Let’s take a closer look at the Kingswood College Rugby team competing in the Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025.
History
The first team in Sri Lanka to take to the oval ball game in 1893, Kingswood College Kandy played the first rugby game in Sri Lanka in 1906 against hometown rivals Trinity College. The school from Randles Hill has an illustrious history which spans over a century.
- Dharmaraja College Rugby, out to break the hoodoo
- Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025 set to send Sri Lanka into a Rugby craze yet again
- Dialog Schools Rugby League 2025 to begin on 6th June
- Meet the captains who are battling for a single crown
Although they have been in and out of the Top Division, their 2020/21 Rugby teams looked very promising although those seasons were cut short due to Covid-19.
2003-2005 was the Golden Era for Kingswood Rugby as they won the League Title on two occasions. The last major triumph was in 2005, where they won the Knockout Championship.
Kingswood College has produced some top rugby players, as well as coaches, administrators and referees which adds more colour to their history of rugby. Fazil Marija, Nalaka Weerakkody, Nilfer Ibrahim, Roshan and Gayan Weerarathne brothers just to name a few.
Current Outfit
The 2025 Kingswoodian Outfit, led by Thaveesha Ekanayake, will have the team’s hooker, Dhulisha Rasanjana as his deputy.
The team has been at the bottom of the table for the past couple of seasons. However they put in a massive effort in the Dialog Schools Knockout Pre-Quarterfinal against Royal College, where they almost caused a huge upset in the opening week, by narrowly missing out on a win.
The team has some big bulky ball carriers, and fast running backs. Will this be the season Kingswood starts to rebuild a great team?
Players to Watch out for
Skipper Thaveesha Ekanayake will play a pivotal role for the boys from Randles Hill, alongside Sanuth sethmal and Rivin Shashen in the backline.
The vice captain Dhulisha Rasanjana will lead the pack. They will ride a lot on his experience during the upcoming season.
Coaches
Kingswood College will have veteran coach Ananda ‘Castro’ Kasthuriarachchi as their Head Coach/ Director of Rugby .Roshan Rathnayake will be the backs coach and Rajitha Abeykoon will take duties as the forwards coach.
The team will have Indunil Wickramasinghe as the Trainer.
Expectations for the Season
Kingswood has not been at the top of their game for the last few seasons, with them having seldom victories. Their expectations and aspirations for the 2025 season would be pretty simple. It would be to get their processes sorted, and work towards a larger goal of rebuilding the brand of rugby they are known for.
The team will look to cause a few upsets and maybe spring a surprise or two during the season. But as spectators, all that they would want, is for the team coached by the legend ‘Castro’, is to play some good open rugby.
Full Squad
Thavisha Ekanayake, Dhulisha Rasanjana, Sadew Sathsara, Rivin Shashen, Akila Dilshan, Sanuth Sethmal, Sachintha Naveesha, Pansilu Thakshila, Sanuka Nisanka, Tharusha Bandara, Dinuga Senod, Senura Methnuka, Chanidu Adhikari, Sajith Cassim, Harith Hettiarachchi, Temash Geeshan, Thushan Madugalla, Menusha Marasinghe, Roja Karawita, Shamith Shafraz, Sadew Atigoda, Maduranga Pushpakumara, Aathif Sharukh, Hasthika Karunagoda, Dulaj Fernando, Ashik Asmi, Imaad Jhan, Hirun Karunathilaka, Oshada Ekanayaka, Sathsilu Yalingasingha, Dineth Ranaweera
Fixtures
- Vs S. Thomas’ College – 7th June at the Big Club Grounds, Mount Lavinia
- Vs Isipathana College – 15th June at Bogambara
- Vs Zahira College – 21st June at the Zahira College Grounds, Maradana
- Vs Mahanama College – 29th June at Bogambara
- Vs Dharmaraja College – 5th July at Bogambara
