What Kingswood's rugger players have achieved over the last six years in certainly mind – boggling. The D division champions of 2003 also took the President's Trophy when common sense dictated otherwise. They became A division champions in 2004, 2005 and again last year.
This success has not been limited to fifteen-a-side rugby. They have shown their skill and expertise in sevens too. Runner up to Isipathana at last year's Singer sevens, Kingswood put the record straight by beating Trinity 26-17 to win this year’s schools sevens.
Brothers Ronnie and Nilufer Ibrahim have been an integral part of this success story. They come off as being a bit low-key and certainly lack the brashness of other coaches. Yet they seem to get their message across to their charges and the results speak for themselves.
Nilufer, who coached the team last year, too, is gushing with enthusiasm. "This year's team is better than last years. We didn't have a good back line." Rather facetiously he says next year's team will be better still.
Fly half Roshan Weeraratne, brother of Kandy SC centre Gayan, leads the team. A Sri Lankan youth player he fashioned many a win in 2008 by his try-scoring deeds and by his conversions. Full back Rajitha Sansoni is also developing his goal-kicking, but that's for 2010. In addition to these two Kingswood has vice captain Rajitha Abeykoon and Harindranath Dharmawardena as their senior players.
Kingwood open their campaign with a game against Mahanama at Bogambara on the 24th or 25th. The uncertainty is because of the up-coming WP election.
The squad is as follows.
Props – Harindranath Dharmawardena, Chamila Abeygunaratne
Hooker – Uchitha Jayasuriya
Locks – Mohamed Shabri, Chetiya Wadugodapitiya
Flankers – Sandaruwan Fernando, Asela Abeysinghe
Number 8 – Rajitha Abeykoon
Scrum Half - Mohamed Abzal
Fly Half – Roshan Weeraratne (Capt)
Centres – Sanjaya Weerasekera, Dhanushka Wijesinghe
Wingers – Mohamed Fazli, Prabath Jayalath
Full Back – Rajitha Sansoni
Others include Sankha Jayaratne, Isune Jayaratne,
Indunil Bandara, Malith de Silva, Jananath Dharmawardana.
Fixtures – April 25th (or 24th)
Mahanama Bogambara
May 2nd St Joseph's Longden Place
9th Isipathana Bogambara
16th St Thomas' Bogambara
23rd Royal Royal Complex
31st St Peters' Bogambara
June 6th Trinity
Bogambara
13th Dharmaraja Bogambara (Friendly)
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