Today rugby is one-of the most popular sports and still rugby lovers all over the country talk about Sri Lanka becoming number two in Asia.
That was in 1974 with the captaincy of Indrajith Coomaraswamy when the team became runners-up to Japan in the Rugby Asiad as it also marked the first-ever event held in this country and the host team enjoyed one of the finest moments on the rugby field. The side was coached by the late Lt. Col. Bertie Dias who learnt his rugby in Kandy
In that Asiad, Sri Lanka was drawn into group ‘A’ along with Malaysia, Laos and Singapore while Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand were in group ‘B’. The Sri Lankans who emerged group leaders after beating Malaysia, Laos and Singapore had to meet Japan, the Group “B’ winners in the final. For that Asiad, YC Chang was tipped to lead the country, but he was deprived of this opportunity because he was suspended for walking out of a game with his CH & FC team due to an error made by the referee.
That was the level of discipline at that time. At the end of the tournament Japan emerged champions and Sri Lanka the proud runners-up, followed by Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Laos.
Looking back at that Asiad final played on November 24 at Longden Place, Japan defeated Sri Lanka by 44 points to 6 in front of a large gathering despite heavy showers.
The 1974 squad comprised players of the caliber of Nizar Hadji Omar, Alphonso Rodrigo, Jeyer Rodriguesz, Lanil Tennakoon, Maiya Gunasekara, Indrajith Coomaraswamy, Jeffry Yu, Anton Benedict, Hanzil Samad, Hafi Abdeen, Jeffrey de Jong, Didacas de Al. , Mahesh Sabaratnam, Charles Wijewardene, Nimal Malagamuwa, Bryan Baptist, MF Fernando, Clifford Elhart, Shafie Jainudeen and GB Gunadasa.
In the final, the Sri Lankans, though fighting a losing battle, played with such defiance and tenacity that they won the hearts of all present including their opponents, to emerge with their share of glory even in defeat. Although Japan scored 44 points, the Sri Lankan tackling was so resolute that many a Japanese advance was stalled.
The local forwards scrummaging had the perfection which enabled Sri Lanka to win the ball repeatedly through the hooking of Alphonso Rodrigo.
But the Japanese shoved superbly to retrieve possession time and again.
In the line-outs, Maiya Guansekara and Lanil Tennakoon gave Shigeru Toyata and Ryutato Fukuoradte a torrid time.
In loose play Anton Benedict, Clifford Elhart and Jeffry Yu moved with purpose. The nippy scrum half Hanzil Samad was well marked, but he was able to slip his passes with finesse and a style of his own.
In the first half on one occasion he ran some 30 yards from the Sri Lanka ‘22’, cutting through the strong Japanese defence. When Sri Lanka did have possession, despite the slippery ball, fly half Hafi Abdeen received those fine passes from Hanzil Samad and Hafi Abdeen in turn set the three-quarters in motion only to be countered by the hard Japanese tackling.
It was a product of Kandy, Charles Wijewardene the fullback, who was given a testing time and came out with flying colours. His positioning was so good that it allowed him some clean collections and also some quick clearances. Sri Lanka’s six points came off his boots when he fired across two penalty kicks at goal from 35 and 40 yards out.
Every Sri Lankan who played in the game, did their part of the job in a fine display of rugby skills that earned Sri Lanka the second spot in Asia.
The 1974 Asiad tournament committee was headed by Mahesh Rodrigo who had veterans like EL Mattysz, JDN Banks, A Raymond, Bentley Barsenbeck, Nimal Maralande, Gen. Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Dr. LD Dissanayake, Com. Malcolm Marshall, Brig. PD Ramanayake, Maj. Sena de Silva, P. Mahendran, Flt. Lt. P Wijesuriya, C.de Zilva, Lt. A Doray and SG de Soysa.