Inter Club rugby to kick off end November

 Havies banking on young blood this season

Dr. Kelum Sujith

• 12 former national players-packed Sri Lions awaiting its debut as CR and FC aims to defend its supremacy

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Inter Club rugby season 2024/2025 is scheduled to kick off at the end of November with 9 teams to lock horns with Sri Lions awaiting its debut which was cleared by Director General of Sports and now being forwarded to National Sports Council Chairman.

While Sri Lions was approved by Director General Sports Dr. Shemal Fernando a few clubs in Colombo showed their disapproval at a recently held meeting at the Ministry of Sports.

Recently DG Sports Dr. Shemal Fernando approved the Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) proposal signed by Rtd. Group Captain Nalin de Silva who was the Point of Contact at SLR. But later on with the objection coming up from some clubs DG passed the final decision to be made by National Sports Council, the political appointment with only the President being named and the rest of the committee yet to be appointed or approved by the Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya who is also the Sports Minister.

The Dubai based Founder and Chairperson Dr. Kelum Sujith Perera, speaking to Daily FT said Sri Lions is a club that has aspirations to take Sri Lankan sports to another level with their priority on professionalism and transparency. An example of this is the fact that they require for all of their players to have the World Rugby Level 1 Qualification.

Sri Lions’ boasts 12 former national players, moreover, adding onto our squad are some of the top new talents in Sri Lanka from the recently concluded school rugby league, further emphasising our commitment to development. It is our dream to introduce some new Sri Lankan players who have the potential to carry the Sri Lankan flag up high, similar to how we do in the Dubai Sevens International Open Men’s.

«The Sri Lions Ladies’ and Youth Academy have been very successful so far and we have our sights to develop a branch of Sri Lions in every Sri Lankan district, to give more opportunity to unseen talent. We have a long road ahead of us and we appreciate the people who helped us get here and the people who will help us get further and develop the outlook of Sri Lankan sports in general,» Perera said,

Majority of clubs announce their captains

 Defending champions, CR and FC are privileged to have flood lights at Longdon Place for the very first time this season which is an added comfort with only Havies and CH and FC are the other 2 clubs having the same facilities at present. Schools in and around Colombo will be able to host their school games as well for the first time at Longdon Place. Ceylonese Rugby Football Club opened the gate free for the entire season for their spectators last season.

Defending league champions and semi-finalist at the Clifford Cup knock out rugby, CR and FC will be led by former Joes player Gemunu Chetiya with plenty of youths in their squad who are hard at training for the last 2 months. They will be once again coached by former Royalist, Kandy SC, CR and FC and national player plus present Royal Head Coach Dushantha Lewke he will be assisted by Lasintha de Costa with former Isipathana and national player, Rohan Chinthaka managing the outfit for more than a decade now with his superior leadership qualities.

Kandy Sports Club will be hungry to bring back the League to the Central Hills which they lost out last season to the Red Shirts. Kandy SC who opted out at the Clifford Cup last season will be led by former Isipathana and national sevens specialist Srinath Sooriyabandara. The outfit will be once again coached by former Kandy SC, national sevens and fifteens player and present Trinity Head Coach, Fazil Marija with Henry Terrance looking after the forwards with Kapila Silva managing the outfit. 

Third placed in the League last season plus the runner up at the Clifford Cup knock out Havies banking with young blood this season are led by former Peterite player, Abdullah Faiz with former Vidyartha, Trinity, Kandy SC, national player plus the Head Coach of Antonians, Saliya Kumara looking for the league this year with eagled eyes. He will be supported by Danushka Botheju.

There is a saying that you cannot keep Sanath Martis silent for too long, probably the best and most experienced coach in the country will be the Head at the coaching unit of CH and FC. They ended the league 4th while semi-finalist at the Clifford Cup last season which is below par performance for Martis who will be looking for a better ending this season. Janidu Dilshan will lead the outfit with Lakala Perera and Rohitha Rajapakse assisting Martis. The only Lady Manageress in top division rugby, Udani Edirisinghe will manage the outfit once more. 

Defending Clifford Cup Champions and Plate winners in the League, Police Sports Club will be led by Mohan Wimalaratne with former Kingswood and top class Junior Coach and current Sevens Coach Nilfer Ibrahim coaching the outfit. 

Rumesh Wasantha will lead Air Force Sports Club who were placed 6th place in the league and quarter finalist at the Clifford Cup. They will be privileged to have the DS Head Coach Asela Deshapriya once more to Head the Coaching unit.

Army Sports Club who were 7th placed in the league and quarter finalist in the Clifford Cup will be looking for an improved season as Head Coach Shamli Nawas head the coaching with Dilan Soysa assisting him. 

Last placed Sailors in the league and quarter final ending last season will never satisfy the lot at Welisara as they too look forward to an improved season under Prageeth Malewana. The outfit would be led by Stephan Greogory.

Sri Lions Sports Club, new kids on the block in top division will be led by former Peterite and national player, Kevin Dixon with Rajiv Perera heading the coaching with Amila Chathuranga assisting him. Ananda College rugby ground at Rajagiriya will be their home ground for 2024/2025 season.

SLR propose Tournament committee to DG

Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) nominated new office bearers for Tournament organising, sponsorship, disciplinary, technical and tournament operations which was forwarded to DG but is yet to be approved. Shamrath Fernando is tipped to be the Tournament Director once more.