Sri Lanka’s most successful rugby club, the 147-year old Kandy SC will have their Annual General Meeting and election of office-bearers today at 10.00 am at the club house.
Thanks to the players for putting this club on top in the rugby field, they have a record for being the most successful team in the country since 1992 with the most number of wins in the league and knockouts.
The reputation this club has achieved wherever the game is played has been earned as a result of their consistent success spanning over several decades right throughout the ranks from school leavers to senior players.
Many famous rugby players have grown to great heights from this club not only to represent the National team but also playing for overseas grade one teams. Founded in 1874 Kandy SC has been the most successful rugby club in the country by winning all titles offered by the parent body such as the league, knockouts and Sevens a number of times since 1992.
According to an official, the same Committee will be named and there will be replacements for S. Tennakoon, C. Jayatilleke, A. Jayasena and the late M. Mendis. The last named three have stepped down.
The president will be Old Rajan M. Weerasinghe for the fourth time and the vice president Antonian Lasantha Wijesuriya with Sylvestrian J Pathirana, secretary S. Liyanage old boy of St. Paul’s and Trinity, the treasurer A. Laphir, bar secretary U. Silva, pavilion secretary A. Abdeen, ground secretary A.R.A. Rasheed, social events A. Ranasinghe and legal consultant M. Jiffry.
The Committee will be made up of people like A. Nanayakkara, A. Welikala, Fazil Marija, S. Marasinghe, M. Selvan, A. Jayasena, S. Kumara with others to come in.
The team manager will be former Isipathanian Kapila Silva who is also the manager of the club with Fazil Marija the head coach and Viraj Prasana the deputy coach.
Once gain Nigel Ratwatte will lead the side on the field. He is also a superb ball handler and thinker while in action. His overall abilities, combined with his inspirational leadership and outstanding sportsmanship makes him a complete player. He has represented Sri Lanka in both forms of the game.
He is a player who can fit in as full-back, fly half or centre and began his rugby at Trinity College where he captained the school’s under-13 team in 2004 and showed much promise in the game. He was adjudged the best place kicker in his age group that year.
Ratwatte at the age of 13 took wing to Mauritius with his parents where he played rugby for St. Nicholas’ Grammar School and later for Black River Club.
In the year 2007 he was selected to play for the Mauritius under-18 team during a tour of Madagascar and also played in the African Confederation Rugby Tournament as well as in the Indian Ocean Sevens in Madagascar.
On his return to Sri Lanka he played for CR and FC in 2009 and 2010 and crossed over to play for the Up-Country Lions.
With the disbanding of the Lions he enrolled at Kandy SC and in 2012 made his international debut with the Sri Lanka team at the HSBC Asian Sevens tournament.
For his good work he was appointed the Kandy SC captain in 2020 and 2021 and a captain Ratwatte has the ability to get the best from his players.