Trinity rugby on the up and up

Hafiz Marikar

Trinity College Kandy is the flagship school of Sri Lanka Rugby. In 1906 the school took to what was largely an unknown sport. It was a challenge from an Old Trinitian E. L. Blaze, then the Founder/principal of another top school across town Boys High School now known as (Kingswood College).

Trinity Captained by H. S. Perera played their hearts out against a much more experienced opposition, who took to the game in 1891. The team coached by A. C. Houlder was mentioned at assembly as the courageous rugby team by principal A. L. Fraser and with the sound of applause the "Trinity Rugby" Legend began.

The game of rugby in Trinity grew like wild fire through dense bush. Every free time was spent playing rugby, balls had to be confiscated to get students back into the classrooms. In 1915 two students, A. Halangoda and R. Ondaatje were awarded the first "Lion" and called "Lions men".

It is the highest honor a student gets at Trinity College and has become one of the most prestigious awards to schoolboy sportsmen. The only problem the school had was finding decent opposition, resorting to playing a few clubs and beating them even touring teams. It took till the early 1940's for the first real challenge to come for Trinity's rule of the beautiful game in Sri Lanka.

After two decades of trying finally success!!! 12th July 1941 Trinity was beaten by Royal College and later in Kandy 1943 with this one of the oldest most prestigious schools announced their arrival into the Sri Lanka rugby Landscape.

The retiring principal E. L. Bradby of (Royal) donated a Shield and this started "the Bradby shield" The finest products from both tribes year in and year after year battled for this ultimate prize. The stories culminating from it passed through generations. Most of whom that has experienced the thrills and spills to date regard it as some of the best memories in life.

Challenged but never defeated, Trinity for a large part carried their mantle as the super power in Sri Lanka schools Rugby. There were the glorious 1950's, when they were unbeaten for the large part of the decade not to mention the amazing 60s, then the 70's, and 80's.

The Principal Brig. Udaya Ariyaratne of Trinity College Kandy is the most happiest head of any institute to have raised the oldest rugby playing school in the country to what it has achieved since he took over the school a few years ago. He had this to say " My students are playing very good rugby as a team I am very happy over the performance and the school provides everything needed for the team from professional coaching, facilities, exposure, support from me and my staff, students and in particular the parents.

Currently the team is enjoying the season as Table Leaders and we hope to maintain this trend. He further says, getting to the top is difficult and remaining at the top is more difficult. But Trinitians usually keep to their motto " Respica Finem" This year we have played five games out of which we have won four and drawn one, beat Kingswood, Science College, St. Peters and Wesley and on Saturday will be playing home town rivals St. Anthony's and drew our first game against Dharmaraja College, Kandy the most improved team in this year's tournament.

Led by that talented and likeable ruggerite Haliq Wadood, last year after winning the league we had to give up, due to a decision by the Schools Association directive over an error made by another school in Kandy.

Brig. Ariyaratne says, his team plays to a positive plan, guided by the coaches and supporting staff that brought them to the top of the table. The people behind the success of the team, of course are the players who have sacrificed immensely with dedication and commitment.

The excellent team of administrators led by their Master in charge Prabath Senanayake Prefect of Games R.G.M.L. Somasinghe Team Manager. The men who are in charge of the rugby for the last three seasons, is that New Zealander Neil Foote who is the rugby consultant and coach N. Ibrahim , Sean Wijasinghe is the Trainer and also not forgetting the contribution and the good work done by the TCK OBA - Scrum mage.

The Principal is confident that the team will do well in the rest of the matches. 'My boys are playing well at the moment and it is not fair to name any one as it is a team game. Every match we go in with a very positive game plan, where each one is given a task. He added that I believe in only one thing to achieve success in any field. There is no alternative to discipline, dedication and determination,

He said now we are planning for the Bradby first leg which will be played in Kandy at Pallekele Stadium on 1st June 2013, and the 1975 captain Rohan Sourjah will grace the occasion as the chief guest. His father Dr. Robert Sourjah was the first Trinity Bradby Shield captain. The Bradby tally is Trinity 37, Royal 30 and 01 tie.

What made Trinity to do well this season is that their players are dedicated, disciplined and have the backing from the Principal and that has what really made the Trintians a formidable force in schools rugby this season.

Trinitians, who have been making a great impact in school rugby in the last three years, are all out to create another sensation this season.

After the first game, Trinitians now look a completely different outfit. Now they have got together and the Principal too given the players a good pep talk, now they have transformed themselves into a fighting outfit, who are fast on the field for the entire duration of the game.

In the three games they won they have proved a set of superior forwards in their back division play., in the last two games they were hounding the loose ball like tigers. Their tackling too has improved.

A big hand should go to ruggerites such as skipper Halique Wadood, Tharinda Ratwatte who is tipped to be the next year's leader, L.Gunasekara, Kishin Sivasubramanium, Isuru Rangala, Aaquif Sarooj, Anurudha Karunatilleke , Naresh Perera, Lochana Girihagama, Dureka Aluvihare to name a few.