The road to 2023/24 inter club rugby league season starts, with one and only outstation team in the game Kandy Sports Club is planning to dominate rugby at the upcoming league tournament. According to news the Kandy SC’s 2023-24 league first game is with CH and FC at Nittawela on December 3 and the first round last game is with CR & FC on January 21, 2024, due to the efforts of the players they are sure to finish the season on a high-level and are out to enjoy another successful season.
There are nearly forty players attending practices at the Nittawela ground. Kandy SC will be led by Kingswoodian Lavanga Perera and Kingswoodian Fazil Marija as head coach is overlooking their practices. Budhika Thalagampola is their assistant coach. In the history of Kandy SC that spans 149 years they have maintained an impressive record in rugby.
Their success has come to light during the recent years and they have won more matches than any other club in the league since 1994 and the knock-outs since 1992.
Chairman of their rugby committee old Antonian Lasantha Wijesuriya with years of experience and his committee are responsible to elevat the standards of the team to the top level. It is with Lasantha Wijasuriya’s backing that the club has developed a strong overall rugby ethos which is an element that contributes to the success of the club. Being the defending league rugby champions Kandy Sports Club is determined to finish the coming season on a high. Experienced guy in management of the team Kapila Silva a product of Isipathana College will continue as the team manager.
This club was founded in 1874 by a group expatriate coffee planters and others working in the plantations sector in and around Kandy, are getting ready for the coming inter club competition, the players are sure to do well and make Kandy city proud. Kandy SC started as an Athletic, Boating, Cricket, Football and Dancing Club. In 1888, 14 years later, the name was changed to Kandy Sports Club when the club also started playing rugby, hockey and polo.
The home ground was Bogambara grounds until 1939 when the British Colonial Army took over during the Second World War. Later the buildings were taken over by the General Hospital to house its offices; however Kandy SC continued to play rugby at the Bogambara grounds without a club house. In 1949 the Municipal Council released the garbage dumping ground area at Nittawela to the club. The club has been the most successful club in the Sri Lanka, winning the league and knockout titles in highest number of times since early 1990’s.
In the coming season there first round games are; 3rd December vs CH and FC at Nittawela, 8th vs Army at Panagoada, 17th vs Police at Niitawela, 24th vs Air Force at Ratmalana, 7th January vs Havelock SC at Nittawela, 13 vs Navy at Welisara, 21st vs CR and FC at NItawela. So, the champion Kandy Sports Club determined to finish season on a high-level and are out to enjoy another successful season. Kandy’s rugby loves who go for matches in numbers are awating to give their support from the side lines.
The players at practices are Props – Tight head Charles Praveen, Milan Wijesinghe, Monishan Chandradasa, Loose Head – Lasitha Aththanagoda, Malitha Rasmika, Kavinsha Bandara, Akeel Mohamed, Hookers – Udith Jayasuriya, Dilhan Mohamed, Second, first Centers Tharinda Ratwatte, Oshan Perera, Second Centers – Lawanga Perera, Danushka Ranjan, Wing-Three-Quarters – Kavindu Perera, Danushka Dange, Dinal Ekanayake, Full Backs – Nigel Ratwatte, S. Aruna, There are Rows – Thjilina Bandara, Chathura Soysa, Shemal Weerasinghe , Heshan Kalhara, Third Rows Tharindu Chathuranga, Sanushka Abeyawickrema, Wajid Fawmy, Wewala Panditha, Dehan Mithila, Scrum Hlaf – Srinath Sooriyabandara, Heshan Jenson, Suranga Kaksun, Fly Halfs – Asiri Senavirthna, T.P.L.S. Ranaweerafew school boys at practices, like Anusha, Dias, Sahan, Inoon, Gindari, Kumara, Sindy. All these players are sure to give their best, it is the players who keep the game going.
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