Wesley launch rugby season by felicitating sponsors
View(s):Under the captaincy Shem Mendis, Wesley opened their season with the curtain raiser game against Zahira College at Maradana yesterday. With seven more matches on the cards, inclusive of their annual traditional encounter against S. Thomas’ College, played for the Oliver Goonetilleke Shield, Wesley are hopeful that they will be able to reach the Super Round after the group stage games.
Representatives of Citizens Development Business (CDB) handing over the sponsorship to Wesley College Rugby – Pix by Eshan Fernando
Shem Mendis, a third-year player has been handed the responsibility of leading Wesley this season, assisted by Dillon de Silva as the vice captain. The Wesleyites will be guided this year under a strong Kingswood-Wesley coaching combination as former Wesley, CR&FC and Havelocks league winning captain and former Sri Lanka Tusker, Henry Terence continuing as the head coach, Former Kingswood, Kandy SC, Sri Lanka 15s and 7s specialist Amjad Buksh will serves as the backs coach with former Kingswoodian and Navy SC skipper Thilina Weerasinghe coming in as the kicking coach.
Weerasinghe hold the record for scoring 100 or more points for three consecutive seasons and his inputs will make Wesley a stronger unit. Former Sri Lanka schools double international in rugby and hockey, Randeera de Silva has joined in as the forwards coach. The experienced Tharanga Galapitawatta has come aboard as the physiotherapist.
Deedat continues their commitment for yet another year
Citizens Development Business (CDB) will continue their commitment to support Wesley rugby and have sealed their position as the principal sponsor for the 2024 season. Deedat continues their support as a co-sponsor along with D’las, who had also come forward to support the team.
Hemas Pharmaceutical with their Product ‘Appeton’ come in as the official nutrition partner while HNB Assurance will provide protection to the team as the official insurance partner.
In addition old boys associations home and abroad have stepped forward to assist their alma mater, by becoming part of Wesley’s ‘sponsor a player’ initiative, which is spearheaded by the college’s Principal Avanka Fernando. The President of the Wesley Old Boys’ Association, Captain Navin de Silva kicked off the initiative by coming forward to sponsor 10 players this season, while others have assured their commitment to help the college run through a smooth school rugby season.
D’las came aboard as a sponsor for another season
The annual and prestigious L.E. Blaze Trophy played between traditional rivals Kingswood College, the oldest rugby fixture of the school against Royal College and the traditional encounter for the Sir Oliver Goonetilleke Shield against S. Thomas’ College will be hosted by Wesley this year.
Taking up the oval ball game in 1956 under Eddie Buell as the first captain, Wesley has come a long way in the game. Former School Master Donton D’Abrera is dubbed as the ‘Father of Wesley Rugby’ who did yeoman service to uplift the game. In terms of the schools rugby league, Wesley are yet to reach the helm, however they were an inch close in 1997 and 2003/04 seasons ending as runners-up.
Hemas Pharmaceutical with their Product ‘Appeton’ is the official nutrition partner
Wesley’s enjoyed a glorious season in 2013, winning their maiden 1st XV silverware, the President’s Trophy Knockouts under Rahul de Silva. They ended up as runners-up in 2002, 2004 and 2019 being the most successful season under Mursheed Doray, where Wesley completed at fourth in the league standings. In 2022, under Tharusha Jayaweera, they finished the league at fourth and were knockout semi-finalists. Last year, under Kaweesh Jayman, the Wesleyites were dubbed the ‘unluckiest team of the season’ as they suffered nail-biting losses. However they showed immense potential with an extremely young outfit and managed to retain the Blaze Trophy, winning it back-to-back for the first time since 1997 and 98. Wesley’s oldest rival in rugby is Royal, against whom they have played since 1956.
Reggie Bartholomuesz, Zubair Doray, Ranjith Abeydeera, Ransiri Sahabandu, Cavan Gauder, Iqbal Musafer, Kishan Musafer, Zulfikar Haaleemdeen, Henry Terence, Niranjan Wickremaratne, Samantha Lakshan, Rahul de Silva, Shehan Mevan Dias, Dulanjana Wijesinghe, Shashika Fernando, Mursheed Doray are some notable players who donned the national jersey from Wesley.
HNB Assurance will provide protection to the team as the official insurance partner
President of the Wesley Old Boys’ Association, Captain Navin de Silva came forward to sponsor 10 players this season
| Fixtures of Wesley 2024 Season | |
|