Reshan Bandaranayake wins Rugby ‘Lion’

Trinity College Rugby skipper Reshan Bandaranayake was awarded with the ‘Lion’ for Rugby Football yesterday at the College Assembly.

Reshan, who led the outfit this year, became the first player in Trinity history to lead the side without Colours but went on to win both Colours and Lion in the same year. He proved his leadership qualities and sportsmanship on and off the field. 

A major comeback in the Colombo leg of the Bradby Shield helped him to earn Colours earlier in his second term at school. Then the postponed Schools Sevens win under his able leadership took him towards the highest award at Trinity by winning the ‘Lion’.

In a unique feat, his great grandfather won ‘Lion’ in Cricket 100 hundred years ago in 1919. His Grandfather, too, is a ‘Lion’ winner in Cricket and Colours in Rugby Football. His father, Rajiv Bandaranayake, was a crack centre under the best year in Trinity rugby history during 1987 where he, too, won a ‘Lion’. 

His brother Rashen won rugby Colours in 2017. His other younger brother, Rushen, was part of the Under-14 All-Island champions at the Schools Ten-a-Side event last month. (SJ)