All hail the last brave weekends of this year’s Dialog league cup and its rugby islanders club reps.
Life for them is very much a Colombo/Kandy story in more ways than one - and survival of the fittest despite the impact and physicality.
Rugby’s demand is relentless and compulsive, testing each player on so many levels, week after week ..match after match ..it’s an appetite that defies science and has little regard for weakness.
Club rugby history in Sri paradise is a long and intrepid tale of British planters traveling the pigskin all the way from sunny England to the exotic shores of our resplendent isle.
Life at the Radella club, Dimbulla/Dickoya and Kelani Valley were quite exceptional and more than inspiring for us curious islanders.
I rather think a defined passage from my avid sports writer and generous rugby heart - Mr Neil Wijeratne, utterly appropriate and right on the button...rugby is part of his oxygen and how fortunate we are to have him around - bragging rights indeed!
Kandy have shown great skill, experience and patience to carve themselves yet another league title and remain unbeaten from game one this season...it’s a testament to all up there and the structure of Kandy rugby that demands admiration......supporter or not, fan or family.
What absolute pride for Gayan Weerey as captain, Sean Wijeysinghe as coach plus the entire backroom team this season. Carving their name on that trophy has become a habit for the lions and certainly the team to beat every weekend till the rugby concludes, and the warriors ease off to their corners of our island home.
The Kandy story is our new rugby history and defiantly a gauntlet to openly challenge all clubs to beat their style, endurance, skill and finish in the middle.
CH & FC came mighty close and exposed chinks in that armour ..losing in the last 5 minutes of normal time and on a rare off day for Sammy “boots” Maduwantha.
The Maitland marauders certainly showing how remarkably big their hearts this season and a grand sense of pure pride for all red and white warriors thru the years...especially the likes of Saman tank Jayasinghe, N H Karunasena RIP, Sujantha zippy Kumar, Brumoon Akbar, Ravi upfront Wijeynathan, Anil rock Dassanayake, Imran Salley, Sudesh Abeysinghe, Roshan hitman Perera, Chanka Jayaweera, plus a host of captains who can be visibly proud of the boys this season.
The air of expectation in the clubhouse at Maitland Crescent is sharp to a smile and definitely a few charged heartbeats quicker.
The league battle rages for the top 4 slots behind Kandy .. Navy, Havelocks and CH with absolutely everything to play for ...coaches Jayatilaka, Martis, and Lagga looking to their seniors and rugby skills to prevail...But more a need for solid patience under pressure to absorb it all and finish stronger.
The dream lives nervously each game day and anticipation that the team sticks to the plan ... a concept of sheer adrenaline and tough to replicate in practice.
Let’s wish all 3 contenders the best form and less injuries to get there and beef up for the Lady Clifford Cup that openly challenges all faithful near and far.
What a tantalising prospect on our hands and such absorbing match ups in the middle.
No shortage of guts or courage to survive ...But more the skill challenge to outshine and out think your opposite number ..under pressure for the 80mins in the middle.
Great effort by Sri rugby and the collective effort of president Asanga Seneviratne, CEO Priyantha Ekanayake, and the vociferous efficiency of director operations Rohan Gunaratne ..to keep the pressure and maximum possession of that shining oval.
The islanders thrive on good planning and we are certainly hopeful for the first time that things are falling into place, with a wave of cooperation and teamwork.
Naturally working closely with the Minister of Sport and his team a significant step on the right side of our offside line ...our beloved game is all about lines ...from kick off to finish, from goal to deadball, from 10m to 22m, from touch to corner flag ...that’s our life in the middle and oxygen when we practice.
Let’s anticipate good things, fair play, no chemicals and a brand of islanders rugby that will be inspiring for our islanders from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands and much closer to home in Guam ...what scintillating thoughts to have our brothers praise Sri rugby, its skills and pace that earn respect from the ABs down.
Take heart rugby Sri faithful, we are on our way ...Just a matter of time before you see the flag and step up to meet the world’s best ...that dream is a 7s dream and everything to practice for.
Blessings islanders, enjoy the gladiators weekends.
Cheers indeed!
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