Kandy made Lanil Tennekoon a classy rugby player

by Hafiz Marikar

One time rugby legend Lanil Tennekoon, who in the mid 1970's was a dynamic player and accurate place-kicker with long distant kicks to touch. Really, he did not play rugger for his school Trinity College. After leaving school he joined CH & FC and first played for the CH 'Kabaragoyas' and later for CH and FC first team for a few seasons and later he came over to Kandy, having found employment in Kandy. He turned out for practices at Kandy SC during the Presidency of Late E.W. Balasuriya.

During this period, he worked tirelessly to achieve his goals to be one of the best rugby players and finally had the privilege of playing for the country in 1974 while playing for Kandy Sports Club.

Having played for Kandy and being selected to represent the National Team at the Asiad in 1974, Lanil later during his planting days, had to play for Dimbulla, Dickoya and Uva and was in the Copper Cup games. He played both for Up-Country and Low- Country (Colombo Clubs). Lanil Tennekoon had an illustrious career and left an indelible mark in the history of Sri Lanka rugby.

He was one of the finest ruggerites who made the rugby circle colourful and courageous. He was big made and the spectators then considered him as an foreign player. Lanil was affectionately known as the 'power-horse' which stormed the club rugby scene in that period of time.

Lanil, played for the Sri Lanka from the 1974 Asiad up to 1980 as a top class second-row forward. He represented the country over here and overseas. He had the privilege of leading the country at the 1980 Hong Kong Sevens and also led the country at the 1980 Rugby Asiad in Hong Kong.

He was in Kandy and playing for E.W. Balsuriya's Kandy RFC. He then joined the Nittawela Club with amalgamation.

After a good stint, he once again went to Colombo and this time joined Havelock Sports Club and there, too, he was a fine player and was one of the most wanted ruggerites. Lanil had the rare privilege of being one of the finest lineout jumpers and goal-kickers In the country, he has helped clubs he played and the country to win. He was a player who gave his best. Once again he was back with Kandy Sports Club when he took up planting.

In 1974, when Asaid was held in Colombo, he played under Indrajith Coomaraswamy's leadership and the team comprised of Nizar Hadji- Omar, Alphonso Rodrigo, Jeyer Rodriguesz, Lanil Tennekoon, Dr. Maiya Gunasekera, Jeffrey de Jong, Anton Benedict, H. Samad, Hafi Abdeen, Reginald Bartholomeusz, Didacus de Almeida, Omar Sheriff, Mahesh Sabaratnam, Shafie Jainudeen.

There was also N.F. Fernando, Harendra Gunasekara, Brian Baptis, Jeffery Yu, G.B.Gunadasa, Reginald Bartholomeuz, Charles Wijewardena.

In the opening game of the Asiad, Sri Lanka beat Singapore 10-6, two penalties from Lanil Tennekoon, a try by skipper Indrajith Coomarasawmy. This side was placed number two in Asia, under the guidance and coaching of late Col. Bertie Dias.

Then in 1978, Lanil and Michael Jayasekara had the rare privilege of representing an Invitation International Rugby XV with several International players during the Hong Kong RFU's Silver Jubilee year. This match was played after the Hong Kong sevens.

Sri Lanka 'sevens' led by Balasuriya

That year, the Sri Lanka Sevens team was captained by that famous hooker Mohan Balasuriya. The rest were Lanil Tennekoon, Angelo Wickremaratne, Ronald Rodrigo, Frank Hubert, Jeffery de Jong, Michael Jayasekara, J. Rudra and Gamini Fernando the livewire of Havelock Sports Club was the coached-cum-team-Manager.

It was the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Hong Kong RFU, the strong international XV was made out of New Zealand's T.Gerry Clare, Philip Num (Papuwa New Guinea), Lanil Tennekoon (Sri Lanka), Siope Moutuanpuka (Hawaii), Min Joon Ki (Korea), Naoshi Kumagai (Japan), Mark Loans (Australia - Capt), Zulkuply Abukazzi (Malaysia), Sab Doiwa ( Papuwa New Guinea), Richard Duck (Baharain), Kin Young Hoo (Korea), Michael Jayasekara (Sri Lanka), Cagruary Dolpeaset (Thailand) and Michael Worral (Indonesia). The international side beat the Hong Kong side who had 'white' ruggerites, Brain Parker, Paul Davis, Dew Lamout, Paul Davis, Will Layfield, Ian Crains, Bryan Jones, John Hardie, Peter Colliver, David Dufus, Uan Parker, Davi Cox, Ian Duncan, Jim Wilson, Steve Williams, Martine Darke with Harry Buirckwood as the Touch Judge.

International XV wins 18-10

The International XV won the game by `18 points to 10, the wining team's score was from a goal and three tries to a goal and try. Out of the tries scored by the winning side, Lanil Tennekoon had the honour of scoring a superb try.

He also served as national rugby selector in 2008, and served in the SLRFU Committee in 1996 and 1997 as the Up-Country representative. In 1994 and 2005, he was the President of Uva Gymkhana Club. He was the man who was responsible in organising a All-Island Inter-Club Rugby Sevens Tournament in Badulla in 1993, for which Kishin Buttani gave a big hand.

Tennekoon also coached the Dharmaraja College Rugger team in 1974 and once again in 1980. He then coached Uva, Dimbulla, Dickoya and the Up-Country teams.