At the age of 19, a young man from the outskirts of Chillaw would have never imagined that a paper advertisement on a local paper will change his life forever.
From a normal schoolboy from the west coast, he went on to become one of Sri Lanka’s finest prop forwards donning the Sri Lankan colours and evolving to be a predominant figure in the country. Having learnt the ABC’s of rugby at the Old Zahirians Sports Club, Kishore Jehan went on to become Kandy Sports Club’s iconic prop forward who recently toured the Philippines representing Sri Lanka in the Asian Rugby Championships.
ThePapare had the privilege catching up Jehan himself to quiz him on his engagement with the oval ball sport.
Here is how it went :
Q – Tell us how your Rugby life started?
A- I first saw an advertisement on the papers by the SLRFU calling for players to join a development squad. I was just out of school so I took my chances. I got through and went for practices and got through to the development squad. At that time my first coach was Hisham Abdeen
Q- Did you play rugby in school earlier?
A- No. We didn’t have rugby in school at that time but I did athletics back then. I also was a part of the cricket team as well.
Q-Did you start playing rugby from the club level or through the academy?
A- After playing for the Academy, I went on to play for the Old Zahirians Sports Club and then later I got the opportunity to be a part of the national pool. That was in 2003. I have been a regular in the national pool since then and finally got the opportunity to wear the national colours in the year 2005 and then I moved to Kandy Sports Club
Q- It has been ten years since you have moved to Kandy Sports Club, how many years more do you intend to play for the club?
A- I will play for the club until I feel that the time is up. Most likely a three or four more years, I will take it the way it comes.
Q- Did you ever think when you saw the paper advertisement, that you will one day represent the national team?
A-It wasn’t in my wildest imagination then, but when I played in the development squad, I got the opportunity to play sevens. When I was in the sevens squad, when I saw the national players practicing I thought hopefully I would be able to play for the country. I had an edge over the rest because with my weight I had speed within me so that’s why I was picked for the sevens. So I thought someday I would represent the national colors.
Q-Was it in you to play Sevens or Fifteens?
A- It was always my dream to play the 1st XV side but I started my journey from the sevens squad and then coach/ New Zealand legend George Simkins called me up for the 15’s practices.
Q- You lived in Chilaw, did you find it difficult to travel and play rugby here in Colombo?
A- It wasn’t that tough because I had the interest to play rugby so I used to travel daily but later when I played for Kandy, I got settled there.
Q- You have been playing Internationals and played club for a long time, what do you see that lacks in Sri Lankan rugby?
A. If Sri Lanka also plays in a more professional outlook it will be beneficial. Most of us have our day job and later train in the night. If Sri Lanka needs to change we’ ll need to have a full time professional practice schedule and train as a unit right throughout with proper rest etc, I think we can achieve some growth internationally.
Q- You have been playing rugby for a long time, tell us what was the most memorable incident in your rugby career?
A- Something which I wont ever forget is the 20th of June 2005. It was the first time I was playing in the national jersey. My parents had come for the first time from Chillaw to watch me play. My father is not with me now, he had to give his life for cancer. It was the day I was playing that he found out that he was suffering from cancer but still he came to watch the match. That is one moment I will remember.
Q- What was the feeling when you wore that national jersey?
A- There is always a special feeling when you wear that jersey. Regardless of the differences in time, that feeling cannot be put into words.
Q- How is the support from the Kandy team to you?
A- I have played in different clubs, but to my knowledge if any player needs to progress in rugby in Sri Lanka, the right place to go is to Kandy. It is more than a club, the sports club moulds the people to greater people in teaching them discipline and make you a better person.
Q- Who has been your role model since you started playing rugby?
A- It was always Sanjeeva Jayasinghe for me from the academy days. When the players in the academy speak about rugby, they always speak of Sanjeewa Jayasinghe. Even I, when I watch a match, I used to look at the way Sanjeeva Jayasinghe plays and it was a dream come true when I played alongside him in Nittawela.
Q- At this juncture of your career, who would you like to thank?
A- First and foremost to my first mentor, Hisham Abdeen who gave me the exposure to rugby and to Sanjeeva Jayasinghe who helped me become the player I am. Also to my club who has been supporting me right throughout in my career. I would fail if I do not thank my parents and my beloved wife who have always been the strength of my career.
ThePapare thanks the big man and wishes him many more ‘shoves’ in the future.
