Sports
The return of the educated rugby player
By A Special Sports Correspondent
Kandy Sports Club dominated a third week of rugby in the domestic inter-club league tournament and what made the club even more proud was the stellar performance produced by centre Tharinda Ratwatte.
Kandy SC got the better of Police SC (33-19) in a game where Tharinda dazzled and also stood in the way of the ‘cops’ causing any form of an upset. He knew the length and breadth of the field and applied pressure on the right occasions to keep the policemen in check. We have to keep using his first name in this column because there is another Ratwatte (Nigel) playing in the same Kandy SC team. Nigel plays as fly half.
He scored twice in the game; the second was a beauty where he smothered a kick, collected and scored to stun the police team. Tharinda has a package to offer during a game where his amazing running skills are complemented by his defence work and accurate place kicking. Opposite teams have no clue what combinations he’ll produce during any given match day and it makes it even harder for the opposition because there are other hungry team members wearing the Kandy SC jersey and raring to go. Still Tharinda has been a cut above the rest thus far this season.
We have to look at what has gone into producing this player. He was educated at Trinity College Kandy and is the son of Trinity ‘Lion’ Ashan Ratwatte, who captained the school’s rugby team in 1983. Tharinda captained Trinity at rugby in 2014. And the great accomplishment by him is that unlike his father the son has always been in Bradby Shield winning sides. Ashan was once quoted making this statement in a newspaper about his son, “I thought I was a great player, but my son is better than I in every sphere. He has never lost a Bradby in his life”. Now that’s quite a statement made by a father whose name is written in the annals of ‘Trinity rugby’ as a player to remember.
The Ratwattes have deep roots running in the sport of rugby. From Dennis (Ashan’s father who also played the game) Ashan also saw his bothers Sheran, Roshan and Dilkshan also playing the game at top level. Interestingly Tharinda and Nigel are cousins, but the latter couldn’t play for Trinity’s First XV side because he left school prematurely to continue his education in South Africa.
Then there is this atmosphere at Trinity where the sport of rugby just makes you fall in love with the vibe that it creates. This is experienced by even the students who don’t play the game. The rugby culture at Trinity embeds in you that the school team can have bad days in rugby, but it cannot lose the Bradby; which is played against Royal College Colombo.
One wonders how it was for Tharinda to cope with pressure because it is not easy to play your game when everyone watching you from friends and relations to family members know the game inside out. But still he finished his school career on a high and won a ‘Lion’ for himself.
After leaving school he joined Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club (CR&FC) and had four seasons with the Red Shirts. While playing competitive rugby he completed his law degree and is an Attorney-at-Law at present.
He is 28 years old at present and when he looks back at the decision to crossover to Kandy SC it serves both the Nittawela club and himself; the latter from the perspective of doing national duty. When Tharinda was appointed as captain of the Sri Lanka representative side to contest the ‘rugby sevens’ event at Asian Games he grabbed the reins of the side quite boldly. This was a time when Sri Lanka Rugby was serving a ban and uncertainty engulfed the minds of the players in the island nation; where rugby is equally popular as cricket. The national team was forced to compete under the Olympic Council of Asia flag, but still the team went to China with high spirits to perform at their best. The results produced were not convincing, but the cream of the island’s rugby players were not left out of the Asian Games and that’s what must be applauded. Tharinda’s presence in the national squad as a player from Kandy SC is also encouraging because we’ve had a history of the players from the Nittawela Club making themselves unavailable for national duty on many occasions. He has made a couple of tours with the national side and had a proud moment when he got to score a try against New Zealand in ‘sevens rugby’ at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. He also got to captain the national under 19 team at the Asian Rugby Championships.
Coming back to Kandy SC the side saw the exit of key players like Fazil Marija, Gayan Weeraratne, Damith Dissanayake, Roshan Weeraratne and Vishwamithra Jayasinghe who retired from the game. This sees the side playing rugby with just a handful of quality players. This side needs a hero and if Kandy SC is searching for one that search has ended. Tharinda has the potential to marshal the players even though he is not the skipper. He is also earmarked as one of the future captains of Kandy SC. There is something inspiring about him when he is on the field. If he ‘sneezes’ something positive on the field he is certain that what he discharges can be very infectious.
This rugby season is all exciting with teams like Police and bottom seed CH&FC showing vast improvements in the first three weeks of rugby. Kandy SC plays against Air Force SC on Saturday (December 30) at Ratmalana. Kandy should be at full strength for this game and much is expected of Tharinda who is in fine form.
Chanuth Jayasinghaarachchi and Bihandu Hansana produced the most influential individual performances of the day as they guided their respective teams to convincing victories in the Under-17 Division I cricket tournament.
At Anuradhapura, Chanuth Jayasinghaarachchi led Dharmaraja College’s batting effort with a top score of 84 runs as they posted a formidable 282 all out against Sri Rahula College Katugastota. Supported by Mandil Gunawardhana (44), Deneth Abeyrathna (34) and Imash Galapitiya’s unbeaten 31, Chanuth’s innings laid the foundation for a dominant display. Dharmaraja’s bowlers then completed a comprehensive victory by dismissing Sri Rahula for 138, with Hiruka Ekanayake claiming 3 for 15.
Meanwhile, at Godagamuwa, Bihandu Hansana produced the bowling performance of the day, claiming an outstanding six wickets for 42 runs in his 10 overs to dismantle Sri Dharmaloka Kelaniya for 143. His remarkable spell overshadowed Chanul Nethsitha’s 47 and put St. Anthony’s Wattala firmly in control. The chase was completed comfortably as Sadeesha Kavinda blasted an unbeaten 38 off just 14 balls, including three fours and four sixes, steering St. Anthony’s to 145 for 5 in 28.3 overs.
At Henegama, Wesley rattled Henegama Central for 31 runs to record a 127 run win.
Wesley beat Henegama Central at Henegama
Scores:
Wesley 158 all out in 44.5 overs (Shamma Fernando 46, Chanuka Vidharshana 49, Thimira Senarathna 24; Sehas Damsiha 3/28, Danuna Shanilka 2/37, Janidu Imesha 4/32)
Henegama 31 all out in 23 overs (Charana Malimbada 2/11, Rehan Perera 4/11, Adhyaan Zian 2/02)
St. Peter’s beat Tissa Central at Kalutara
Scores:
Tissa Central 85 all out in 29.5 overs
(Sadew Wijesooriya 22; Mickhaeel Faleel2/26, Diyon Alwis 3/21, Lesan Perera 3/06)
St. Peter’s 87 for 6 in 24.4 overs (Hirun Noyah 22, Sashidu Silva 19, Diyon Alwis 20n.o.; Tharuka de Silva 2/10, Shenal Geenula 2/23)
Jaffna Hindu beat St. Thomas’ at Matale
Scores:
Jaffna Hindu 257 all out in 49.5 overs
(Balamuralitharan Anish 66, Nesaroopan Nerujan 77, Sivalogesan Sivakajeesan 50)
St. Thomas’ Matale 126 all out in 39.6 overs
Dharmaraja beat Sri Rahula at Anuradhapura
Scores:
Dharmaraja 282 all out in 44.5 overs (Chanuth Jayasinghaarachchi 84, Mandil Gunawardhana 44, Deneth Abeyrathna 34, Imash Galapitiya 31n.o.)
Sri Rahula 138 al out in 36.3 overs (Hiruka Ekanayake 3/15)
St. Anthony’s beat Sri Dharmaloka at Godagamuwa
Scores:
Sri Dharmaloka Kelaniya143 all out in 34.5 overs
(Chanul Nethsitha 47; Bihandu Hansana 6/42)
St. Anthony’s Wattala 145 for 5 in 28.3 overs
(Karindra Kujana 25, Sadeesha Kavinda 38n.o.)
(RF)
The Sri Lanka Soccer Masters’ Association has made arrangements to conduct its 21st consecutive nine-a-side football tournament for veteran players on June 21 at the Shalika Grounds, Narahenpita.
The tournament was officially announced at a press conference held at the NM Perera Centre in Borella on Monday.
Addressing the media, Association President Irshad Haq said that 34 teams would compete in the annual event, which will feature a total of 71 matches.
The champions will receive a cash prize of Rs. 200,000, while the runners-up will be awarded Rs. 100,000.
Haq said that proceeds from the tournament have been utilised over the years to support the welfare of former national football players.
Under tournament regulations, each team will be guaranteed a minimum of three matches. Although teams may include former national players in their squads, only three such players will be permitted on the field at any given time during a match.
The competition will be conducted under a league format in the preliminary stage, with the participating teams divided into eight groups. Teams will earn three points for a win, one point each for a draw and no points for a defeat.
Matches will be officiated by referees attached to the national football federation.
Founder Chairman Tilak Peiris, General Secretary Yoga Cruze, Tournament Committee Chairman P.G.P. Pieris and Treasurer Tilak Perera also addressed the gathering.
Sabri Lamouchi has been sacked by Tunisia after just one game of World Cup 2026.
The 54-year-old former France international was sacked the day after Tunisia’s 5-1 trouncing by Sweden in their opening Group F football game in Monterrey, Mexico, on Sunday night.
Tunisian officials have installed Mondher Kebaier, who led the national team from 2019 to 2022 and has been in a technical director role since last year, as interim boss ahead of the second group game against Japan in the early hours of Sunday, also in Monterrey.
The 56-year-old previously guided the Eagles of Carthage to the final of the Arab Cup in 2021, losing to Algeria, before a quarterfinal exit in AFCON the following year.
Speaking before his departure, Lamouchi said his side had been punished for a string of costly mistakes and after the game admitted: “It’s a difficult loss. It’s painful. Starting the competition with this bad of a loss is indeed difficult.
“We made way too many mistakes.”
Lamouchi was already under pressure after a 5-0 defeat to Belgium in the team’s final warm-up game, while he has been forced to defend the presence of his son during their training camp in the media despite him not being an official member of the party.
Tunisia will face Japan and the Netherlands, who played out a pulsating 2-2 draw in their opening match in Dallas on Sunday, in their final two group fixtures, and Lamouchi said: “We have our pride. We need to react. We need to give a better image.”
Lamouchi, who holds dual Tunisian and French citizenship, represented clubs including Auxerre, Monaco, Parma, Inter and Marseille during his playing career before his first role in management saw him guide Ivory Coast to the 2014 World Cup, beating Japan in their first game only to exit in the group stage after a dramatic late defeat against Greece in their final game.
It was a second chapter of World Cup heartache for Lamouchi, who was cut from the final France squad for World Cup 1998 by coach Aime Jacquet, missing out on a place in history as Les Bleus claimed their first title on home soil.
He went on to manage Rennes and Nottingham Forest before short stints in Qatar, with Cardiff City and in Saudi Arabia before being appointed by Tunisia in January on a two-and-a-half-year contract following a disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
[Aljazeera]
Govt. failure to fill top two courts’ vacancies leaves Judiciary in a conundrum
UNDP, Central Bank deepen financial literacy drive to build economic resilience
Rainforest Trust of Sri Lanka hosts ‘Ceremonial Dedication to the Public of Name Boards of Trees’
Cramped cells, fettered rights
GR seeks court intervention to prevent his arrest under PTA
Chanuth, Hansana shine with match-winning feats
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
Sunday Island 27 December – Headlines
#SundayIsland 17th December – Headlines
Sunday Island – 28th March
Sunday Island Headlines – 21 March
Sunday Island – 21st February – Headlines
-
News5 days agoCIABOC summons Yoshitha over his participation in British Navy training programme
-
News7 days agoLocal firms move millions of dollars overseas for phantom imports: Govt.
-
Sports2 days agoTharanga set for high-profile javelin clash in Ostrava
-
News5 days agoJustice Minister responds to social media claims he represented Easter Sunday ringleader
-
News4 days agoCommonwealth lawyers urge Lanka to uphold rule of law
-
Features3 days agoPolitics of protected species
-
News2 days agoTheft of USD 2.5 mn from Treasury: CoPF accused of complicity in NPP cover-up
-
News24 hours agoBeijing Capital Airlines to resume flights to Colombo signalling boost to tourism