Stripped down Royal offers a new teaser
Sets the clock ticking in run-up to new rugby season
as eight hardcore merchants bow out:
by Callistus Davy
Six weeks may be a considerable period of time to anticipate the new
inter school rugby League but Royal College are taking nothing for
granted and gearing up for a tougher season than last year in the
absence of eight hardcore players from the starting line-up that won a
record five trophies in 2015 including the coveted youth title called
the Singer trophy.
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B A Abeyratne (second from left) the principal of Royal
College accepts the team sponsorship from AM de S Jayaratne
(Chairman KIA Motors) and Mahen Thambiah (Managing Director
KIA Motors-extreme right) as Hemaka Amarasuriya (left) the
Chairman Royal Rugby Advisory and Management Committee looks
on (Pictures by Sulochana Gamage) |
For a team that rivals jealously love to hate owing to a brand of
rugby and pride that is akin to them, Royal have already set the timer
ahead of most schools and if there is one thing they could tell their
adoring fans ahead of kick-off is that they will live by a conviction
not to settle for anything short of expectation.
"A great transformation has taken place and you can watch out for
Royal who will play clean, fair and attractive rugby", said Hemaka
Amarasuriya the inseparable chairman of Royal College's Rugby Union
Advisory and Management Committee as the school re-launched its
commercial tie-up with sponsor KIA Motors on Thursday evening.
The new schools League kicks off on March 15 and Royal's customary
35-member senior pool is already being put through their sessions by
Sanath Martis whom Amarasuriya will declare as the "doyen of schools
coaching".
But both Royal and Martis will know they'll be in for a most
demanding season minus a set of forwards that left oppositions
devastated.
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The prizes that Royal will defend: The Singer trophy, the
Bradby Shield (vs Trinity), the Michael Gunaratne trophy (vs
S. Thomas’), the Major Milroy Fernando trophy (vs Isipathana)
and the BC Anghie trophy (vs St. Peter’s) |
Three of the forwards, Shauket Lahir, Keshan Peiris and Supun
Warnakulasuriya have according to Martis etched their names in the
annals of Royal rugby as "extraordinary and excellent readers of the
game" that gave them the envious luxury of bowing out unbeaten from ten
matches on the trot.
"Our problem this year will be the challenge to transform the present
(now in training) forwards to a force", said Martis.
From the champion team of last year, Royal are left with front row
players Nikhil Gunadeera, a top contender to captain, Harith Lokugamage
and Ayesh Maduranga, scrum half Ashok Wijekumar, fullback Owin Askey and
wingers Sabith Feroze, Mahima Gamage and Andrew de Silva.
But Martis contends Royal's back-line strength will be better than
last year with Askey occupying the all important fly-half's berth and
Feroze taking charge of the fullback's slot while Mahima Gamage and
Andrew de Silva man the centre positions making way for Risith Fernando
and Saqir Nawfer to sprint on the wings.
Royal enticed packed crowds in bagging more trophies last season and
in backing the team with Rs 27 million, KIA Motors project the players
as role models not found even in club teams that struggle to draw a
handful of spectators.
"Royal rugby has been very encouraging", said Mahen Thambiah KIA's
Managing Director.
"It's not just rugby alone but an organised place where you can look
forward to youngsters and their involvement".
But while Royal's godfather KIA will be hoping to bask in the same
glory as last year, its backstage team will have a new course to charter
as the rest of the top teams in the spotlight line-up to settle old
scores.
"I will not say it's going to be an anxious season", said Amarasuriya.
"We have confidence in the players and with a little bit of luck we can
go through a successful season". |
