Nigel Ratwatte to lead Kandy SC

By Shamseer Jaleel

Former Trinity, CR & FC, Up Country SC and Kandy SC player Nigel Ratwatte will be leading the defending league champions Kandy Sports Club during 2020/2021 rugby season. Nigel who led the

Nigel Ratwatte

outfit during last season took them to the championship in the league before the Clifford Cup knockout was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Playing at full back his usual pet position the omnipresent, Nigel also could easily fit in as the fly-half or event at Centre. Nigel started his rugby career at Trinity College Under-13 outfit where he took the team to All-Island champions. Later his parents moved to Mauritius. He played for St. Nicholas Grammar School and later selected to represent the national Under-18 outfit tour to Madagascar. Later he completed his education in South Africa.

In 2009 he started his club rugby career at CR & FC and move to the newly formed Up Country Lions three years later. A year later he shifted to where he learnt his basics in the Central Hills of Kandy. He made his sevens debut in 2012 and 2 years later he made a double when he was selected to represent the national XV a side outfit against Portugal outfit in a tournament in Colombo.

30-year-old Nigel will have an uphill task to retain the league title which they started to win in 1994 while the Clifford Cup with the first win dated back in 1992 with the club revamp. Club will have their usual big named players with only Thilina Wijesinghe shifting to CH & FC while former Royal and Havies player Shawket Lahir heading towards the Central Hills. 

Once again legend, Fazil Marija will be their Head Coach of the outfit with the forwards coach yet to be named after Viraj Prasanna ending his coaching stint with the Kandy SC.