Hafiz Marikar from Kandy

Trinity College, Kandy this time too will be playing only their traditional games, and will not be playing in the schools league tournament, according to the principal of the school R. Breckenridge. It is said that they will be opening their season with the match against Wesley mid next month and follow it up with matches against St. Peters, S. Thomas’, Isipatana, St. Anthony’s, Vidyartha, Dharmaraja and Royal.

This time their main ambition will be to win the Bradby Shield, considered the richest prize in schools rugby. Trinity at one time was known as the cradle of Sri Lanka rugby. During the early days for the Trinitians, rugby was a way of life, but not today. Trinity is a school, which started playing rugby in 1906, and has produced a vast number of players who have donned the Sri Lanka Jersey.

Their new coach Hemantha Yatawara a product of Dharmaraja College is blessed with 12 senior players in their ranks, out of which there are five coloursmen. They are products of last year’s coach Ikram Odayar, who has said good-bye to coaching. Ikram Odayar a double Lion did a good job of coaching last year, but the players failed to deliver the goods.

The new coach Hemantha Yatawara, a former Sri Lanka Center and a strict disciplinarian, is a reputed coach.

This time Sajeew Mendis who played as prop last season and this time in the third row is tipped to lead the side. The other coloursmen in the side are Dushan de Silva, Prageeth Wasalathanthiri, Amila Heenatigala and Robert Harley. Then the other senior players are Migara Madumapatabendi, Dinesh Weerarathne, Vinod and Manoj Vidanagamage, Sameera Jayasinghe, Udayanga Stephen, Mohamed Nushan. And there are many more promising players at pratices.

So, with 12 of the last year players Trinity’s should do extremely well this season. Rugby football is one sport where teamwork is more important than individual skills.