Sri Rahula ruggerites excel at Central Province Rugby Sevens
Sri Rahula College Katugastota gave a good display of rugby to win the Shield at the Central Province schools seven a side rugby tournament which was held at the Trinity College grounds at Pallekelle on Monday. In this tournament eight schools took part which was organized well by the Schools Rugby Controlling Body. It was nice to see the Sri Rahula College ruggerites giving a good show to win the Shield. After all of the waiting for schools rugby to resumei n Kandy, the tournament offered some good games and quality rugby and. Sri Rahula College produced a superb display of rugby to beat St. Sylvester’s College in the Shield final.
In the pool games, in the first outing lost to Trinity College and in the second game to St. Anthony’s College and also to Dharmaraja College. In the Shield final Sri Rahula beat St. Sylvester’s College by 26 points to 5.. A superb display and three tries from Pasindu Liyanage helped Sri Rahula College to win this final. The Shied champion team which did well according to coach R.B. Roshan Rathnayake the players in the team were Kaslinda Ekanayake (Captain), S.Heshanal Madubashana, Aklanka Sihtara, . Kasun Premakumra, .Lakshan Sithijaya, . Chanuka Scahith, . Kalana Wishwajith, Sadun Marshina, . Pasidu Thiwanka,. Udara Mhiwanka, . Udara Sampath, . Chandom Randika, . Shan Asela,. Akila Ishara, Head coach R.B. Roshan Ratnayake, assistant coach . Manoj Wijetunge and Trianeer Niroshan Wijetunge gave their best for the players to play well and also the principal S.M.C. Weerakoon;was there to help with all the backing.
Sri Rahula College is a school with a history of over 130 years and is one of Kandy’s oldest sports promoting schools. This is a National school located in Katugastota, founded byBuddhist Theosophical Society headed by American Colonel Henry Steel Olcott in1890 They took up rugby in 1970’s, from the day started the game have done well and were able to produce top players. One of their finest players is wing three-quarter Nihal Ananda who did well due to the backing he got from the school. He became the first to play for Kandy Sports Club, Up-Country and Sri Lanka. He did his best for Kandy Sports Club and was famous during his days, as a top try scorer.. After a good display with the oval shaped ball later became a top coach. Then Gamini Abeyakoon another top player was an excellent line out jumper who played for Kandy Sports Club and Up-Country, while Centre Mohmed Rizvi played for Army and Sri Lanka
Sri Rahula College in 2018 emerged Cup champions in the Under-16 Division II inter-school Milo Rugby Tournament which was held in Kurunegala. Sri Rahula MV defeated Sri Sumangala College, Panadura in a closely contested final by 17 points to seven. Earlier the champion side overcame Durugemunu MV and Sarasavi Uyana in the quarter final and semi-final. During coaching of Kalu Perera, Nihal Ananda, Roshan Ratnayakeand Nalin Wijesinghe they produced some top players. They have been making a great impact in the schools rugby scene in the recent past.
This school was one time famous for mini rugby and gave a good run to the senior schools and proved students are fitter and stronger. It was due to the training by coaches. This school helped to develop a child’s social skills through getting involved in team-based activities.