Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club after a few years of low-form in the club rugby segment are ready to ‘crouch-bind-set’ for the latest version of the Dialog Rugby League 2014/15.
Under the captaincy of Ashan De Costa the Colombo 7 lads will set foot on the lawn for the curtain raiser against Army Sports Club on the 2nd November 2014, at Race Course International Rugby Stadium.
A bit of old
One of the initial rugby playing institution in the country, the Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club was founded in the year 1922 by Colonel E.H. Joseph. Prominent names in Sri Lankan society patronized the club with the first AGM being held in 1923. They were the Schokmans, Rockwoods, Saravanamutthu, Weinman, and Ondatjie to name a few. The 1st captain was Dr. L. O. Weinman, while the vice-captain was Rajah Hewavitharana.
After the end of the 1st World war the Clifford Cup Knockout Tournament was re-introduced, and CR & FC lost to the Combined Services team by 3-6. Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club continued to flourish over the next decades with schoolboys from Trinity College, Royal College, Zahira College, St Peter’s College, S Thomas’ College, and subsequently, Isipathana have represented the club with great distinction..
Lately
The glory days of the CR&FC were during the 1980`s when they became the champions of the league for three consecutive times in the years 1987, 1988 and 1989. Even though CR & FC was the top club in the not too distant past, they remained always the brides-maid losing out the strong Kandy SC in many finals. They etched the winning try as the champions of the Clifford`s Cup Knockout tournament in the year 2007 which is recorded as their only significant achievement in recent times.
With a lot of migrations a couple of years ago CR has struggled to hold form and set forth this year purposefully to regain some lost pride with new coaching staff and young blood injected to the outfit for revival.
The trend of switching outfits and loyalty issues have indeed done damage to the Colombo seven boys outfit when Riza Mubarak, Vishva Jayasinghe joined the sailors and Kavinda De Costa joined Havelocks Sports Club. Yet, the skipper sharing his thoughts with the ThePapare.com said that he is indeed happy and satisfied with what he got on the outfit and they will give the best out of the resources they hold with in them and let bygones be bygones.
The Driving Force
The club will firstly indeed depend on the shoulders of the experience campaigners in the outfit. The skipper Ashan De Costa who has been a loyal servant of the club for seven long years would want to close up the career in a higher note. Extending his services as the playmaker, the pace and the game knowledge that he holds within himself will come handy during game time. The CR&FC big boy Ishan Noor will use his experience, ball skills and stepping skills to touch the oval shaped ball and will be a player that everyone will set their eyes on.
The outfit is enriched with the potential of newly pumped testosterone of Anuradha Herath and Rahul De Silva who will play vital roles in the team combinations. Herath known as the ‘Iron Man’ when he played his minutes to St. Peter`s College will shift position from No.08 to the winger and it will be a fair tactical move with his pace and the strength that he carries within him. Rahul De Sliva the skipper of the President`s Trophy Champions Wesley College will fit in with his swift moves to make defenders just mere spectators on the field.
Foreign Ammo
Colombo seven lads are tied up with three dashing rugby blood holders for the season who are back from the ITM cup in New Zealand. Robbie Malneek who will power the full back position will be a player to look out for the rest of the contenders. Puppy Farrell will power up the center potions while Joe Fudumui will take on the No.8 for the outfit which will be probably one of the best moves the team could make considering his skill in the game and his strength to drive forward fearlessly.
Coaching Contingent
Imthi Marikkar shifting from the scenic beauty for the hill country to dusty Colombo will be the man in charge this year. This man needs no introduction on the knowledge and the experience that he holds as a mentor of a team. Mushtaq Jeffrey will assist the main man while Shamly Nawaz will nurture the forwards of the outfit. Dunstan De Silva the Manager of the CR&FC team will carry the rest of the pressure on his big shoulders.
What they had to say
Coach Imthi Marikkar sharing his thoughts with ThePapare.com stated the fact that he prefers attacking rugby himself and he will insist the implementation of attacking rugby into the game plan which will indeed be a different tactical move for the team. He also mentioned about the player loyalty issues which is common around the clock these days but he is determined to give his best to the players, management and the fans of the club by taking the maximum of the resources.
Skipper Ashan De Costa with his inspiring words in the middle of the training session expressed the fact that it`s a pleasure to lead the side after seven long years and he would not consider it as a pressure upon his shoulder at any given time. He also added that the use of the experienced players and the coaching staff will come in handsomely to make a difference during this season. Finally for the question on the player shifting issues he answered “We will be meeting the Havies during the second week and let’s see what happens”
Troops
Props –Hafiz Abdhan, Shane Sammandapperuma, Nipuna Devinda.
Hookers – Arun Kumar, Mural Ramzeen, Malith Hettiarachchi.
Lock – Ishan Noor, Vashaba Senarath, Rajitha Abeykoon, Gavin Siegettsz, Sandaruwan Adikarai, Ranjula Perera, Sezad Hamidon, Dilanka Perera.
Flankers – Sithum Peris, Sasanka Ariyarathene, Joel Perera.
No.08 – Joe Fudumuni.
Scrum Half – Rahul De Silva, Lahiru Prawodh, Dilan Soysa.
Fly Half – Ashan De Costa, Naleen Kumar.
Centers – Kanchana Ramanayake, Amila Bandara, Puppy Farrell, Gayan Liyanage, Mattew Gunsekara.
Wing – Shanaka Kumara, Anuradha Herath, Mekalanka Pramodha, Hashan Maduranga, Chinthaka Lahiru.
Full back – Rochana Hettiarachchi, Robbie Malneek.
