Wesley College Colombo, celebrating their 151st year this year, will be playing their 69th Rugby season this year. Let’s take a closer look at the Wesley College Rugby team competing in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025.
History
Taking up the oval ball game in 1956 under Eddie Buell as their first Captain, Wesley has come a long way in the game. Former School Master Donton D’Abrera is dubbed as the ‘Father of Wesley Rugby’. The Wesleyites are yet to win a league title: however, they were inches close in 1997 and 2003/04, ending as runners-up. Wesley’s glorious year was 2013, winning their maiden 1st XV silverware, the President’s Trophy Knock-outs, under the mercurial Rahul de Silva. They ended up as the runners-up in 2002, 2004, and 2019, the most recent successful season under Mursheed Doray (League 4th). In 2022, under Tharusha Jayaweera, they finished the league at 4th place, and were knockout Semi Finalists.
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In 2024, Wesley retained the Blaze Trophy by defeating their traditional rivals Kingswood for the third time in a row, for the first time in history, and they put on a decent show in the league whilst ending as Semi Finalists in the knockouts. Wesley’s oldest rival in Rugby is Royal College, whom they have played against since 1956. Reggie Bartholomuesz, Zubair Doray, Ranjit Abeydeera, Ransiri Sahabandu, Cavan Gauder, Iqbal Musafer, Kishan Musafer, Zulfikar Haleemdeen, Duminda Pulukkuttiarachchi, Kasun de Silva, Henry Terence, Niranjan Wickremaratne, Niroshan Karunanayake, Samantha Lakshan, Dulanjana Wijesinghe, Rahul de Silva, Shehan Dias, Sithum Peiris, Shashika Fernando, Mursheed Doray, Vimukthi Gamage and Hafiz Thabeeth are some notable players who donned the national jersey. Mursheed, Vimukthi and Hafiz are the most recent Tuskers who played at the Asian Rugby qualifiers against Malaysia and the New Zealand U-85 kg team.
Current Outfit
4th year Coloursman Sandul Gammanpila will lead the Double Blues this year – his father Asanka Gammanpila captained Wesley in 1998. 3rd year Coloursman Abdul Haadhi is the Vice-Captain, whose father captained in 2000. Meanwhile, 4th year Coloursman Hashim Thabeeth will be Deputy Vice-Captain. His dad too played for Wesley in 1995, making the Les Blues rich with generational sporting pedigree.
The team also has got the services of back to back (2022/2023) All Island Under 14 Championship-winning team players in their squad, as well as the Under 16 Commanders Cup Championship-winning players.
Players to watch out for
So far, the starboy has been Kavisha Dilhara, who has 5 tries under his belt after the knockout tourney. However, the Blues from Campbell Park have a massive say in their well-drilled forwards unit led by the Skipper, with the likes of Hamdaan Safraz pumping the machine. Abdul Haadhi along with Kaizer Lye will be a crucial combo in the days to come. All in all, the Double Blues look fit to beat anyone on their day. However, they need to get their act together from lessons learnt in the knockouts.
Coaching Unit
The Wesleyites will be guided this year yet again under a strong Kingswood-Wesley alumni coaching combination. Current Kandy SC Forwards Coach, 2005 Wesley Vice-Captain, CR&FC, Havies League-winning Captain and Sri Lanka national Tusker Henry Terence is Head Coach, while former Kingswood, CR&FC, Kandy SC, Sri Lanka and 7s specialist Amjad Buksh and former Wesley, Sri Lanka, CH&FC and Navy winger Niranjan Wickremeratne will be the Backs Coach. Former Kingswood, Sri Lanka and ex-Navy SC Skipper Thilina Weerasinghe is the Kicking Coach. Meanwhile, the experienced Tharanga Galapitawatta is the Physiotherapist, Madhuka Marasinghe is the Trainer, whilst Pastor Emil Lasantha and Bro. Piumal Perera will continue as Team Manager and MIC.
Expectations for the season
Great success in Junior Rugby and average performance in the senior level has been the worrying story for Wesley Rugby for many generations. This time around, the lads from Campbell Park will be eyeing to cast away spells that have haunted them for the past 7 decades to clinch their maiden league silverware.
Full Squad
Forwards:
- Sandul Gammanpila – No.8 (Captain)
- Hashim Thabeeth – Flanker, 2nd row
- Thidasa Athvidu – Flanker
- Nelith Hapugalle – Prop
- Milhan Miskin – 2nd row, Flanker
- Hivin Uthmika – Flanker
- Nethan Diyon – Front row, 2nd row
- Kevan Ahkil – 2nd row, Flanker
- Keshara Rahul – Prop, Hooker
- Liam Onasiz – Hooker
- Mohamed Ajmal – Flanker
- Tharush Adithya – Prop
- Manuga Jayaweera – No.8, 2nd row
- Abdul Rahman – Prop
- Joseph Israel – Prop, No.8
- Hamdaan Safraz – 2nd row
- Pawan Thiranagama – 2nd row
- Nimeth Jayanetti – 2nd row, Flanker
- Vinai Rishikesh – No.8, Flanker
- Ruwel Fernando – Prop
- Sheshan Divon – Flanker, 2nd row
- Naham Hemachandra – Flanker, 2nd row
- Ashen Emmanuel – Prop
- Senuth Dilnada – Prop, Hooker
Backs:
- Abdul Haadhi – Fullback, Fly half
- Dinaru Lankendra – Centre
- Fawaz Fawmy – 2nd Centre, Full back
- Jaward Marjan – Fly half, Fullback
- Ehren Ali – Centre
- Parthana Rodrigo – Wing
- Kaizer Lye – Fly half, Centre
- Mahadev Menthushan – Wing
- Raashid Asif – Fly half
- Sharfaan Wadood – Half back
- Ayaan Hussain – Fullback, Wing
- Akesh Ryan – Half back
- Raqeeb Rahaman – Wing
- Shehab Hisham – Wing, Centre
- Kavisha Dilhara – Wing
- Adeesha Vitharana – Centre, Wing
- Ahyan Johar – Fly half, Full Back
- Shifaan Inthikab – Utility back
- Nepul Kularathna – Wing
- Matheesha Silva – Centre
Fixtures – 1st Round
7th June – Science College – Havelock Park
13th June – D. S. Senanayake College – Longdon Place
21st June – St. Anthony’s College – Nittawela
28th June – St. Peter’s College – Havelock Park
5th July – Ananda College – Havelock Park
(2nd Round starts on 3rd week of July)
Kingswood College – Blaze Trophy (TBD)
S . Thomas’ College – Sir Oliver Goonetilleke Shield (TBD)
