Saman Kotalawela - Rugby star of yesteryear

S M Jiffrey Abdeen- Kandy Sports Corr

Saman Kotalawela is one of the best centre three quarters this country has seen in recent years and is the first to don the Sri Lankan jersey from Lumbini College, Colombo.

A very soft spoken and amiable personality and it is surprising that he had taken to the contact game of rugby which is noted for frayed tempers coupled with illegal tackles and at times punches being thrown which adds to the unwarranted play.

Speaking to this writer Saman Kotalawela who hung up his rugby boots over decade ago said that pre season fitness is a must for both schoolboy and club ruggerites as they should shed that extra weight which they would have added soon after the season had ended.

They should also indulge in weight training to build up power and ensure that the body is in good shape and is not injury prone. This would ensure a successful season as fitness and endurance play an important role.

Having the skills is no use unless you could last the entire game. These are important factors the ruggerites should take serious note of he said.

He said that it is nothing wrong if you look for players and you must catch them very young, may be even before they had taken to the oval shaped ball game. They should be encouraged to play for schools at a higher level where they will get better exposure and necessary training and guidance as otherwise they will fall by the wayside.

It will be Sri Lanka's rugby which will be the loser in the end. For example he said what harm in bringing a talented boy from the distant Embilipitiya and playing for a school in Colombo or Kandy. His natural talents will be identified and the skills honed and he could make the grade the grade. Otherwise he would have a few lower division matches and even forgotten the game of rugby. These are hard realities we must face and not look at the wrong side of the coin.

He played for Lumbini College, Colombo from 1976 to 1980 as a centre three quarter and also as a scrum half but never got the chance to lead his school at rugby.

His first break in club rugby was with Sri Lanka Navy in 1982 and was in the national team which played in the Hongkong Sevens. The year 1983 was an uneventful year for him.

In 1984, the Navy skipper the inter club rugby season as terrorism was rearing its head again and he moved over to Havelocks Sports Club and that year saw the emergence of a rugby star who was to light up the rugby field for the next decade.

In 1994, he helped Havelocks Sports Club to win the Clifford Cup knock out tournament and in 1985 they were local Sevens runners up. In 1984 he was in the national team which played against Japan, Thailand, and Singapore in the ASIAD rugby tournament. He was also a member of the national team which toured Far East.

In 1986, he joined the Police force and helped them to win the League and the knock out titles and were runners up in the President's trophy tournament, under Hetti Premasiri.

In 1987, Police under Muruga Jayaratne annexed the rugby's double by winning the league and the knock out tournament and were runners up in the other tournaments.

Kotalawela played a key role with his sizzling runs and hard tackling. The same year he played in the Hongkong and Sydney Sevens and also toured Wales under Hisham Abdeen.

In 1988, the Police team won the league title and were runners up in other tournaments under Ajantha Samarakoon. He also played in the Rugby ASIAD and the Dubai Sevens.

The year 1989 despite the insurrection the Police ruggerites under prop forward Hafeel Marson displyaed excellent morale to become triple champions and as usual Saman Kotalawela played a key role both in attack and defence. He also played in the Hong Kong Sevens, the Sicily Sevens and also toured the Far East.

In 1990, the Police team withdrew from the Club championship and he once again turned out for Havelocks and helped them to become runners up in the knock out tournament.

Police were back in big time rugby in 1991 under Hemantha Yatawara won both the knock out and the league title with Kotalawela once again donning the Police jersey.

The year 1992 was the year of reckoning for Saman Kotalawela as he was at rugby's cross roads.

He left Police mid way during the season and played for the Dubai Exiles as a professional and after a short stint in Dubai, he returned to Sri Lanka and joined Kandy Sports Club which won the Clifford Cup knock out tournament - its maiden trophy in the 120 year old history of the club.

He now turned out for Kandy Sports Club perhaps his last club and helped them to win the Clifford Cup under Priyantha Ekanayake.

In 1994 Kandy won the league title for the first time under Indrajith Bandaranayake. All throughout he had been a automatic choice to the national team in both versions of the game.

Perhaps the high point of his career was when he was appointed captain of the Kandy Sports Club in 1995 and they won the triple championship for the first time. In 1996 Kandy Sports Club won the League and the President's trophy.

By now he was in the evening of his career and he wanted to give the youngesters a chance and he wanted to leave the field before being asked to go and he quite rightly skipped the 1997 League season played only in the Sevens tournament for Kandy SC 'B'.

In 1998 he quit the rugby scene and he had no regrets as he had given out his best for the team he represented to win trophies.

One of his most memorable moments in his chequered rugby career was at the Bowl final of the Hongkong Sevens when he played as hooker when Sri Lanka put up a gallant show before losing 7-8 during extra time.