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Message: <blockquote data-quote="fazil00789" data-source="post: 7364442" data-attributes="member: 162985">Kandy primed for rugby gloryYet it won’t be plain sailingKandy SC led by Sri Lanka first five eighths Fazil Marija for the umpteenth time, will be in pole position to retain the silverware offered for supremacy in domestic rugby when the 2010 Caltex inter-club circuit kicks off on April 30 (Friday).But, it is not going to be plain sailing for them, with CR & FC, last season’s giant-killers Navy SC and Army SC to name a few ready to upset the KSC applecart, in what shapes to be a keenly-fought out first-round set to last till June 13.The all-conquering Kandy SC outfit aiming for an unprecedented 10th consecutive title defence, have been boosted by the inclusions of last year’s CH & FC captain and Sri Lanka hooker Achala Perera and former Sri Lanka and CR & FC flanker Kasun de Silva.Apart from this duo, two talented national Under-19 caps Roshan Weeraratne (Kingswood) and Dharshana Etipola (Dharmaraja) also have joined the Nittawela juggernaut - which will be coached for the fourth successive year by South African Johann Taylor who in fact masterminded Sri Lanka’s Asian Five Nations Division 1 triumph over Singapore last Saturday (April 17).CR & FC under Sri Lanka number eight Dushanth Lewke will make a determined bid to regain the title having failed to done so since 1998, with odds heavily stacked against them.The red shirts have recruited several promising youngsters in an effort to reclaim lost prestige and among them would be the Thomian trio of Sachin David, Roshenka Kodithuwakku and Arjun Manoharan.Former Isipathana captain Niroshana Fernando and winger Vishwamithra Jayasinghe (who represented Sri Lanka at the A5N in Singapore) will also add more thrust to the Longden Place club and it will be interesting to see how they gel together as a side. CR will be coached by former Sri Lanka captain and hooker Viraj Prasanna.Meanwhile, the surprise package in the tourney would be Yoshitha Rajapaksa led Navy SC after their heady turns last year as a result of which saw both title-holders KSC and CR & FC eating humble pie in the league second-round.For the sailors, number eight Sumedha Malewana, stand off Samantha Lakshan and lock Manjula Ruwanthileka will be players to look out being handled by Ronnie Ibrahim. Army SC under lock forward Ajith Susantha and coached by Colonel Saliya Udugama also will be a force to be reckoned with.However, clubs such as Havelocks SC, Police SC and Air Force SC will try their best to turn tables on favourites, while in reality they will be making up the numbers given the paucity of resources at their disposal.The tournament will be sponsored by Chevron Lubricants Lanka Limited under their brand Caltex with their 10-year sponsorship deal with the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) expected to lapse at the end of the forthcoming season. - (JK)</blockquote>

Verification: Hathara warak wissa keeyada? (Hathara wadi karanna 20)

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