The guts and glory of Jeff Rutnam
 

by Sharm de Alwis

Jeff Rutnam touched down in USA on the blind side. He had earlier crammed into his slim but steel-chord frame years of intensive rugby at the highest level when titans were in the fray.

A utility player who could perform with equal composure as a stand-off or fullback apart from his customary position as first centre, his contemporaries on the line were the erstwhile Didacus de Almeida, Abdul Majeed, John Burrows, Lorensz Pereira, Omar Sheriff, Sheddon, Rajah Sumanasekera, Nimal Maralanda and Glen Van Langenburg. Jeff captained two teams in his time, the Air Force and the Havelocks, a feat repeated in later years by Anton Benedict who captained Police and Havelocks.

As a first inner he would keep the play open with pleasing three-quarter movements not seen in the country in recent times, Jeff also had the distinction of captaining the country in several games against international teams.

His one time captain, Gama Fernando says that "Jeff was the complete player as a centre. He was not flashy like Michael Jayasekera or Dida. He was steady and dependable and had a deceptive run and could punt ahead and tackle mercilessly. He was more in the mould of Rajah Sumanasekera than Ken de Joodt."

Quentin Israel who reads rugger better than rooted afficianados says, "he was bloody good. He was aggressive and dashing. Things always happened when he had the ball in his hands. Above all, he was loyal to his club".

Rajah Dias Sumanasekera who had captained club and country and had delivered C.P. Jayasuriya into the Best Loser's corner at the Stubbs Shield Meet while he himself collected the Best Boxer's prize, had just awaken when phoned and was thinking through a maze of cobwebs. "Yeah, he was an O.K. character, a good player."

Jupana Jayawardena had gone to church and was not expected back till after noon perhaps he has a mass of sins to flush and was not available for comment.

But Killy was at hand and eager to deliver judgement. "He was a utility player from the first drawer. Inside, stand-off or fullback. He would advise Glen and keep the young buck on course. Never selfish. Always drew one or two defenders before sending the second inner or the winger on his way to glory and gravy line. Never gave a hospital pass. A prime product of Larry Foenander."

Sports is in the genes of the Rutnams. Jeff and brother Dan are products of Thurstan and did the country proud in rugger. Sister Lorraine was Asia's Sprint Queen and her son Lalith Perera also played Josepian and Club rugby with distinction.

Both brothers played rugger at the highest level with and against formidable protagonists. His induction to first class rugby was when in 1965 he played for Dr. Larry Foenander's XV with Rajah Sumanasekera and his brother Bertie Dias, Jinnah Dias Desinghe and Noel Brohier and others against the Army whose armoury included Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Sheddon, C.S. Fernando and Jayasena Banda.

Two years later, the Tea Industry celebrated 100th birthday and a rugby game with celebrated players was organised between Havelocks and the Tea Industry XV which the former won 24-05. Gama Fernando captained the victors and had in his ranks Flamer Caldera, Maurice Fairweather, the brothers Rutnam, Basil Henricus, Glen Van Langenberg, Peter Jayawardene, Jeyer Rodriguesz, Frankie David, Tyronne Holdenbottle, Royden de Silva, Gogi Tilekeratne, Neol Brohier and I. Hameed.

The Tea Industry team was no less formidable with Lionel Almeida, Larry Schokman, Selva Canagasabai, John Burrows, Ralph Wickramaratne, Jayantissa Ratwatte, Tyrrel Muttiah, Boyd-Moss, Mike de Alwis, Y.C. Chang, M.G. Waring, R. Abeysundera, Ken Murray, John Bousefield and Keith Paul. Jeff's participation in first class games over the next few years was almost mythical and he represented:

In 1966- Colombo to win 6-0 under Sari de Sylva against Up-Country, '67 - Colombo to win 20-0 under Sari de Sylva against Up-Country, '68 - Colombo to win 19-0 under John Burrows against Up-Country, '64 - Ceylon Services vs British Joint Services (Far East, '66 - President's XV vs British Joint Services lost only 3-6, Ceylon Services vs British Joint Services lost 0-39, '68 All Ceylon vs the British Joint Services.

In the All India Tournament in '68 when we lost a close 18-19 to the Combined Visitors Jeff was co-centre to A. Majeed.

In '69 he played against the Bosuns for Colombo Clubs, President's XV and both games for All Ceylon.

In Madras, Combined Ceylon lost a narrow 9-11 to the Indian XV. Against Blackheath in '70 brother Dan joined him on the line in both games of the President's XV. The home sides lost 8-36 and 15-33. In the same year both brothers featured in the game against the Indian Rugby Football Team. Ceylon won 19-5. He was in both the All Ceylon teams in that year against Singapore.

1971 was the year of Jeff's captaincy. He captained the President's XV as well as the CRFU against the visiting Paris University. The first game was lost 9-21 but the second was a handsome victory for the home side: 11-8. He also captained Ceylon in both games against England's far East Tour and the President's XV against the visiting Nohanga Rugby Club.

In '72, he was in the foray for Colombo Clubs against the London Welsh.

Other games he impressed in were in the '66 All India Tournament in Calcutta when Ceylon RFU won all their games against Bombay, Assam and Calcutta; in Bombay in '67 when he played in all three games.

The format of the All India Tournament was changed in '68 as the losses suffered by the Indian teams against All Ceylon and the Barbarians were overwhelming and clubs deputised instead. Both brothers played for Havelocks. And the finals were against CR & FC.

The second Asian Rugby Football Tournament was held in Bangkok in 1970 and both brothers played against Thailand, Hong Kong and Malaysia with Dan in the team against Korea in a special match.

In '69, the CRFU covered the All India Tournament and proceeded to Singapore and Bangkok. Against the Thai National team although CRFU lost 11-26, the score was never an indication of the stirring progress of the game when our forwards rucked and mauled in fine manner to give ample possession to the flashing threes to sprint, Jinx, punt and chip but an indomitable defence could not be breached.

Our team captained by Y.C. Chang beat the Ministry of Defence XV 22-9 in a handsome run and pass game when the goal line was crossed on six occasions. The next match was gruelling against the Combined Singapore teams of the British Joint Services and the Singapore Civilians joining ranks to win 21-13.

Jeff Rutnam is now domiciled in USA and is here to visit his old haunts and chew on memories.