Y.C. Chang, a superb ruggerite and administrator

Y.C. Chang was one of the top ruggerite and promoter of this country with an excellent track record, both as a player and administrator. He started his schooling at Carey College, Colombo and later came to Kandy and joined Trinity College, where he excelled in cricket as a ‘stumper’ at junior level and played junior rugger, but never played for the first XV team.

At club level, YC as he was popularly called can be rated as one of the best front-row forwards the country has seen. Records reveal that having played U/17 for Trinity College in 1959/60, he went over to Havelock Sports Club during 1961/63, thereafter he joined Kandy Sports Club in 1964 while he was a professional tea planter in Kandy from 1964 to 1970 and captained the Kandy Sports club in 1967 and 1968. He also captained Up-Country in 1968 and 1970. He was secretary of the Kandy SC in 1968 while being a player. In 1971 he left for Colombo for employment and joined the CH & FC, representing the club as player and coach, captaining the side in 1972 and winning the League title that year. He captained the Low- Country Clubs and the National Team at the Asiad in 1972. He played for Havelock S.C from 1961 to 1963, he was in Dr. Hubert Aloysius’ champion team that beat Dickoya-MCC in the last second of the game, off a penalty-kick at goal by a Kandy product Ken de Joodt in the Clifford Cup final.

He played for Kandy Sports Club from 1964 to 1971. From the very first year at Kandy SC he played for Sri Lanka as number one prop row forward, but until he went down to Colombo, he never got an opportunity to lead the National Team. After an excellent and enjoyable stint with Kandy SC where his rugby career was at its peak, he was compelled to cross-over to CH & FC after giving up planting.

It was due to his dedication and keenness, without playing for school, he played club and national rugby. It was mainly due to his great commitment, knowledge, authority and leadership qualities combined with performance on the field which led him to become the country’s best forward. What Trinity lost, it was at Havelock SC that he gained to be recognized as a top player at that time.

It was at Kandy SC where he earned a name as an excellent player and leader. ‘YC’ during his playing days was a fearless player leading the side from the front. He led the side in1967, 1968 and 1970 half way that was after the late Lt. Gen. Denzil Kobbekaduwa was recalled to the Army. YC represented the All-Ceylon team from 1963 to 1969 in the famous “All India” tournament.

In 1969, it was ‘YC’ who helped the Nittawela Club to enter the Cup final,when late Denzil Kobbekaduwa led the side with Maurice Perera as the coach. YC had the privilege of leading Kandy SC, Up-Country, CH & FC, Low-Country and Sri Lanka. He is one of the few who has led both Up-Country and Low-Country. YC’ represented the All-Ceylon Barbarians team at the age of 18. He was in the team of the first Asiad in 1970. In the very first year of the Asiad, Lankans came up to the semi-finals.

After his playing days he took up coaching and refereeing. As a coach he helped CH & FC team in 1982, under N.H Karunasena they won the Clifford Cup, and in 1983 they remained unbeaten. ‘YC’, at Kandy SC was a player, coach, committee member, secretary and later an life-member. Then at CH & FC, was the coach, committee member,chairman of the club, from there he became the President of Havelock SC and a life-member of both clubs.

He was a stalwart of Sri Lanka Rugby for many years, rated as one of the finest Presidents of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union with a vision towards rugby development. It was at that time ‘YC’, made a wise move by bringing the Clifford Cup tournament to Kandy.

This helped Kandy SC and the schools in Kandy in a big way and today Kandy SC are the king makers of rugby. It was under his Presidency that the first Sri Lanka under 20 teams played in the 5th Pan-Pacific Championship in Taiwan and the under 25 team took part in the Inter-Collegiate tournament in the same country. There were no sponsorships to send teams out but through innovative ideas he raised funds to accomplish his vision.

Another tour to Wales and South East Asia was arranged, Coaches, Referees too, got a break with his initiative. For all his good work he was elected as the President of the Asian Rugby Football Union, and he hosted the Asiad in Colombo at Sugathadasa Stadium in October 1990.

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