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Dharmaraja will have tough time in rugby this year

RUGBY: The game that is popular and many schools play is rugby. But for the Rajans to play rugby this year will be tough.

Rugby history at Dharmaraja is necessarily short, since the game on an organized level commenced only in 1972, it was due to the keenness of an Old Thomian Late Lal Kumarasinghe, he went all out to give rugby the proper place at this school.

Although the game had been in existence in the 1920s, it appears to have been abandoned after players had succumbed to an injury suffered at a match.

The biggest draw back the Rajans had was no proper place to practises.

This problem was solved after their cricket grounds came into being. However, they can be proud of the progress shown by them in the last 39 years. Such standards were maintained due to efforts of good rugby promoters, the credit should go to Kumarasinghe, under whose guidance both as coach and Master-in-charge the game came of age and made progress a very satisfactorily.

Standards were reached not by chance but by dedicated services rendered by many young old boys.

The present coach is Hisham Abdeen who was one of the finest third row forwards during his time.

Last season Rajans after a series of defeats dramatically turned around their fortunes under the guidance of Hisham, who took over coaching during the tail end of the season. Their best performance was when they lost to Isipathana College by whisker in their final game, which could have gone either way. Under Abdeen's coaching they won the All Island Under 18 rugby title. Much was expected from them this season, but their performance has been dismal in the matches played so far. They are placed at the bottom of the table.

Rajans have produced a galaxy of ruggerites, in the past who have brought honour to their school. Some of the Rajans who have brought great honour to the school and the country without playing for the school during their time are - C.S. Fernando (Army), S.U. Mendis (Air Force), Daya Jayasundara (Police), Murga Jayarathne (Police) to name a few.

Rugby gets a push forward as Old Boys Unions...... OPBU Colombo Branch, OBU Hill Country, Old Rajans Rugby Football Union, gave school a big hand.

The Dharmaraja team is captained by third row forward Chanaka Jayasundera. He also has Mayura Hewawasam last year captain.

The team is packed with some young blood, and they also have six seniors.

The 'props' are Wasabha Bandara, Rukmal Dissanayake, the hooker is G. Seneviratne and Malinda Hearth too is there as standby.

The two second-row forwards are Lochana Ekanayake, Sameera Hettiarachchi. They possess a strong third row - Chanaka Jayasundara - the skipper, Chanaka Hettiarachchi, the No. 8 Dantila Hapuarachchi.

Rochana Hettiarachchi is the scrum half. Fullback Kavinda Hettiarachchi has been brought in as fly half, Centres A.S. Ekanayake jnr., and Thial Wijesinghe. Wingers Gayantha Madushanka and Ravindra Bandara. The last line of defence is Rochana Hettiarachchi.

J.B. Wickremasinghe is the master handling fitness and Saliya Alexender is the MIC.

 

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