It is a momentous year for the Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club, more fondly known as CR&FC, as they celebrate a century of exceptional service to the oval shaped ball game in the Island.
The loyalists of the club will no doubt prefer a league win to cap off what is one of the most important milestones for the Longdon place club.
The island’s third most successful club in the league, CR&FC have won the coveted title 13 times since the introduction of the league. CR’s maiden title came in the year 1952 with the Colombo based club going onto dominate the competition in the 50’s, winning the contest six times. CR&FC’s last triumph in the league came in 1998.
2022 league was a disappointing one for CR&FC as they ended the competition placed 7th only above Army Sports Club who were placed last. CR only managed two wins and a draw in the eight games while suffering five defeats in the season.
>> Photos – CH & FC Rugby Team Preview 2022/23
The third Costa sibling to take charge of CR&FC, Kavindu De Costa has been handed the privilege of leading the Longdon place club in their centenary season. Former CR&FC skipper Dushanth Lewke who has been the man in charge of CR in the past couple of seasons will again shoulder the responsibility of leading the charge for the Red Shirts. The last CR&FC skipper to win the league, Viraj Prasantha will be the man in charge of the forwards while another former skipper Lasintha De Costa will be the man in charge of the backs.
CR&FC have been on a mission to develop a squad with the right mix over the last couple of seasons. While experienced campaigners in the likes of Chathura Senevirathne, Lasindu Karunathilaka, Vageesha Weerasinghe, Suhiru Anthony and Akila Darling have crossed over to don the Red Shirt, CR&FC have invested in young talented stars in the likes of Murshid Zubair, Gamunu Chethiya, Thenuka Nanayakkara and Viduna Amaneth who will look to contribute to the success of the club during the season.
CR&FC Rugby Squad 2022/23
Senura Perra, Kalindu Nandila, Mursheed Zubair, Achitha Radeeshan, Thenuka Nanayakkara, RUchira Ekanayake, Manilka Ruberu, Dilshan Jayah, Kavindu De Costa, Raveen De Silva, Supun Warnakulasooriya, MAdusha Kavinda, Suhiru Anthony, Gayan Dilshan, Gamunu Chethiya, Eranda Harshana, Devidna Kumara, Lasindu Karunathilaka, Imanka Ariyapala, Shehan Kelaniyagoda, Ashan Darling, Lahiru Pavithra, Viduna Amaneth, Sameera Piyumal, Shenal Adikaram, Jero Dhananjaya, Hasitha Mapitigama, Ishan Amath, Ashan Gunasekara, Samith Warna Kulasuriya, Tevin Karunanayake, Chemod Muthunayake, Ishan Srinath, Vageesha Weerasinghe, Chathura Senevirathne
CR&FC started off their season with a win against their hometown rivals Havelocks SC while narrowly losing to defending champions Kandy SC at home. They will be focused on getting their season back on track and getting back to winning ways against the cops in their third encounter of the league.
