CR field a young side

Thushan Jayasuriya

The CR and FC Rugby Squad

Prop Forwards : Nipuna Devinda, Hafiz Adahan and Shihan Dimithri
Hookers : Prasad Madushanka, Gemunu Indrachapa.
Lock Forwards : Ranjula Perera, Hasthike Bandaranayake and Chilanka Samaraweera
Flankers : Shehan Pathirana,Sajid Shuayb and Palatsala Moelele
Number Eight : Ishan Noor ( Vice Captain)
Scrum Half : Piyum Jayasinghe, Radheesha Seneviratne.
Fly Half : Luke Muggerridge
Centres : Mushin Faleel, Priyantha Ekanayake and Sabir Slaimankhel
Wingers : Lasintha de Costa (Vice Captain), Heshan Gunaratne, Duminda Nayakaratne
Full Back : Ashan de Costa

The CR and FC, which was in the forefront of the club rugby during the last 15 years will field a fresher laden side this year. The club has been compelled to field a young side due to an exodus of their senior players to other clubs. Five of their players have joined Havelock Sports Club while another five players have crossed over to the newly formed Up Country Lions Sports Club.Last year’s skipper Dushanth Lewke has joined Kandy Sports Club while Full back Reza Mubarak has thrown in his lot with the Navy Sports Club.

However ,With the post of yesteryear's school boys having joined the Longden Place Club .The authorities are confident of building up the side.CR and FC emerged ‘A’ division league champions in 1996 and 1998 and also clinched Club Rugby's richest prize the Clifford Cup in 2006 with a 37 – 5 win over arch rivals Havelocks in the final.They also had the honour of bagging the premier champions trophy in 2002 by overcoming Police 26 – 17 in the final.

The Red Shirts also won the rugby double in 1998 by bagging the President's trophy by beating Kandy SC 30 - 26 in the final.

In 2010, under the captaincy of Dushanth Lewke, they enjoyed one of the best seasons and failed to win the 'A' division league title by a whisker finishing with 35 -00 points to champions Kandy SC's 35 - 50 points and also clinched the Rugby Sevens title by edging out Air Force by 21 - 17 in the finals. Last year, due to injuries to key players and lack of a place kicker , the lads from Longden Place finished in fourth position in the 'A' division league registering impressive victories over CH and FC (14 - 8 ), Army SC ( 24 - 12 ), Havelocks ( 15- 10) and Air Force (27 - 21) and holding the formidable Navy to an 18 all draw while losing to Police ( 10 - 11) and Kandy (15-22) in the first round but failed to live upto expectations in the second round losing to Havelocks ( 24 - 25 ), Navy ( 13 - 33 ) and Kandy SC ( 8 - 36 ).

CR and FC also had the honour of emerging runners-up of the ‘A’ division league for record seven years from 2004 to 2010. having done so earlier in 1997, 1999, 2000 and 2002.

Lasintha de Costa (Captain)	Ashan de Costa
Ishan Noor	Hafiz Adahan

The honor of leading the Longden Place Club has fallen on the shoulders of Sri Lanka Ruggerite Lasintha de Costa.

He is a utility player who could play either as Centre, Winger and Fullback who has been representing Sri Lanka team since 2007.

Two Sri Lanka youth players Nipuna Devinda (Isipatana) and Hafiz Adahan (Thurstan) will fight it out for the Prop Forwards berth along with Shihan Dimithri. Former Policeman Gemunu Indrachapa is likely to occupy the hookers position with former Isipatanian Prasad Madusanka making a determined bid to oust him.Former Wesleyite Ranjula Perera , former Royalists Hasthike Bandaranayake and Chilanka Samaraweera will battle it out for the Lock forwards berth.

The experienced national player and Vice Captain Ishan Noor will be the regular Number Eight.

Former Royal skipper Shehan Pathirana , Isipatana and Sri Lanka youth player Sajid Shuayb and New Zealander Palatsala Molele will be the trio who are battling for the Flanker berths.

Former Josephian Piyum Jayasinghe and ex-Airmen Radheesha Seneviratne are the duo who are fighting for the Scrum Half position and pair off with New Zealander Luke Muggeridge. Sri Lanka Ruggerite Mushin Faleel , ex-Policeman Priyantha Ekanayake and New Zealander Sabir Slaimankhel will by vying for the Centre positions .

Skipper Lasintha de Costa will man one wing while former Thomian Heshan Gunaratne and Trinitian Duminda Nayakaratne will fill the other position.

The last line of defence will be manned by Sri Lanka ruggerite Ashan de Costa who has been representing the Red Shirts since 2006 and has been turning out for Sri Lanka from 2007.

The Red shirts are being coached by former CR and FC and Former Sri Lanka skipper C.P.Abeygunawardena assisted by another former CR and Sri Lanka captain Viraj Prasantha.

They are getting the alll the encouragement and support from Club President Rienzie Fernando, Secretary Hamza Hassanally and Chairman of the Rugby board Sean Dwight.