Y.C. Chang - the Blue Blood of Rugby Football in Sri Lanka

By Hafiz MARIKAR

Rugby Foot Ball:Y.C. Chang can easily be considered one of the greatest ruggerites of all times in this country with an excellent tract record, both as a player and administrator in Sri Lanka's rugby history. He started his schooling at Carey College, Colombo and later went to Kandy to continue his studies and sports. He joined Trinity College, where he excelled in cricket as a 'stumper' at junior level and played junior rugger under the guidance of Hilary Abeyartne, but unfortunately did not play for the school's XV Rugby Team.

At club level, Y. C. Chang can be rated as the best front-row forward the country has produced. Records reveal that having played U/17 for Trinity College in 1959/60, he went over to Havelocks Sports Club during the year 1961/63, thereafter he joined Kandy Sports Club in 1964 while he was a professional Tea Planter in the district of Kandy from 1964 to 1970 and captained the club in 1967 and 1968, captained Up-Country in 1968 and 1970. While in Kandy, he was Hony. Secretary of the Kandy SC in 1968. In 1971 he left for Colombo on change of employment and joined the CH & FC, representing the club as player and coach, captaining the side in 1971/1972 and winning the League Title many a time until 1984. He captained the Low- Country Clubs and the National Team at the Asiad in 1972.

'YC' as he is fondly known, played for Havelocks S.C from 1961 to 1963, he was in Dr. Hubert Aloysius champion team that beat Dickoya-MCC in the last second of the game, off a penalty-kick at goal by Ken de Joodt in the Clifford Cup final played at Havelock Park.

He played for Kandy Sports Club from 1964 to 1971. From the very first year at Kandy Sports Club he played for Sri Lanka as number one front row forward, but until he went down to Colombo, he never got an opportunity to lead the National Team. After an excellent and enjoyable stint with Kandy Sports Club where his rugby career was at its peak, he was compelled to cross-over to CH & FC after giving up planting.

In 1974, 'YC' was tipped to lead the country at the Asiad which was held in Colombo for the first time in the history of the Asiad. But he was deprived on disciplinary grounds by the Union, because as captain of the CH & FC team he led the side out of the field before the final whistle at a rugby game due to an unreasonable dispute during play which was unsolved on the field. On the contrary, players of today get away with worse things and are given a pardon, irrespective of the charges and lead the country.

Best Forward

It was due to his dedication and keenness, without playing for school, he played club and national rugby. It was mainly due to his great commitment, dedication, knowledge, authority and leadership qualities combined with performance on the field which led him to become the country's best forward. What Trinity lost, it was at Havelocks Sports Club that he gained to be recognized as the best rugby player in the country at that period of time.

At Havelocks Sports Club, he played along with great players like Nimal Maralande, Dr. Hubert Aloysius, Ken de Joodt, Mike de Alwis, Conrad Ephraums, Maurice Anghie, Dr. Trevor Anghie, G. Sumanasekera and Gamini Fernando to name a few.

It was at Kandy Sports Club where he earned his name as an excellent player and leader. 'YC' during his playing days, weighed 165 pounds, he was a fearless player leading the side from the front.

In the good old days, rugby lovers waited for the game Kandy SC Vs CH & FC to see 'YC' and Marrinon in action. Both these players 'YC' and Marrinon in action were stiff contenders, sometimes they forgot the rules of the game and used their fists man to man,

'YC' during his playing days, was unstoppable with or without the ball, when in action. He was at one time player cum coach. He led the side in 1967, 1968 and 1970 half way, that was after the late Lt. Gen. Denzil Kobbekkaduwa crossed back to the Army.

He represented the All-Ceylon team from 1963 to 1969 in the famous "All India" tournament. In 1969, if I am correct it was 'YC' who helped the Nittawela Club to enter the Cup final, when late Denzil Kobbekkaduwa led the side with Maurice Perera All-Ceylon player in 1955 was the coach, some of his teammates were: Gavin Stevens, Mohan Balasuriya, Dr. B. Makuloluwa, Rohan Abeyasundera, Deepal de Soysa, Jadi Dissanayake, Gamini Abeyakoon, Jayantissa Ratwatte, Cyril Aluwihare, S. Piyasena, Lakshman Samarajiva, Chang Fa Ching, then in the Clifford Cup knockout, Shafie Jainudeen, Iswan Omar and Frederick Prins were invited to play for Kandy Sports Club from Trinity College where Denzil Kobbekkaduwa was the rugby coach.

He had the privilege of leading Kandy Sports Club, Up-Country, CH & FC, Low-Country and Sri Lanka. He is one of the few who has led both Up-Country and Low-Country. 'YC' represented the All-Ceylon Barbarians team at the age of 18 years.

Played in Asiad 1970

He was the member of the first Asiad team in 1970, which side was led by his lose-head 'prop' (Late) Nizar Hadji Omar. In the very first year of the Asiad, Lankans came up to the Semi-finals.

In that year, 'YC' had played a major role with the help of players like Mike de Alwis, Sari de Sylva, Dr. Tony de Sylva, Ajith Abeyratne, Jeff Ratnam, Keith Paul, Indrajith Coomarasamy, Tony Sirimanne, to name a few. In 1971 the year he left Kandy Sports Club and joined CH & FC to lead them, he got the break to lead the country and became the second to lead Sri Lanka at the 2nd Asiad in 1972.

During the time of 'YC's national duty, he played against London Welsh, which side was led by John Dawes. In 1969 played Bosuns, then in 1970 Sri Lanka played Blackheath of England, 1971 Paris University, 1972 Emus from Australia.

After his playing days he took up coaching and whistling. As a coach he helped CH & FC team in 1982, under N. Karunasena they won the Clifford Cup, and in 1983 they remained unbeaten. 'YC', at Kandy Sports Club was a player, coach, committee member, secretary and now a honorary Life-member. Then at CH & FC, was the coach, committee member, chairman of the club, from there he became the President of Havelocks Sports Club. He is a life-member of both clubs.

He was a stalwart of Sri Lanka Rugby for many years, rated as one of the finest Presidents of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union with a vision towards rugby development. It was at that time 'YC', made a wise move by bringing the Clifford Cup tournament to Kandy. This helped Kandy Sports Club and the schools in the district in a big way and today Kandy Sports Club are the king makers of rugby. He had a good set of committee members like Dushy Samarasekara, Malik Samarawickrema, Gamini Fernando, Lionel Almeida, Kishin Buttani who were all rugger promoters, gave him the fullest support.

Showed the way

It was under his Presidency, that he implemented and familiarized the training schedules for the National Pool, and even helped the national teams to tour many countries. Before he came on the scene it was only the All-India tournament, thereafter came the Asiad. It was under his Presidency that the first Sri Lanka under 20 teams played in the 5th Pan-Pacific Championship in Taiwan and the under 25 team took part in the Inter-Collegiate tournament in the same country. There were no sponsorships to send teams out but through innovative ideas he raised funds to accomplish his vision.

Another tour to Wales and South East Asia was arranged, Coaches, Referees too, got a break with his initiative. For all his good work he was elected as the President of the Asian Rugby Football Union, and he hosted the Asiad in Colombo at Sugathadasa Stadium in the early 1990's.

This is still spoken about as the best ever tournament. Rugby is perhaps the biggest spectator sport in Kandy, 'YC's move of bringing the Clifford Cup and did well to establish the game in Kandy. His organisational ability, helped clubs to get sponsors, and that is what has brought the clubs to its present reputable status. He was a firm believer that club rugger is the backbone of a country. It is the main source of constant supply of talent for national teams.