Thurstan Jubilee celebrations with Schools Rugby Sevens

RUGBY FOOTBALL: The Thurstan College Rugby Jubilee celebrations will be conducted with the blessings of President Mahinda Rajapaksa who is a distinguished old boy of the school when it gets under-way on March 24 and 25 at the Royal College Sports Complex, Stanley Wijesundera Mawatha Colombo 7.

As a part of the anniversary celebrations, the Thurstan College Rugby Golden Jubilee Tournament Committee has organised a Seven-A-Side tournament.

Twenty four schools have been invited to participate at this historic occasion. The teams are hosts Thurstan, Isipathana, S. Thomas', St. Peter's, St. Anthony's (K), St. Joseph's Colombo, St. Joseph's Anuradhapura, S. Thomas' Bandarawela, Ananda, D. S. Senanayake, Carey, Vidyartha Kandy, Mahanama, Nalanda, Science College, Zahira, Lumbini, Prince of Wales, Embilipitiya Central, Royal Panadura, Piliyandala Central, Harischandra Negombo, C. W. W. Kannangara, Royal Horana.

Four Ladies teams, namely Slimline SC, Army SC, Black Mares RFC Colombo and Seethawaka RFC Avissawella will also add glamour to the tournament.

The 24 teams will be divided into 8 groups with three teams each and will be played in a league basis ensuring victory based on performance rather than luck. It will also ensure the rugby fans to witness more matches on both days. The outstation teams will be provided with hospitable accommodation with transport provided to and from the venue.

Prize money of Rs. 153,000 will be awarded to the winners.

Thurstan began playing rugby football in 1956/57 but participated in active inter-school matches only in 1958. The 1956 team was captained by Errol Van Twest, while the 1957 captain was Surath Wickremasinghe. Thurstan really went into inter-school matches in 1958 which team too was captained by Surath Wickremasinghe.

Some of the stalwarts in the 1958 team were: Jeff Ratnam who later became a legend in Ceylon Rugby captaining Air Force, Havelocks and Sri Lanka and became the first national coach of Sri Lanka. Undoubtedly he was one of the finest rugby players Sri Lanka has seen. Also in this team were well known sports writer T. M. K. Samat, Rafi Abdeen of boxing fame, Wigna Sellamuttu, late Shivantha Thambaiyah, late Anton Wickremaratne, late Lionel Wickremasekera. Team was coached by Brian Mills.