One of Sri Lanka’s more prominent clubs in the Rugby circles, Havelock Sports Club is all set to face another challenging club rugby season where they will look to repeat what they did in 2013 where they ended Kandy SC’s ten year winning streak.
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The club was founded in 1915 and since then it has produced many players who have gone on to represent Sri Lanka. Michael Jayasekera and Hisham Abdeen are two of the more prominent players to have come from the Park club. Jayasekera is the current chairman of selectors for the national rugby team whilst Abdeen is also a member of selection panel. Havelocks Sports Club is well known as the ‘Havies’ is the only team that wears pink with pride.
Recent
Captain Henry Terrance’s men delivered two-fold on the investment made by the club in the 2013 as they clinched the title after a few years chasing Kandy SC. However, the men in pink finished third in the next year and second last season. This season they have lost their key player Danushka Ranjan, who captained Sri Lanka sevens in the recently concluded Asia 7s series. Ranjan is set to debut in the hill capital with Kandy SC, however, this club has enough experience and fire power to challenge any team they come up against. Prop forward Ganuka Dissanayake, who was a part of Isipathana College’s triple title winning team in 2014, has also moved to Kandy SC.
Last season Havies won 11 out of the 14 games with 2 losses and 1 draw, with their hooker Prasath Madusankha, playing his heart out to finish as the top try scorer. His 12 tries saw him earning a Sri Lanka XV’s debut.
The Squad
Dushmantha Priyadarshana, also known as ‘Bodi’, will lead the park club this season. He made a huge impact last year and showed very good mobility in the front row. There is a lot of experience in the forwards pack as Prasath Madusankha, Liston Flatney and Jason Melder will provide enough weight whilst Sharo Fernando, Sudarshana Muthuthantri and the Rajapaksa brothers, Yoshitha and Rohitha, will strengthen the third row.
Fly-halves Dulaj Perera and Niroshan Fernando are both back after injury lay-offs and with both having international experience, it’s likely that one of them will have to move to full back or center to accommodate the other. Mithun Hapugoda, who missed out on the Asia 7s series due to an injury he sustained during the Sri Lanka Super Sevens, is now fit and ready to dazzle with his speed and goose-steps. Chamara Dabare will also look to do well in his second stint with the Park Club.
Young Blood
Sudam Sooriarachchi will have a huge responsibility at the half back position while Kevin Dixon, Nishon Perera, Lasindu Ishan, Chamika Kusal and Vimukthi Rahula who were all part of the National Under 20 squad made their club rugby debuts last year and will have look to continue their form in the club season as well.
Back room staff
Tulagese Tavita or ‘Laga’ as he is more fondly referred to as, was the man who was in charge last year, however, Ronny Ibrahim, former national coach, has been appointed to lead the Havies this year. Ibrahim coached Sri Lanka in the Serendib Cup in 2013 where the Tuskers beat Poland. He has also coached India on a short stint and he believes that the Havies will do well in the coming season.
Roshan Opatha continue as manager for the second year running.
Squad 2016/17
