Nigel Ratwatte - Most Popular player and Kandy SC - Most Popular Club

RUGBY: Promising fly-half Nigel Ratwatte of CR&FC and ten times league and knock-out champions Kandy Sports Club emerged winners of the Caltex/Sunday Observer Most Popular Rugger Player and Most Popular Rugger Club competition 2010 at the end of the final count.

Twenty-year-old Nigel Ratwatte had his early rugby playing days at Trinity College, Kandy representing the under 13 and under 15 teams. He left for Mauritius with his parents and later played for the Mauritius national team. The experience he gained in Mauritius helped him immensely as he became an automatic choice and wore the ‘Red Shirt’ as he joined CR&FC this year and played as a fly-half and later shifted to the centre position. Ratwatte’s fine ‘breaks,’ line-kicking and his reliable place-kicking played a crucial role in CR becoming runners-up in the League Championship.

In the team category, undisputed champions Kandy SC who retained the league and the knock-out championships for the tenth consecutive year, was voted as the Most Popular Rugger Club. CR&FC has been winning the titles since 2001. They won the Sevens title from 2007 to 2009.

In the final count coupon number 18, Ratwatte and Kandy SC were able to maintain a steady lead to emerge winners.

The winners of the other categories, and the date for the award ceremony will be announced in due course.

Most Popular Ruggerite 2010: 1. Nigel Ratwatte (CR&FC) 10243. 2. Pradeep Liyanage (Kandy) 7485. 3. Vishvamithra Jayasinghe (CR&FC) 5728 . 4. Chanaka Chandimal (Air Force) 4007. 5. Lakala Perera (CH&FC) 2124.

Most Popular Rugger Club: 1. Kandy SC 8099. 2. CR&FC 7972.

3. Navy 4243. 4. Air Force 3821. 5. Police 2109.

The readers prize goes to Ananda Palihawadana, 173, Moratuwa Road, Piliyandala.