Kandy out to retain league title

By Shamseer Jaleel

Eight leading rugby clubs will lock horns during the 2015/2016 inter-club rugby season, which will kick-off on 20 November, with two games being played on the opening day. 

This year there will be no Hambantota Sharks and Up Country Lions. There will also be no overseas players in action. Kandy, CR&FC, Havelocks, CR&FC, Navy, Police, Army and Air Force will be battling it out this season.

Kandy, the reigning rugby champions and the most successful club in Sri Lanka with a record of 18 league titles dating back to 1992, will kick off their new season with a game against CH&FC on 22 November in Nittawela.

Kandy will be led by Fazil Marija, who is rated as the best fly half in the country, and will hope to continue their winning streak. They will have some outstanding players in their camp such as brothers Roshan and Gayan Weeraratne, Shehan Pathirana, Srinarth Sooriyabandara, Lavanga Perera, Nigel Ratwatte, Anurudha Wilwara and Richard Dharmapala. 

They will be coached by former Trinitian and Sri Lanka skipper Sean Wijesinghe, who is also a fine motivator of the team. Saliya Kumara, a highly acclaimed utility player, is also lending a helping hand in the coaching department as an expert in the back division. 

CR&FC will be led by former Peterite Ishan Noor and coached by former Sri Lanka Sevens and Fifteens player Imthisam Marrikar. The Longdon Place club will be all out to win the league after a lapse of 17 years, with them last winning in 1998. Within their ranks this time around are the Costa brothers, former Trinity Lions Shashan Mohamed and Tharinda Ratwatte. Also joining the Longdon place club is Supun Warunakulasuriya of Royal.

Police will be one of the strongest outfits with some top players from Navy joining them. They will have Sharo Fernando, Achala Perera, Bilal Hassen, Chamara Dabare, Tresence Henry and Reza Mubrak. They will be looked after by former Sri Lanka skipper and prop forward Hafeez Marso.

Havies will be led by Sandun Herath with some outstanding players in their ranks at the Park Club. Shenal Dias, Dulaj Perera, Hirantha Perera, Dhanushka Ranjan, Anura Walpola, Sudharshan Muthuthanthri and Mithun Hapugoda will try their level best to bring the league back to the Park Club. They will be coached by former CR&FC, Kandy and Havies player Samoan Laga.

CH&FC, Army, Navy and Air Force will also field some talented young bloods in their starting line-up.

Saratha Madugalle, Irshard Cader, Aruna Rankothge, Priyantha Gunaratne, Dinka Peiris and Rohan Fernando will referee the first round matches.