The ruggerites of Wesley College are looking forward to being promoted to Group A of the Division 1 schools rugby tournament.

A promotion for Wesley is most certain, given the fact that they are easily the best team playing in the on-going Group B tournament.

But the head coach of the team, Imthisham Mohideen says there is nothing to celebrate in getting back to the A Division tournament because he believes Wesley should be playing against the top teams in the inter-school tournament and not against second division teams.

The school has a rich rugby tradition and celebrated 50 years in the sport, back in 2006. Wesley’s long association with rugby has given them recognition as a leading rugby playing school. However, the silver wear the school has won in all its years at rugby has been due to the efforts of their junior teams. A lot of promise has been on display at junior level but the players seem to lose track of those winning ways when they gaduate to the senior team. If this writer’s memory is right, Wesley is yet to win a tournament at senior level.

Mohideen, in an interview with ‘The Island’ said that he was happy at the manner in which Wesley was progressing, but said that he was concerned that his team’s strengths couldn’t be judged due to lack of competition in the B Group tournament.

The team has so far beaten Thurstan (25-5), Prince of Wales (42-0), Lumbini (65-5), D. S. Senanayake College (89-0), Zahira (50-5) and St. Sylvester’s College (60-13).

Rugby at the school is very organized this year with the boys being put through their paces by three coaches. Apart from Mohideen, the coaching team at Wesley also includes Imthisham Thaam, an IRB Level 2 coach and former Isipatana, Kandy, CR and CH three quarter, Veediya Bandara.

Mohideen said that the present members of the Wesley College team were very determined to succeed this season. The team includes players who did very well at junior level last season. This is yet another year where Wesley is blessed with the successes at junior level trickling through to the senior team in the form of experience. The side also boasts of having in their possession some of the biggest forwards in schools rugby.

According to Imthisham, the average age of the players in the present First XV squad is 17 years.

From merely making the numbers at inter-school First XV tournaments, Wesley began to make giant strides in rugby when the school authorities hired Sanath Martis as coach, back in 1996. That helped the school to rethink their strategies with regard to their association with rugby. Martis’ exit, after a couple of years, saw the team come under Dishantha Priyadharshana under whom rugby at Wesley had a memorable run from 2001-2006.

Then there was a slump which is reason for Wesley being in the B Group of the Division 1 Tournament.

Imthisham said he believed the way forward for Wesley is to make steady progress. "I don’t think the best idea is to take immediate measures. Regrouping takes time. We have made plans till 2012 and the immediate goal is to qualify to contest the A Group in the Division 1 tournament in 2010," said Mohideen who has been associated with rugby administration at Wesley, since 1997.

Mohideen acknowledged the fact that rugby at schools, overall, had reached a healthy standard. "Coaches must use methods to enhance the skill level of players and to get the maximum out of their charges. Schools rugby is approached in a very professional manner at present. However, we must be careful not to take everything out of the players in a single session," said Mohideen. He said he observed his players recuperating faster after the number of training sessions per week was reduced to three.

Wesley’s dream of competing in the A Group matches of the Division 1 tournament next season will be realized within the coming weeks when they finish off their remaining matches. The team is also assured of a slot in the knockout tournament this season on the merits of being declared the winner of the Group B Division 1 tournament.

As much as large sacrifices have to be made to realize big dreams, Wesley’s head coach is also aware that success can’t be sustained sans the required support. "Competition in the school’s top division is so heavy that a team wouldn’t be able to maintain standards without financial and logistic support. Also parental support is needed more than anything else," said Mohideen.