the Galle Lions continue to build a professional environment around their young squad.

The Next XV provides an important pathway for U19 schoolboy rugby players, giving emerging athletes greater exposure and the opportunity to continue their development at a higher level.

Oliver Scarr, Co-Owner of Galle Lions, said:

Aquafresh joins a growing group of commercial partners supporting the franchise as it prepares for its inaugural Next XV campaign.

The partnership will also provide opportunities for both brands to engage with supporters throughout the season and strengthen their shared connection with sport and the wider community.

Aquafresh: Bringing Nature to Life.

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Galle Lions is a founding franchise of The Next XV Rugby League, Sri Lanka's new schoolboy rugby talent pathway. Representing the south and based in Galle, the franchise is focused on providing emerging players with an elite environment in which to develop, compete and prepare for the next stage of their rugby careers.

Pride of the South.