Trinity - a strong force in schools rugby again

By Hafiz MARIKAR

RUGBY: Sports has always played a large part in the life of people over several decades, besides, it has at large made sportsmen, leaders in every field in today's World. With the school cricket season saying goodbye for the first term, now the focus is all about Rugby.

Rugby today, particularly in Kandy is the number one glamour sport. Its popularity is such that crowds of anything from five to ten thousand are almost common place at most the games played by Kandy schools. The inexplicable part about all this popularity is that it is comparatively recent origin and it has come at a time of a cultural renaissance into which it is difficult to fit such a very English pastime. It is also significant that rugby crowds have swelled only with the decline and fall of racing. Whatever the secret of its recent appeal, rugby has always been the most popular game in Kandy with all schools producing some of the top ruggerites both locally and at National level.

Countdown for Rugby at Trinity

Trinity College, Kandy since rugby was first introduced in 1906 was not however, the first school to take to the game. L.E. Blaze had apparently introduced the sport into Kingswood College, then known as Boys High School, and the first inter-school match ever played in Ceylon was between Trinity and Kingswood in 1906 which ended up as a 6-all draw.

At Kingswood, the game however, 'died' soon after but here at Trinity it has prospered. Trinity rugby was referred as the cradle of rugby in Sri Lanka. This saying in the good old days was that Trinitians take to rugby like ducks take to water.

Trinity played Royal for the first time in 1920 and that was a historic occasion even if it was not the first inter-collegiate match to be played in Ceylon. Up to that time Trinity, for want of school opposition had to play only house matches and club sides.

For the club games, the school side was strengthened by the inclusion of a few masters. Among the names that figure prominently in the pre-1920 era are those of M. Mulgrue who was responsible for the fitness of the Trinity College rugby football club, M.B. Ekanayake and JPN de Lanerolle two of the first school captains. V.C. Perera and S.B. Madugalle (father of Percy & Dharmasiri) who captained the side and were the first winners of the 'Trinity Lions' for rugby even though they were awarded long after they left school.

Roy Ondaatje twice captained and Lion E.S. Kagwa the first African to play for Trinity and win a 'Lion'. Alfred Aluwihare and A.H.Joseph, whose influence on the game was cut short in the case of the former through his untimely death and the latter, most unfortunately for Trinity, through his departure for Achimota. M. Maung Gyi the first Burmese to captain the side and H. Ellis, the second to captain two years running.

Inter - School rugby from 1920

Inter school rugby then came up and its started in 1920. Royal came into the game soon, followed by Zahira in 1924 and some time later by St. Peters in 1933. These are the only four schools that played rugby in those days. However soon after the outbreak of World War II, Zahira and St. Peter's were forced out of the game when they were deprived of their premises for military use. Trinity were then back again with Royal as the only opponents.

Trinity has produced a vast number of players who have donned the Sri Lanka jersey. Those Trinitians who have represented Sri Lanka are far too numerous to mention. Some of the Trinitians who have brought honour and fame to their alma mater with their achievements on the rugby field were: P.A. Buultjens, William Molegoda, P. Mahendran, Bertie Dias, Senarth Pilapitiya, Dharmasiri Madugalle, Maurice Perera, Ken Murray, Jayatissa Ratwatte, R.R. Williams, K.D.K. Roles, D Reit, B.D.G. Piyasena, H.M. Chrisrtoflsz, Kavan Rambukwella, Malcom Wright, Ken de Joodt, Mike de Alwis, Nimal Maralande, Sari de Sylva, Dr. Tony de Sylva, I. D. de Sylva, Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Y.C Chang, Gamini Fernando, Mohan Sahayam, Noel Brohier, Ajith Abeyaratne, Gogi Thillekartne, P. de Silva, T.B. Pilapitiya, F.A. Roelsz, D. Reith, W. Winter, G. Weerasinghe, A. Perera, Gamini Udugama, Iswan Omar, Jupana Jayawardene, Mohan Balasuriya, Sam Palitha Samarasekara, Clifford Elhart, Glen Vanlangenberg, Irwin Howie, Shafi Jainudeen, Roy Balasuriya, Mark Sundarligam, Lanil Tennakoon, Tikiri Marambe, Jeffery Yu, Y.S. Ping, Hanzil Samad, Harindra Gunasekara, Rohan Sourjah, Ashan Ratwatte, Sen U. Suan, Rohan Abeyakoon, Shah Doole, Imthisham Marikar, Harris Omar, Pradeep Basnayake, Suranga Amarasinghe, Dilip Selvam, Sean Wijesinghe, Saliya Kumara,

Murad Ramzeen captains team

This year the Trinitians are coached by former Kandy Sports Club and Sri Lanka utility player Nilufer Ibrahim, with former Kandy Sports Club and Sri Lanka third-row forward Dilip Selvam as his deputy. The overall Coach/Consultant is Neil Foote from New Zealand.

This year Trinity's main ambition will be to regain the Bradby Shield - the richest trophy in schools rugby.

The side is led by front row prop forward Murad Ramzeen, easily one of the best in this position, in the schools rugby scenario. He should give off his best as a good leader and versatile player. He led the side well to beat the cricket rivals St. Anthony's in the opening game. Then in the second outing beat St. Thomas' Mt. Lavania by a record 75 points to 6 for the Canon R.S. de Saram shield. In this game, they completely outplayed the Thomians.

Trinity's other matches are: Against Kingswood on 26th April at Pallekelle, it ware these two schools who played first in 1986. Then on 30th Trinity plays against again Science College at Pallekelle, 6th May - St. Joseph's in Colombo, 14th May - Wesley at Pallekelle, 21st May - St. Peter's in Colombo, 28th '1st-leg' of the Bradby against Royal in Kandy. 4th June vs 'Isipathana at Palekelle, 11th June' 2nd leg of the Bradby' in Colombo, 2nd July vs Thurstan in Colombo, 8th July vs Dharmaraja at Bogambara.

Skipper Murad Ramzeen and Izzamam Mubarak will be the regular props, others who are vying for places are Thimira Galappathi and Anurudha Karunatilake, hookers berth is occupied by Kevin Bandara, who is a fine player in the loose.

Skipper Ramzeen also can fit in as a hooker. The second rowers are S.I. Perera a tireless player in the loose, There is also Randika Alwis and Rizvi Shehan. Trinitians possess a strong third-row Savin Unambuwa, Piran Fernando, Ujith Weerakoon, Thushara Warapitiya are the flankers who are fighting for the birth and Sean Foster the fine cover defender is the No. 8.

Sanjaya Somasiri is pairing off with Rehan Weerakoon a player who can breach the defence and execute difference ploys in the loose. His teammates are expecting a lot from him. The two centers are Kaneel Senavirthne and Dilhan Kelaniyagoda both these centers are penetrative runners.

One of the wingers is Darshana Udalagama while the other is Sanchana Sheik.

Thiala Karunatilake, Mohamed Sashan, Kanishka Yatawara are giving a good fight as well. The last line of defence is manned by Duminda Nanayakkara, who has proved his worth as a safe and reliable fullback in the last two games played.

Perhaps one of the reasons why Trinity have maintained its supremacy in rugby is that they have not neglected the juniors right from the primary school.

The Principal Brig: Udaya Ariyratne, a former Trinitian himself, has shown a great interest in all sports and is a tower of strength, both personally, financially and follow up in a more professional manner with the school in all activities.