CR Determined To Break Twelve Year Hoodoo
This year Cr and FC will go all out to break the twelve year hoodoo of not winning the league title for the last twelve years. They last won the league in 1998 and last laid their hands on the knockout trophy in the year 2006 (When Kandy didn’t play in the tournament). This year the Reds seem to be having the fire power to topple the Kandy powerhouse and will try to bring back the glory days of CR rugby.
The team this year is lead by former Royal College deputy skipper Dushanth Lewke. Lewke is one of their star players having represented the national team in both forms of the game. His tactical number eight breaks will be vital for CR to gain those hard yards in the scrums. He is exceptional in loose play and played a key role in defense. Lewke took over the captaincy from last years skipper Ashen Karathelis.
The lads from London place have a good blend of seniors and juniors in their side and have been injected with some of the talented players who featured in the under 19 schools season last year as well as the under 19 youth Asiad. There are as many as five players who featured in the junior rugby Asiad last year, namely Niroshan Fernando, Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, Sachin David, Idris Omar and Shabeer Mohomed along with the highest point’s scorer in 2009 STC’s Arjun Manoharan.
The front row has a lot of big men in the form of national cap Terrence Henry, Anuja Perera, Naveen Wijethunga, and Sachin David. Terrence, Anuja and Naveen have a lot of experience under their belt and will be a huge force in the scrums. The new addition Sachin brings a lot of skill to the front row. The second row combination for the Reds will be Ishan Noor and Zafir Jhan. Both these players are known for their hard hits and are brilliant in loose play. Last year’s skipper Karathelis might move in to the second row position if the need arises. The third row is nothing but class and has the making of a solid unit. There are a number of flankers who will be vying for the number 6 and 7 jersey with players in the form of Idris Omar, Roshanka Kodithuwakku, Bilal Hassan, Sharo Fernando, Ashen Karathelis, and Danushka Perera. Danushka Perera and Karathelis are the most experienced out of the lot and will most probably open for the Reds. Bilal Hassan and Roshanka Kodithuwakku are also capable players in the hooker position. The number eight position will be manned by the skipper himself Dushanth Lewke.
The line has a lot of national caps and is looking good before the season. The number nine position will be taken by either Srinath Suriyabandara, Dilan De Soyza or experienced Zulker Hameed. The fly half position is up for grabs after the departure of last year’s fly Dev Anand and will be a keenly contested one. Former junior national skipper Niroshan Fernandoais a firm contender along with Nigel Ratwatte. The center combination will be key with the Costa brothers Ashan and Lasintha the most probably choice in the squad. The other centers in the side are, Nuwan Chamara and Nirushan Karunanyake. The fight for the wing position will be amongst Heshan Guneratne, Arjun Manoharan, Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, and Dinusha Chathuranga. The full back possiton will be taken over by either Reza Mubarak or Shabbier Mohomed.
The team this year will be jointly coached by Bilal Yusuf who was the the u-19 national coach and assistant coach for Royal last year and former Cr captain and S.Thomas’ College forwards coach in 2009 Viraj Prassanna.
An interesting factor to note is that Bilal Yusuf who played in the 2002 Royal side under the captaincy of Zulker Hameed and vice captaincy of Dushanth Lewke will be coaching the two players this year.
Talking to ThePapare the coach of the CR side Bilal Yusuf said this before the season, "It is a relatively young team, and the average age of the team is about 22. The disadvantage of a young side is lack of experience; however a younger side is likely to play with more passion and heart. If the team can play with the same passion they did when they played for their schools, I feel Cr could be in with a good chance for the title.” when asked why he left Royal College this is what he had to say, “I was actually going to take a complete break from coaching this year due to work commitments. But when I was offered the Cr job I accepted since practice starts at 6 in the evening which helps me balance both my work and coaching, where when I was coaching Royal I had to be at the ground at 4."
Viraj Prassanna the co-coach of the CR side had this to say, “it’s a big task for me personally moving from coaching schools to club and we have a great chance with a good blend of seniors and juniors in the side. Every side is a threat to us, even the last two teams in the league. We don’t want what happened last year against Navy to happen this year”. How is the new coaching combination? “It’s going really well; Bilal and I are getting along really well. He is a great tactical coach and with my expertise in the field I’m sure we can reign supreme this year”.
“My aim for the season is to win every single game in the league and the knock-out. We have trained really hard this year and the boys are looking good ahead of the season. I have a very strong feeling that we can win this year”.
The club which was formed in 1922 has produced a lot of quality players who have gone on to represent the national team. This year like any other year the Reds are looking to topple the Kandy power house. And ThePapare wishes them all the best in the 2010 season.
courtesy thepapare
This year Cr and FC will go all out to break the twelve year hoodoo of not winning the league title for the last twelve years. They last won the league in 1998 and last laid their hands on the knockout trophy in the year 2006 (When Kandy didn’t play in the tournament). This year the Reds seem to be having the fire power to topple the Kandy powerhouse and will try to bring back the glory days of CR rugby.
The team this year is lead by former Royal College deputy skipper Dushanth Lewke. Lewke is one of their star players having represented the national team in both forms of the game. His tactical number eight breaks will be vital for CR to gain those hard yards in the scrums. He is exceptional in loose play and played a key role in defense. Lewke took over the captaincy from last years skipper Ashen Karathelis.
The lads from London place have a good blend of seniors and juniors in their side and have been injected with some of the talented players who featured in the under 19 schools season last year as well as the under 19 youth Asiad. There are as many as five players who featured in the junior rugby Asiad last year, namely Niroshan Fernando, Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, Sachin David, Idris Omar and Shabeer Mohomed along with the highest point’s scorer in 2009 STC’s Arjun Manoharan.
The front row has a lot of big men in the form of national cap Terrence Henry, Anuja Perera, Naveen Wijethunga, and Sachin David. Terrence, Anuja and Naveen have a lot of experience under their belt and will be a huge force in the scrums. The new addition Sachin brings a lot of skill to the front row. The second row combination for the Reds will be Ishan Noor and Zafir Jhan. Both these players are known for their hard hits and are brilliant in loose play. Last year’s skipper Karathelis might move in to the second row position if the need arises. The third row is nothing but class and has the making of a solid unit. There are a number of flankers who will be vying for the number 6 and 7 jersey with players in the form of Idris Omar, Roshanka Kodithuwakku, Bilal Hassan, Sharo Fernando, Ashen Karathelis, and Danushka Perera. Danushka Perera and Karathelis are the most experienced out of the lot and will most probably open for the Reds. Bilal Hassan and Roshanka Kodithuwakku are also capable players in the hooker position. The number eight position will be manned by the skipper himself Dushanth Lewke.
The line has a lot of national caps and is looking good before the season. The number nine position will be taken by either Srinath Suriyabandara, Dilan De Soyza or experienced Zulker Hameed. The fly half position is up for grabs after the departure of last year’s fly Dev Anand and will be a keenly contested one. Former junior national skipper Niroshan Fernandoais a firm contender along with Nigel Ratwatte. The center combination will be key with the Costa brothers Ashan and Lasintha the most probably choice in the squad. The other centers in the side are, Nuwan Chamara and Nirushan Karunanyake. The fight for the wing position will be amongst Heshan Guneratne, Arjun Manoharan, Vishwamithra Jayasinghe, and Dinusha Chathuranga. The full back possiton will be taken over by either Reza Mubarak or Shabbier Mohomed.
The team this year will be jointly coached by Bilal Yusuf who was the the u-19 national coach and assistant coach for Royal last year and former Cr captain and S.Thomas’ College forwards coach in 2009 Viraj Prassanna.
An interesting factor to note is that Bilal Yusuf who played in the 2002 Royal side under the captaincy of Zulker Hameed and vice captaincy of Dushanth Lewke will be coaching the two players this year.
Talking to ThePapare the coach of the CR side Bilal Yusuf said this before the season, "It is a relatively young team, and the average age of the team is about 22. The disadvantage of a young side is lack of experience; however a younger side is likely to play with more passion and heart. If the team can play with the same passion they did when they played for their schools, I feel Cr could be in with a good chance for the title.” when asked why he left Royal College this is what he had to say, “I was actually going to take a complete break from coaching this year due to work commitments. But when I was offered the Cr job I accepted since practice starts at 6 in the evening which helps me balance both my work and coaching, where when I was coaching Royal I had to be at the ground at 4."
Viraj Prassanna the co-coach of the CR side had this to say, “it’s a big task for me personally moving from coaching schools to club and we have a great chance with a good blend of seniors and juniors in the side. Every side is a threat to us, even the last two teams in the league. We don’t want what happened last year against Navy to happen this year”. How is the new coaching combination? “It’s going really well; Bilal and I are getting along really well. He is a great tactical coach and with my expertise in the field I’m sure we can reign supreme this year”.
“My aim for the season is to win every single game in the league and the knock-out. We have trained really hard this year and the boys are looking good ahead of the season. I have a very strong feeling that we can win this year”.
The club which was formed in 1922 has produced a lot of quality players who have gone on to represent the national team. This year like any other year the Reds are looking to topple the Kandy power house. And ThePapare wishes them all the best in the 2010 season.
courtesy thepapare
:ado uba mu gana danne naha 
he is a Rugby Legend ban ona kenek ge Fav player Lomu thama......he is the best
