Dharmaraja fields a young rugby side, but enthusiasm is great among the players

by Hafiz Marikar

Dharmaraja College, with a completely young side are hoping to build up the team in the coming inter-school rugby season, this time they are grouped in Division I segment - 1 B, along with schools like Trinity College, Royal College, Science College, S. Thomas' College and St. Anthony's College.

Rajans open the season against Trinity College on 22nd Sunday over here in the hills.

The 'Rajans' as they are fondly known by the fraternity close to them, first played the game in the 1930's that was only for a year, and gave up the game. The history of rugby at this school is necessarily short, since the game on an organized footing commenced only in 1972.

By 1976, they were able to hold their own against many established schools in the game, thanks to a product of S. Thomas' College Mt. Lavania Lal Kumarasinghe who was the MIC-cum-coach. It was Mr. Kumarsinghe who guided them to come off age and then on progressed very satisfactorily.

The standard of rugby progressed by the dedicated service rendered by so many, among whom, There are so many who came forward starting with one - time principal A.P. Gunartne, coaches like Jadi Dissanayake 1978-79, Lanil Tennekoon 1980-81, Sarath Kulatilake 1981, Irwin Howie 1982 , Deepal de Soysa 1983, Z.M. Zarook 1984-85, followed by Alex Lazaruns, C.S. Ekanayake, Nihal Viper Gunaratne, Anil Jayasinghe, Alex Lazarus, Asoka Jayasena, and also three years back former Sri Lanka skipper Hisham Abdeen did some good coaching in 2012 and in the following year 2013, under Radika Hetiarachichi Dharmaraja won the school league 'plum' for the first time.

The Rajans also have produced a galaxy of top class players Col. C.S. Fernando, Shanthi U. Mendis, Daya Jayasundera all played for clubs and the country without playing for the school. Then later, Ajantha Samarakoon, Hemantha Yatawara, Milroy Mendis, Tilak Jayasundara, Kuda Nugawella, C.S. Ekanayake, Mahes Werasinghe, S.S. Gunawardne, Kamala Sarthchandra, Nisanka Ranawana, Supun Thalagoda, and others came help the school.

The talent and know - how has been an interesting feature in Rajans rugby during the recent past. It will be same this season too, one of their top products Radika Hettiarachchi will coach the side for the third time, and he admits that the side is up to average standard with the back division having the strength.

In the last few years, Rajans back division has had all the potential and their forwards too are good and most of them are doing reasonably well at practices and results could be seen as the results as the season progress, that is if they follow the instructions of the coach.

Radika Hettiarachchi is one of the finest centres this school has produced. He has given his best as a player for his school. Soon after school, Radika played for Old Trinitians Sports Club and from Asgiriya he crossed over to Nittawela and played for Kandy Sports Club for twelve years, and captained in 2004, to win the triple, League, Sevens and the Knock-out and Hettiarachchi was also the Captain of the National team. He led the Sri Lanka sevens team for four long years. Later he played for CR and FC and Up-Country Lions RC.

While playing for Kandy Sports Club, Hettiarachchi won the best players award in 2002 and in 2003 was the best center-three-quarter of the tournament, and in 2004, the best captain's award.

At coaching, Radika is assisted by Suboda Kalupe, the two physical trainers are Samantha Rajapaksa and Sampath Bandara with Saliya Alexander as the MIC.

Rajans' past and present should be thankful to "ORRFA" Old Rajans Rugby Football Association, who gives the game a big hand, their Old Boys Association branches overseas and the Old Boys parent body too, ever willing to help.

This season, the Rajans are hoping to give a much better performance, The Rajans have a set of players, who can change their set plan at any stage of the game. Going through their past record it is very much clear that the Rajans will be concentrating more on their forwards. Last year, too, they had a good pack and some of the players are still with them.

In fact their entire 'third-row' is well balanced.

In fact they have Sri Lanka schools under 18 player Viraj Weerasekara, who is the person who will be manning the last line of defence, last season Weerasekera did a fine job and this season he is the captain expected to give off his best and lead the side from the front.

This year the two props will be Sheehan Harshana and Didulanga Eshan, two fire props and hooker Yashoda Hapuinna who hooked last season will once again occupy this position. Rasanjana Helanjith and Charith Habaragama will be the two second-rows forwards. There are few youngsters battling for the prop, hooker and second-row positions.

They are backed by three top class players Manushka Kumara, Pradeep Kaadupitiya and fresher Anjula Periers in the third-row. The experienced Basura Dilranga has retained his number eight position with opposition coming from few juniors.

Rajans scrum half will be Pramud Nakathge, who is given a 'fight' by few youngsters, but Pramud is a knowledgeable player and he will have Kasun Prabath in vital fly-half's potion and much is expected from this twosome. To assist them the centres are speedy-they are Supun Dissanayake and Gehan Desapriya, who are playing well together and much can be done by these two players.

The two wingers will be Rasanjana Helanjith and Didulanga Eshan. Skipper Viraj Weerasekara will be the full-back.

Rajan Rugby Squad will be picked from: Viraj Weerasekara, Manushka Kumara, Basura Dilranga, Layantha Galapitiya, Shehan Harshana, Didulanga Eshan, Lahiru Hettiarchchi, Damil Sagasekara, Rasanjana Helanjith, Adeepa Kadupitiya, Kasun Prabath, Chalindu Wijesinghe, Charith Habaragama, Maneesha Nawarathne, Shehan Rathnayake, Yashoda Hapuinna, Supun Dissanayake, Nimesh Rathnayake, Anjula Peries, Tharuka Galapitiya, Binura Bandara, Gihan Deshapriya, Pramudith Epa, Gihan Malinga, Chamika Perera, Sandeepa Hewage, Theminda Ulapane, Tharaka Silva, Bawantha Udangamuwa, Dulanga Hettiarchchi, Pramud Nakathge, Ravindu Wickrmanayake, Dulanjana Piyathissa, Sanchith Jayalth, Heshan Gamage.