CR to work for rugby cause

By Bernie Wijesekera

“Ceylonese Rugby Football Club, will be celebrating their 85th anniversary this year – 2007. Last year the club was in the forefront. Winning four championships, the under-21, Under-24 7s, the league and the Clifford Cup K.O. final while ending up as Caltex ‘A’ league runners-up, to Kandy SC” said the president of the CR and FC Ravi Balasuriya. He said in the forthcoming season CR and FC is determined to give a scarlet red performance.

Last year, the club found jobs for over 50 players, besides providing the players with a professional fee. The club is financially sound, despite getting a foreign coach. The club’s aim is not merely winning trophies, but to produce quality players for the national cause.

The club’s youth policy is beginning to bear fruit. Their needs especially of the less affluent is looked into personally by the chairman rugby committee Rienzie Fernando.

Four outstanding schoolboys have joined the club -- Ashan de Costa (Isipathana Captain) Kingswood skipper No. 8 Navin Wijetunga. Ananda Captain, burly No. 8 Gayan Fernando .and Royal flanker Gayashan Fernando. They will not sit on the bench. But will be afforded with playing opportunities.

Office – bearers for the ensuing year. President – Ravi Balasuriya, Deputy – Ronnie Gunaratne, Gen. Secretary – Jehan Canagaratnam, Treasurer – Aashiq Lafir, Vice President – Christopher Jordashe, Chairman sponsorship – Roshan Tissera, Past President – Chula Dharmadasa, Chairman Rugby – Rienzie Fernando, Chairman other games – Shiran Ambrose, Bar Secretary – J. David, Hon. Life Member – N. Haji Omar.