Zahira College’s rugby team will certainly look one of the smartest on the field this year with their new jersey looking explicitly spic and span when they move out to take the field.
Zahira will come out for the first time in the League against Dharmaraja College at Bogambara on June 24. Their school colours too have an added flavour in appearance and this certainly will encourage their players to give off their best effort during the encounters this season.
Zahira is the second oldest rugby playing school in Colombo after Royal College and before St. Peter’s College taking to the sport in 1924 and was a much looked forward to team during the early days as they played in the top division.
They performed well against all the leading schools at that time and produced top players who went on to represent clubs and the national teams, something that the present team is well aware of.
Their coaching Staff led by Anuranga Walpola, who has played for the Sri Lanka team, is expected to be a rallying force and this could see them create a few major upsets during this season.
Their jerseys are sponsored by Moose clothing.
Apart from this, Roza from Diamond Best Food is the co-sponsor of this rugby team.
Zahira played in the top division in 2017, 2018 and 2019 and after playing just one year (2022) in the B division they have been able to come back to the A division.
They were unbeaten in the league stages last year and ended up as runners-up in the Premier Trophy.
In the recently held CR and FC centenary rugby Sevens Zahira displayed exception prowess beating Vidyartha, DS Senanayake, almost turned table on Isipathana and ended as Runners-up in the Plate segment.
Adhil Rafeek leads Zahira this year with Abdullah Rizvi as his deputy and the team is receiving the full backing of the College administration.
The Zahira squad:
Front Row: Aadil Rafeek (captain), Ihjaaz Imthiyas, Sameer Riyaz, MR Mohamed, Niken Perera, Hilmy Amaan, Mohammed Ashraful, Abdulla Naushad, Raihan Rushan, Baba Razeen
Locks: Hashim Kamal, Sabri Sahibo, Ijas Inam, Rifnas Rimshad, Yahya Rizvi
Third rowers: Abdulla Rizvi (v-captain), Saajid Shamil, Abdul Rahman, Mohamed Aakif, Naweed Inishan, Shahib Ishan
Scrum halves: Aaqib Azan, Rahath Saldin, Abdul Ghani.
Fly halves: Aadhil Kitchil, Farzan Mohammed
Centres: Mohamed Aqeel, Suhaad Endra, Sharik Shaif, Luqman Omar, Fahad Ameen, Aadhil Anaam
Wingers: Abdullah Looth, Thajudeen Challon, Aaqil Akram, Baba Abdulla Hasan, Hakeem Chunchi
Full backs: MAA Saad, Luqman Ul Hakeem