Kandy Sports Club is a ‘A’ division rugby team, based in the central hills. The club has been the most successful Sri Lankan club rugby winning 21 league titles in the last 26 years, the most by any club since the expanded competition commenced in 1950. The club has won the Clifford Cup too on 21 occasions since 1992. Now with the super league knocked-off, Kandy SC will keep the title in the hills.
The credit for Kandy Sports Club’s 21 league title wins in the past 26 years, the most by any club since the expanded competition commenced in 1950 should go to players like Nigel Ratwatte(Captain), Roshan Weeraratne, Gayan Jayawardhane, Damith Dissanayake, Danushka Ranjan, Heshan Silva, Lavanga Perera, Oshan Perera, Tharinda Ratwatte, Dansha Dayan, Kasun Jayasooriya, Lasitha Attanagoda, Tharindu Chathuranga, Yakoob Ali, Buwanaka Udangamuwa, Kavindu Perera, Jason Dissanayaka, Shehan Pathirana, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Sahiru Anthony, Anuruddha Wilwara, Ganuka Dissanayaka, Ashan Darling, Vishwamitra Jayasinghe, T.P.L.S Ranaweera, Heshan Jansen, Malitha Rashmika, Lahiru Daulagala, W.S .K Madushanka, R.L. Chandrarathna, Mohamed Shabeer, G.G N. Tharaka de Silva, Sanushka Abeywickrama, Diluksha Dange, J.R. Charles Praveen, H.C.S. Perera, N.K.B.B. Priyarathna, W.C.S. Soysa, R.G.M. Yaswanth, K.G.T.R. Bandara, H.M. Kavishka Lakshan, T.G.S.M.M. Hilmi, and R.W.S.R.H.M.B.D. Udangamuwa all of whom figured in the Kandy SC squad and helped the club create an unique record unparalleled in the annals of club rugby.
They lived up to their reputation and finished the season of the Dialog league rugby tournament unbeaten in all 14 matches. They played as a well-organized team and never squandered possession as they always endeavored to put it to good use. They played to a plan and pattern and every player knew his role well and that is what separated them from the rest of the teams. Another factor in Kandy’s favor is that they have the right replacements in case players are injured.
The Kandy SC resurgence began in 1992 and had a marvelous impact on the schools in the locality. The hometown club’s triumphs ignited new enthusiasm among the schools and this is reflected in the composition of the all-conquering outfit. Kandy SC’s untroubled journey to success in all three major tournaments can be simply put down to the capacity of rugby development and promotion. The club facilities provided are open to everybody, not only members. The facilities include an ultra-modernized gymnasium and giant screen to view the latest in sports activities throughout the world. The sponsors gave a big hand.
Kandy rugby is today the number one glamour sport and whenever Kandy SC is involved the fans flock to the venues in their thousands to enjoy the thrills and spills that the players provide. Rugby is also known as king in the Kandy’s sports calendar and none can forget the services rendered to the sport by people like Stanley Martin, Colonel Stanley Ratwatte, Oswin Silva, Chandra Karunaratne, YC Chang, EW Balasuriya, Dr. CDL Fernando, Dr. S. Nadesen, Dr. John Karunaratne, Dharmasiri Madugalle, Maurice Perera, Malik Samarawickrema, Kishin Butani, Dr Sarath Kapuwatte , Iswan Omar, Hafiz Marikar, Siva Subramanium, Nimal Lewke, Priyantha Ekanayake, William Gal Weerasinghe, Sarath Perera, C.H. Seneviratne, Sarath Zoysa, Hassan Sinhawansa, Hemantha Yatawara, Maurice Joachim, Ananda Kasthuriachchi to name a few. These people didn’t come to earn praise for themselves like today. They gave their best to keep the game going and the good work is the result of Kandy’s success. Also one can’t forget the long time ground boy who was like the club’s manager the late A. Ratnayake.
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