Scrum half Ashan Ratwatte a proud product of Trinity
There is a three generations legacy where the Ratwatte family’s rugby is associated with Trinity College Kandy. The father Dennis Ratwatte played from 1947 to 1951. Sons Roshan, Ashan and Dilakshan played from 1980 to 1984. Ashan captained in 1983 and won his ‘Lion’ in 1982. Grandson Tarinda played from 2011 to 2014 and captained in 2014 and also won his ‘Lion’. Scrum half Ashan’s first exposure was captaining Trinity at the first ever under thirteen rugby tournament held at Nittewela in 1976. He led Trinity to become unbeaten champions. The Highlight of the tournament was to beat a combined team from Colombo and be selected as the most outstanding player of the tournament
He captained the under fifteen side in 1978 which was coached by Alex Lazarus. This feat helped Trinity to complete an unbeaten season. He went on to captain the under seventeen side in 1980; this side was coached by Clarence Senanayake and Sunil Madugalle. He was selected for the First XV whilst playing for the under 17 side and his first match was the Bradby in 1980 under the captaincy of Tikiri Ellapola. The side was coached by Irwin Howie.
His first full season for the school with the First XV was in 1981 under the captaincy of Ravi Bandaranayake. Trinity became league champs winning the Bradby Shield after three years. This team was coached by Berty Dias. It was a star-studded side and displayed a great brand of rugby that was fast and elusive. He won colours that year with the school producing six ‘Lions’ in the likes of Ravi Bandaranayake, Ravi Ponambalam, Byron Fernando, Lalith Pilapitiya, Pradeep Adhihetty and his brother Roshan Ratwatte.
The side in 1982 was captained by Byron Fernando. The school had another very successful season losing only one match to Isipathana, but went on to retain the Bradby Shield for the second consecutive year (9-6 and 6-4). That year games were dominated by their forwards. Trinity powered their way over most schools that year. Burly number 8 Byron Fernando- known as Lord Byron stood out. It was a great season for Ashan who scored many elusive tries to become the second highest point scorer in the team behind Byron. He went on to win his ‘Lion’ in 1982 together with Dilip Adhihetty and Shabbir Hasanaly.
He played for Kandy Sports Club the same year whilst still in school. His appearance for the club was in the knockout tournament. He played alongside schoolboys Byron Fernando, the late Thusitha Seneviratne and Royal captain Hiran Muttiah who helped Kandy Sports Club to reach the semi finals that year. He also represented up country clubs vs Colombo clubs in 1982.
In 1983 Ashan captained Trinity to win the league and the Bradby Shield (14-6 and 6 -10) for the third year. He had the privilege of captaining Trinity at the 100th Bradby match where former Royal Principal EL Bradby himself graced the occasion as chief guest and gave away the shield. The experience gained by playing for a club whilst in school was seen when he led Trinity to dominate schools rugby that year; Trinity having a balanced team of powerful forwards and speedy three quaters. The school’s line provided some super rugby that year. He ended his school career helping his alma mater win the league for the second year and the Bradby Shield for the third year in succession. Represented up country clubs vs Colombo clubs.
Ashan always had the support of his brothers and started his career with elder brother and ‘Lion’ Roshan, who starting as prop and then later switched to be a flank forward in his second year whilst younger brother Dilakshan joined him in 1983 and went onto vice captain Trinity in 1984. He had a fine nine year career with Kandy Sports Club from 1982 to 1990. He captained Kandy SC in 1986 and 1987 and represented Sri Lanka from 1986 to 1988.
He also played for upcountry combined clubs between 1982 till 1989 and also against many foreign teams that toured Sri Lanka. He coached Trinity College in 1991 to produce an unbeaten champion team captained by Ayas Deen where the side lost just one match to STC, but won the Bradby Shield with a record of (12-4 and 25=10)
He ended his career at CR & FC and help coach the club in 1992 along side Ajith Aberatne and ended playing for CR. The greatest privilege he had was to have produced an equally talented son in Tarinda who played for Trinity from 2011 to 2014. Tharinda captained the side in 2014 and won his ‘Lion’ creating the history of being the second father and son to captain Trinity and win their ‘Lions’ and also win the Bradby Shield (28-16 and 19-18). The first father and son captain to be ‘Lions’ were the late Robert Sourjah the captain of the first Bradby Shield encounter for Trinity in 1945 who sadly passed away in Australia recently and his son Rohan captained in 1975.