Well-drilled CR eyes more glory

CR and FC Rugby Squad 
(Pix by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe)

By Harsha Amarasinghe and Sandun Kodithuwakku

CR and FC who ended decade’s long Kandy dominance to secure the Inter-Club League Rugby Championship last season have bolstered their squad ahead of their first game of the season this weekend. 

The Red Shirts secured a massive signing ahead of the season when they sealed former Sri Lanka Captain Omalka Gunaratne, who will return to Longden Place having missed the last few seasons due to studies overseas. 

In addition to that, CR have also brought in former Kandy star player Thilina Wijesinghe and ex-Army SC player Chathuranga Perera. They have also got some of the best talents from Inter-School season with Daham Dias, Shehan Malinda, Induwara Shandesh (St. Joseph’s College), Thiven Perera, Afeef Farook, Thineth Gamage (Royal College), Rushen Bandaranayake (Trinity College), Iduwara Pasindu (St. Aloysius’ College) and Jehan Weerabangsa (St. Peter’s College) joining the club. 

Led by former St. Joseph’s wing three quarter Gemunu Chethiya, the CR backline will be strengthened by Murshid Doray (Vice-Captain), Thenuka Nanayakkara and Manelka Ruberu while their pack has been powered by the senior campaigners Lasindu Ishan, Ravin de Silva and Adeesha Weeratunga. 

Despite winning the League last season their Head Coach Dushanth Lewke expects a tough challenge in their bid to defend it. 

“Defending the title is not going to be easy. There are a few teams who have come up, will pose a big threat, also the teams that missed out of the Cup last year will have learnt from their mistakes and prepared well for this season, so we have to take it week-by-week and look at one challenge at a time,” Lewke told the Daily Mirror. 

Most of the top teams struggled to deal with Kandy’s dominance for decades but it was eventually, CR who put an end to what was a glorious run for the boys from Hill Capital. 

However, Lewke believes Kandy SC would be their closest rivals this season. 

“Kandy SC is the toughest team in the tournament as they have been champions for many years and have a winning culture within the club.” 

“But many close rivals like the CH and FC, Havies, Police SC, Army SC and Air Force SC can be very dangerous if we don’t play and prepare accordingly,” added the former Sri Lanka Captain.

The Longden Place will see rugby under flood lights for the first time this season and the former number eight believes they have enough preparation for the new challenge. 

“The club allowed us to practice as much time also it has been easy for the players who are working and the boys who are doing their higher studies to play club rugby as we can start training a bit later than usual,” revealed Lewke.

As a young Coach Lewke made his mark winning the League last season but he revealed it was down to hard work of years. 

“It was a big milestone in my career but we worked very hard for it. After the COVID-19 we lost 26 players and was given the task for building a new team for the 100th year of the club and to try and win the League.” 

“So, I made a plan to develop a young team and also to develop their combinations as well as prepare them mentally and physically to be top club players and I am happy that many of them made their national appearance this year as well.” 

“It’s a lot of work being the Head Coach of CR - a big club with be expectations but I have been supported very much by my coaching and management team - Lasintha de Costa, backline coach, Director of Rugby, Rohan Chinthaka, Team Physiotherapist Amith Dhammika, Dr. Thushantha Wijesinghe and Manola Nanayakkara, Club President Tikiri Ellepola, Rugby Board of CR and FC headed by Savantha de Saram and Pavithra Fernando but my very special mention to former CR and FC President Ted Hiran Muttiah and former Captains Kavindu de Costa and Suhiru Anthony,” concluded Lewke.