The year of 2009 was personally a memorable year for me because it was my Aiyyahs last year of Royal rugby. *sob sob* But we were crazy good that year.
We won both our trophy matches, our prestigious shield and *drum roll* we had an unbeaten season! We had a scoring average of 37.5 points per game. Also in that year Royal had the highest comparative score against two schools. Skipper Naren Dhason was on fire scoring seven tries that year. The vice captain, Nikira Senanayeke was a hulking specimen that struck fear in the eyes of many. The pack and the line worked together to produce wonders. Our back line consisted of Dabare with his powerful runs on the flanks, Mushin with his deceptive side steps and dummies, Shamil with his stop on the track tackling, the elusive Aqeel with his jinxing runs, the sprinting Faizer, and the mascot of the team Shabeer who was our reliable last line of defence. Our pack was probably the most formidable pack in the schools rugby circuit. Steam rolling through all opposition. Having the likes of the gentle giant Kalana Amarasinghe, rock solid Ashane Dassanayake also known as pudima (a story any member of the 2009 team would love to relate)Hasthika Bandaranayke, a human version of a vacuum cleaner where food is concerned, hooker Udara known as blacky for his Hollywood complexion, this year’s captain Shehan Pathirana who was named lema as he turned up for practice the first day with a lemonade tshirt ( makes you wonder how these boys come up with these nick names), mean machine fajudeen, the daily news provider Ranga and Hamza Hassen of whom I shall not write as it would run into pages as any biased loyal sister would do. On a personal note, when these boys hang out I could see and feel the bond they had even off the field. Before the season started they would go to the beach every weekend and play tap rugby. And when the practices did finally start, they would gather in the complex at one in the afternoon and just wait till practice started. They had a vision; a dream; a goal. This is what I call ‘one team; one family’.
Now let me give attention to our heroes behind the heroes. The sisters! Ha-ha. I kid. It should definitely be the mothers. The team of 2009 had one hell of a cheering squad. I mean these mothers were more loud and aggressive with their cheering than most men on the stands. Let me tell you a few stories. Aunty Iffath (Mother of Shamil Ahamed) use to come for the matches with, you won’t believe it, praying beads. She continuously prays and then nudges us to do the same. So we had to whisper a prayer every now and then to keep her satisfied. Then aunty Muneera (Mother of Aqeel Sathuk), her son happened to be the smallest guy on the field. So whenever someone was tackled or thrown away you can be sure that she would say ‘where is Aqeel?!’ or ‘is that Aqeel!?’ Oh man she was classic. Then we have Aunty Ruwi (Mother of Shamir Fajudeen) who always starts the ‘kade’ after every match. Giving her views on how the match should have been played. I am telling you, she should have been the coach. Insanely we had a mother whose son use to be the place kicker in 2004 but she still is very much active in the complex. I remember she could never sit in one place when her son is about to kick. She still comes for the matches and you can see her covering her eyes and saying ‘ayoo can’t look’ when someone is about to kick. Gosh, if the boys only knew the dance their mothers put on the stand while they’re on the field. Furthermore you can hear Dabare’s mother shouting her life out, or see my mother praying every prayer she could think of or feel the pressure on Dhason’s mothers face. After the Bradby I remember a few mothers tearing. They said that they were having mixed feelings of happiness, because we won and sadness, because it was their last year as ‘Royal mothers’. Boys remember, your biggest fan is your mother!
As the year of 2010 approached I had this feeling that I don’t belong anymore. But when I put on my Royal jersey and come to watch our boys at the Bradby, I feel as if I have been part of this school all my life and that I never left. That year was pretty amazing too. The team was led by my brother from a different but very beautiful mother, Duminda Attygalle. This team went through the season against all odds. Even many old Royalist and rugby pundits were starting to doubt our victory, but the lion hearted boys of Royal went beyond the expectations of everyone and boy oh boy didn’t they perform! It is noteworthy to remember that the team included only three colours man and a band of enthusiastic freshers. Even though they had a lot to live up to after 2009, I think they had quite a unique year. Bradby 2010 was one of the hardest fought matches I’ve ever witnessed. The way they walked onto the field, like warriors ready for battle. Their body language was enough to know that they would bring the Bradby shield back home.
Even this year that feeling of not belonging creeps in, but then I give it a hand off and I am fine. No one and nothing can take the R-O-Y-A-L positive blood away from me. Now in university I have many non- Royal friends. When they have their ‘my school is better that your school ‘arguments, I too get all riled up and talk about how great my school is. At first the boys used to think I was weird and wonder which school I refer to when I say ‘my school’. But now inevitably they’ve accepted me as a female Royalist. Oh the honour! There is one well kept secret of Royal College, which is the omnipresent Anura sir whose dedication commitment and single minded purposefulness is unparallel and my intention is to oust him from his chair and take his position someday. Yes my dream of being the Royal College rugby teacher in charge lives on.
This year I have no doubt that Shehan will lead us to victory. Boys, you’ve trained hard and you deserve this. You know the sacrifices you’ve made, you know the pain you’ve gone through and you know how much you wanted to don the college jersey. This has been your dream ever since you could pick up a rugby ball, so now go make it a reality. When you put on those three inches of blue and gold, you must understand the responsibility, the honour and the privilege that you have been bestowed upon. If ever your limbs are too weak or your body too tired, you look beside you, at the crest on your team mate’s jersey and then you start playing with your heart! I’ll conclude with a quote from an old boy.
“To all those who wear the jersey this day and the day after, remember you never actually own a college jersey. You are just a custodian, your job is to not only preserve all what it represents, but also add to it. So that it gives strength, to the generations of custodians after you, to enable them to bring more honour to the school which taught us everything, and made us who we are. “
