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A team which has entered the 'A' division rugby arena once again is the Kurunegala Rugby Football Club. The lads from Rock City were promoted to the 'A' division in 1996 and fared creditably to finish runners-up to the Sri Lanka Army in the Plate Championship. However in the following year they pulled out from the 'A' Division League Tournament.

The present Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports, Johnston Fernando who was the President of Kurunegala RFC at that time and rugby promoter, Kishin Butani were instrumental in Kurunegala RFC gaining entry into 'A' Division rugby in 1996. Fernando gave his maximum support and encouragement to the players while Butani provided several players from Colombo and offered employment to them in Kurunegala which resulted in four national players - Hishan Abdeen, Chandrishan Perera, Pallita Wijesuriya and Nishantha Dias turning out for the club in 1996 under the leadership of Chinthaka Dias.

This year Kurunegala RFC is fielding a young and inexperienced side with all the players being from Kurunegala. led by fullback Sharmendra Devadasan the lads from Kurunegala lost the first six matches but came up with a fine performance to notch up their first win against Old Zahirians last week and are bound to improve further as the season progresses.

The trio battling for the prop forwards berth are T. Jayawardena, M. Mowjood and C. D. U. Abeyratne. The hooker's berth will be filled by A. Dissanayake. The experienced Rohitha Roberts will occupy one lock forward's berth while the duo fighting it out for the other berth are S. A. K. Karunaratne and Kasturiarachchi.

Veteran Tissa Jayaweera and young Imash Wajewardena will be the flankers. Incidentally Imash is the son of the famous Vidyaratha, Air Force, CR, Police and Sri Lanka fullback and place kicker Charles Wijewardena.

Former CH and FC skipper and ex-Sri Lanka lock forward Nishantha Dias will fill the No. 8 position. The other player who could fit into the third row is N. T. B. Herath.

Samansiri Dissanayake will operate from the base of the scrum but faces a strong challenge from R. M. D. Bandara. The pivotal fly half berth will be filled by Lasantha de Silva.

D. I. Ratnasuriya and Charith Sandaruwan will be the centres with P. Wickremasinghe making a determined bid to oust one of them. The wings will be manned by M. S. Halimdeen and Prabath Wickremasinghe. Skipper Sharmendra Devadasan who has stood out with his safe collections and booming kicks to touch will be the full back. The lads from the Rock City are being coached by former Army and Sri Lanka winger, C. B. Gunadasa. (R.S)

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