The two-time league winning and defending triple champions from the hills of Kandy have themselves another golden opportunity to rise to the stature of invincibility as they prepare for the 2016 Dialog Rugby League.
From humble beginnings in the 19th century, when the Kandy Sports Club was first formed as a hockey club by the British planters who came down to the hill capital, the sport rugby was introduced in the early 20th century and later came the development of Nittawela that went on to become one of the main attractions in the area.
From the first Clifford cup win in 1992, the next 25 years for the club is deemed as a golden era as Kandy SC went on to win 17 league titles and secure twenty Clifford cup titles. Kandy’s unbeaten record for eleven straight years from the year 2000 and their twelve consecutive league titles from 2000-2011 speaks volumes of their dominance in the local circuit.
After a rough two years, Sean Wijesinghe turned things around for the Kandy Club in the 2013/14 season, bringing silverware home and following his success was Fazil Marija who completed his mission with a little help from Roshan Weeraratne to win back the triple title. Kandy went on to win the Sevens, the League and later the Clifford Cup last season.
Roshan Weeraratne to lead the charge
Finishing what Fazil started last season, Roshan Weeraratne had captaincy reins in the absence of Marija and completed his conquest. Captaincy is nothing new for the former Kingswoodian and Sri Lankan XV’s and Sevens player who has with him a star-studded outfit ahead of the much anticipated Dialog Rugby League.
Having donned the Kandy jersey since the year 2008, the younger Weeraratne sibling was renowned to be one of the most skilled half backs in the Sri Lankan rugby circuit giving him the opportunity to wear the same national number.
Players to watch
The transfer talks saw Danushka Ranjan and Kanchana Ramanayake heading to Kandy to power up their three-quarter formation. The impeccable Ranjan will surely find Kandy’s backline conducive to his usual playing style.
In-form Danush Dayan, who hit the headlines after his successful stint last season that allowed him to earn a spot in the national XV’s and sevens’ teams, will claim responsibility to one of the wing-three positions in the Kandy team and will look to continue his momentum in this upcoming season.
Kandy’s new signings in the front row include the former Isipathana and Havelock Sports Club forward Ganuka Dissanayake to strengthen the front line in addition to the usual Kishore Jehan-Damith Dissanayake-Piyumal Machanayake combo.
Injuries will be one problem that the defending champions will have to deal with in the first weeks of competition with new signing Jason Dissanayake, Anuradha Wilwara and Srinath Sooriyabandara all recovering from injuries.
Backroom Staff
Former Kandy skipper Sean Wijesinghe will continue at the helm of Kandy Sports Club having led them to the triple championship in his first year as coach. It is unlikely that he will try to change things up as Kandy seem to have found a potent formula to win games.
Kandy SC stalwart Nalaka Weerakkody will aid his counterpart Wijesinghe in the position of Assistant Coach while Kapila De Silva will be the manager for yet another year.
Squad 2016/17
