Five stalwarts in rugby selection committee

SHARM DE ALWIS

Bonding together as the Selectors of the Country's rugby are five stalwarts who in their youth stormed the rugby fields as fearful protagonists.

Ajith Abeyaratne, the Chairman of the Committee is an illustrious son of Trinity. He is a Ryde Gold Medallist as the Best All-round boy, a rugger Lion who captained the school in 1967 and '68 to win the Bradby by the handsome margins of 33-06 and 24-03 which was the most stupendous scores at the time and the value of a try was only 3 points. He also captained Combined Colleges.

He holds the record for he fastest 100 [62 minutes] in the Trinity-Royal of 1968, breaking the earlier record held by his paternal uncle Hilary Abeyaratne. His partner in achieving this milestone was Tikiri Marambe's brother Nihal who got a cameo 50.

On leaving school he preened his feathers by playing at the highest level in 1968, '69, '70 and '71, representing Colombo Clubs in the Capper Cup, President's XV against Blackheath and All-Ceylon in two All-India Tournaments and once for CR in the same tournament in 1968 against the Cheetahs. From 1968 to '74, he played for CR and All-Ceylon in five winning sides of the finals.

Ajith was National coach from 1985 to '89 and Associate coach from 1995 to '99.

Tikiri Marambe, Group Captain Tikiri Marambe played Trinity rugger for four years, winning the Lion in 1971. He was scrum-half in Ajith's captaincy of school and club.

He represented Air Force and the Country until he captained the national team and ended up as Chairman of the Selectors which functioned for four years and now he has been brought back to serve under Ajith at a time the country's rugger is at a crisis.

Daya Jayasundera was the second from Dharmaraja to play rugger for the country when he wore the National jersey in 1971 against the Bosuns. He was the country's number 1 choice for the flanker's berth in 1971, '72, '73, '76 and '77.

Dharmaraja in Daya's period of studentship did not have rugger in its extra curriculum and so, Daya was vice-captain of the cricket team and shared the new ball with T.B.Kehelgamuwa. He boxed for Sri Lanka schools in the 110 lb division and in athletics he won the 400 meters and javelin in the Central Province meets. He played hockey for the school and the Police as center-forward.

Marco de Silva schooled at St Mary's, Dehiwela and played non-stop A Division rugby for Havelocks from 1976 to '89, captaining in 1982. He played in as many as seven knock-out finals. He played for the country in the 7th Asiad in 1980 and was in the national side in '86 and played in the 9th Asiad in Fukoka and in the 10th in Bangkok. In the 1985 Far East tour he was adjudged the Man of the Tour.

Marco has been national champion in wrestling, judo and number 2 in masters badminton. He coached Mahanama to beat Royal in 1991.

Viraj Prasantha played Isipatana rugby for two years and played for Havelocks in the year his brother Pradeep Lakshan captained the club. Then he joined CR&FC and was the hooker for thirteen years from 1992, captaining the club in 1996.

He has played for Sri Lanka in three Asiads. He has captained the country's rugger team in 1998 and the team which went on a tour of the Northern Territory in Darwin.

He was this year's coach of S. Thomas' but resigned from the position as a conflict of interests arose when he was made a Selector.

With a five-member team of such eminent Selectors, the country's rugger will be on a firm footing.