Antonian Rugby

as only in 1961 that an unprecedented enthusiasm was created and Rugby received a fillip, previously unknown among Antonians. Large numbers turned out for practice, in spite of the distance they had to trudge, to get to the Nittawela grounds. It was the first time that we were able to have, not just the 1st XV, but even a regular 2nd XV and also a 3rd XV. Much credit for this incredible change is due to Mr. Bobby Jayaweera, the Coach, who spared no pains to lay a solid foundation for Rugby Football at St. Anthony's College. Our 1st XV of 1956 comprised of Bruce Winter (Capt.), Nimal Fernando, Ranjith Benjamin, Anton Balasuriya, Patrick Panabokke, Kenneth Beekmeyer, Mervyn Sikurajapathy, Freddie de Run, L.C. Wijesinghe, A. Beekmeyer, H. Dissanayake, Christopher Pereira, G. de Silva, Robin Koelmeyer, Steve Morrell, A.R. Imbuldeniya, R. Maldeniya, Andre Titus, and Prarine de Silva. In the next few years, Tony Harridge, lan Fernando, Lucien Ratnayake, Lakshman Alwis, P. Setunga, Charlie Joseph, Denzil Halangoda, M.H.A. Khaffar, Annesley Dias, L. Van Starrex, M.S. Fernando, S. Muthukumarasamy, Winston Baily, Gavin Stevens, Win Chu Wei and others along with most of the original side, helped to bring up the standard of Rugby at St. Anthony's. During our initial years, many of the leading schools provided us with only a 2nd XV fixture and it was only in 1962 that we were given 1st XV games. In that respect, the 1962 team, under Win Chu Wei, fared extremely well in the 7 matches they played, all of which were 1st XV games. In fact, this was the first time that we played the Trinity, Royal and St. Thomas's 1st XV sides. The results of the matches played are as follows:
Lost to Royal 0-17
Lost to St. Thomas' 0 - 9
Lost to St. Peter's 3 - 6
Lost to Trinity 3-14
Lost to Zahira 0 -30
Defeated Thurstan 11-8
Defeated St. Joseph's 14-8

This "coming-of-age" 1962 side under the leadership of Win Chu Wei comprised of Kenny Duff-Tytler, Brothers Upali and Ranjith Fernando, Winston Vanderpooten, Chris Duff-Tytler, Barney Daniel, Brothers Charlie and Michael Joseph, Franklyn Paul, Spencer Dias, Tutu Thenuwara, Christy Gomez, lan Fernando, Freddie Baptist and a few others. In 1963 and 1964 too, St. Anthony's had two successful seasons, led by Ranjith Fernando and Saliya Kulatunge respectively. Both these players were selected to play in the Outstation Schools' Team against the Colombo Schools' Team. Although the 1965 and 1966 teams, which were led by Michael Macky and Patrick Gunaratne respectively, did not fare as well, they nevertheless maintained a high standard of Rugby. Despite not having a regular coach, the 1967 team captained by Basil Hyde, fared quite well although they won only one match and lost the other eight. Four members of this 1967 team namely Basil Hyde, Malcolm Dias, H.M. Kuthdoos and Randy Sims, won the much coveted "College Colours" for their outstanding performances during the season. It was in 1968 that Antonian Rugby showed real maturity, when, for the first time, the team led by H.M. Kuthdoos held the much fancied Trinity Team to a 3 all draw in a block-buster game. During that season we won 6 matches beating much fancied teams like St. Joseph's, Royal, St. Peter's, St. Benedict's and St. We lost 2 matches and drew 2 matches. Some of the outstanding players of this side were H.M. Kuthdoos, Basil Hyde, Gamini Fernando, Randy Sims and John Henry. Mahinda Nanayakkara and Anthony Bede Ranasinghe who played in the Soccer Team the previous year too joined the rugby team and performed very well. The theory of "Sacrificing one for the benefit of the other" proved true in this instance as Football was taken off the list of Antonian sports in 1968. After quite a long wait, the entire Antonian fraternity, leapt with ecstatic joy in 1972 when for the first time the Antonians overcame the Trinity team to win 13 - 7 in a nail-biting finish. This victorious team led by Tuan Dole won 7 matches that season losing one and drawing one. The other members of this team included Chris Anderson, Geoffrey Paul, Tyronne Rosairo, Nimal Malagamuwa, T.M. Waidyaratne, The teams that lost to us were St. Joseph's, St. Benedict's, Kingswood, St. Thomas', Thurstan and Trinity. We drew with St. Peter's and lost to Royal. The Antonians enjoyed another successful season in 1988, under the leadership of Leroy Fonseka and emerged as Runners-up to Royal in the League Championships. They remained unbeaten, winning 9 out of 10 matches and drawing the other. Skipper Leroy Fonseka had the rare distinction of representing the country as a schoolboy at the 11th Rugby Asiad in Hong Kong that year. Antonians won the Singer Sri Lankan 7's Championship for the first time in 2000 under the captaincy of Ashan Cooray.They repeated the feat in 2004 and 2006 under the captaincy of Imran Bistamin and Shaheer Reyal respectively. Talent, discipline, dedication and teamwork were all there in our 2001 Rugby Team when we re-wrote the history books of School Rugby by annexing the 'Milo' under -19 League Rugby Crown on the 20th June 2001 with a fantastic 10-8 victory over Issipathana College. The "Antonian Eagles" had finally landed the plum in school Rugby!!! To quote our Kandy sports correspondent, Mr. Hafiz Marikkar," The pride of the Antonians were their forwards - the two props Suranga Swarnatilleke and Mohamed Imshard, their ho**er Mahesh Liyanage, the two towering second rowers, Prasad Batapola and Cedric Rodrigo, who both leaped high into the skies and were outstanding in their play and the third row made up of Asela Rajaguru, R. George and Eranga Swarnatilleke, who could match up to the best of any opposing set of forwards. The way the Antonian forwards played will be a good lesson to other up and coming players. The scrum-half Prasad Chaturanga was outstanding while fly-half Tikiri Dissanayake the skipper and play maker of the side, did everything expected of him as the captain. Centres Danushka de Silva and Pradeep Liyanage, wingers Ramasamy Priyadarshan and D. Wanigasekera were at their best while Saman Darmadasa did a fine job at number 15. The other players who gave solid support and played whenever necessary were Surendra Rajakrishna, Mohamed Nasreen, Indika Premachandra, Gamini Bandara, Mohamed Refai, Imran Bastamin, Chamara Rajaguru, Buddhika Premachandra, Chamara Waidyarante, Viraj Perera and Dilip Perera.." Out of this galaxy of Antonian Ruggerites Priyantha Ekanayake stands tall and proud, being the first Antonian to captain the Sri Lanka Rugby Team, and that too for a record ten consecutive years

Past Captains
1958 - A. Setunga
1959 - Andre Titus
1960 - Andre Titus
1961 - Winchu Wei
1962 - Winchu Wei
1963 - Ranjith Fernando/Saliya Kulatunga
1964 - Saliya Kulatunga
1965 - Michael Macky
1966 - Patrick Gunaratne
1967 - Basil Hyde
1968 - H.M. Kudu
1969 - John Henry
1970 - Peter Corteling
1971 - Steve De Silva
1972 - Tuan Dole
1973 - Jeffrey Paul
1974 - Arshad Dole - Mohammed Ali
1975 - Sarath Fernando
1976 - Nihal Gunaratne
1977 - Selvin Bulathsinghala
1978 - Haren Goonawardena / Reinzie Martinez
1979 - Hubert Harley
1980 - Baratha Seneviratne
1981 - L. V. Ekanayake
1982 - Mohammed Nazaar
1983 - Channa De Costa
1984 - Priyantha Ekanayake
1985 - Mohammed Naliff
1986 - Sanjaya Amunugama
1987 - Senaka Kaluarachchi
1988 - Leroy Fonseka
1989 - Shanitha Fernando
1990 - Rohan Jayasundera
1991 - Lasantha Wijesuriya
1992 - Lalantha Karunatilleke
1993 - Chaminda Marasinghe
1994 - Suranga Kodituwakku
1995 - Malith Silva
1996 - Sameera Silva
1997 - Amila Kulatunga
1998 - Iranga Dissanayake/Isuru Herath
1999 - Salman Kudus
2000 - Ashan Cooray
2001 - Tikiri Dissanayake
2002 - Asela Rajaguru
2003 - Suranga Swarnatilake
2004 - Imran Bistamin
2005 - Shaheer Reyal
2006 - Sanjaya Rjaguru
2007 - Kusal Rankothge
2008 - Chanaka Gunarathene
2009 - Amila Weligampola
2010 - Tharindu Chanaka