Sari de Silva- A Rugby player like no other
It is with profound sadness we heard of the passing away of a true Sri Lankan Rugby Maestro, the great Sari de Silva, a few years back in England. My memories take me back to my schooling days in the 1960′s, how this brilliant, extraordinary master craftsman dominated the local Rugby arena. Sari, having learned the basic rudiments of Rugby at Trinity College, this young lad from Kandy very soon cut through the Local Rugby scene to secure a permanent slot in the CR&FC regular team, after his glorious and wonderful career for his Alma Mater. Sari who had a very unique, polished style of Rugby was known to be a rare genius all-rounder of this game that CR&FC and the country had ever produced. His sense of fair play learned and displayed in the Rugby field, being cool as ever, certainly makes him one of the finest sporting characters of all times. He had a very sharp sense of anticipation in the field to know what is best for the next situation under pressure. He could manipulate a win, being in the losing side.
Even in the very last minute of the dying game. Just singlehanded, to the amazement and disbelief of the spectators. Such were his Rugby prowess, be it from the centre or from his own ’25′. I recollect how spectators of every age group thronged the match venues to watch this glorious superstar’s scintillating and dashing horse-like runs and bone-crushing dare devil low tackles that simply crippled his opposite numbers. I still remember how tactical this supreme player was in selling dummies, ending up with a walloping dash to score under the post. I’ve yet to see in the local Rugby scene, his horse-like running with long strides to Rugby perfection with the ball well controlled under his arm, covering 60-70 metres just inside the sidelines to touch down by the corner flag. Sari certainly belong to the generation of extraordinary Rugby superstars. Then again, I must mention specifically that I have never seen a blind side scoring expert in the local Rugby scene, other than this magnificent orchestrator who could simply glide and fly over the scrum, with the turn in a 5-yard scrum, to crash down for a try.
Sari donned the Red jersey with pride, prestige and dignity for his Club for several years, captaining the CR&FC to some glorious and nail-biting superb wins. This charismatic Ruby wizard later went on to don the Ceylon white Rugby jersey for many years, even captaining the Ceylon team.
Just like any other good sportsman, Sari knew when to hang up his boots, but continued his services to the Club as a Rugby Coach and a consultant of the game, before emigrating to England to further his profession as a top Banker.
Finally, let me wind up with a sense of great sorrow that Sri Lanka has lost one of its all time Rugby greats, for he his no more with us. His Rugby memories will linger and be cherished in our minds forever. May he attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.
W.L. Munidasa