CR have an abundance of talent

Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE

The Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club has been in the forefront of club rugby during the last 13 years. During that period the lads from Longden Place won the 'A' division league title twice - in 1996 and 1998 and the Premier Champions Trophy in 2002 when it was on offer for the first time.

They also bagged the Clifford Cup, club rugby's richest prize in 2006 with a smashing 37-5 win over Havelocks in the final and the President's Trophy by overcoming CH and FC by 22-11 in the final in 2007 when the tournament was revived after eight years.

But the biggest disappointment of the Red Shirts has been their inability to win the 'A' division league rugby title during the last 10 years ending as runners-up to Kandy SC for the last five years.

However this year the Red Shirts are confident of ending the 10 year wait having obtained the services of a coach with a proven track record - New Zealander John Carrington.

He showed his capabilities when he was asked to coach the national team packed with CR players for the Asian Division One tournament in Dubai in which the Lankans went down fighting to the formidable Chinese Taipei (24-36) and beat Thailand by the staggering margin of 51 points to 17.

This year too CR and FC will field a star studded outfit which is packed with national players. Former Thomian skipper and Sri Lanka ruggerite Ashen Karthelis has been entrusted with the task of leading the Red Shirts.

The lanky Karthelis will play as a lock forward and will bind down in the second row with last year's Peterite and Sri Lanka Youth player Ishan Noor who faces a strong challenge from Kingswoodian Faizer Marija.

Former national player Danushka Boteju is assured of one prop forward's berth with strongly built Henry Terrance and ex-Peterite Arjuna Bopitiya fighting it out for the other position. Sri Lanka player Anuja Perera will once again fill the hooker's berth. Kingswoodian Mohamed Rizwan is the stand-by for this position. CR and FC could boast of one of the best third rows in the club rugby scene. Former Sri Lanka skipper Dushanth Lewke, a tireless player in the loose and a fine cover defender will once again occupy the vital number eight position. Former Royalist Diren Warnakulasuriya is the other player who could fit into this berth.

Sri Lanka skipper Pavithra Fernando who has been a source of inspiration to his team-mates with his fiery loose play will be one of the flankers with two fierce tacklers - Sri Lanka players Kasun de Silva and Danushka Perera batting it out for the other berth.

Sri Lanka scrum half Amjad Buksh who has recovered from an injury suffered at the Club Rugby Sevens should once again operate from the base of the scrum but faces a strong challenge from ex-national player Zulki Hamid and Sri Lanka Youth player Srinath Sooriyabandara.

Ashan de Costa who has been a regular member of the Sri Lanka team for the last two years will occupy the pivotal fly half position with ex-Kingswoodian Dev Anand making a determined bid to oust him.

That hard runner and solid tackler Lasintha de Costa is assured of one centre berth while former Kandy SC and Sri Lanka centre Chamara Vithanage and national players Niroshan Karunanayake and Dinusha Chathuranga will fight it out for the other position.

Two powerful runners the experienced Dinesh Kumara and ex-Kandy SC winger Mohamed Jabbar will be manning the wings with ex-Sri Lanka Youth player Nishan de Silva and 'evergreen' Ravindra Wekadapola too staking a claim for a place. Reza Mubarak who stood out with his safe collections, booming kicks to touch and excellent place kicking will once again occupy the last line of defence.

He was Sri Lanka's match winner against Thailand in the Asian Division One tournament in which he contributed 17 points.