National Tusker Sandesh Jayawickrama tipped to lead Havelock SC

Former St. Peter’s College rugby skipper (2016/17), Sri Lanka Junior Sevens, fifteens and senior national fly-half player, Sandesh Jayawickrama is tipped to lead the Havelock Sports Club for the 2025/2026 rugby season.

Sandesh came in to play rugby by following the footprints of his father, and he had a sporting environment in his home. As a talented future prospect, he played school rugby as a fly half, centre, and fullback for his alma mater, St. Peter’s College Bambalapitiya, during his early career.

Due to his excellent and unwavering performances, he went on to captain the school rugby team in the inter-school rugby season 2016. During his school career Sandesh immensely contributed to uplifting the “Bamba Brigade” to greater heights in the Sri Lanka Schools Rugby circuit.

Further, he achieved national colours by representing the Sri Lanka national under-20 XVs side at the Junior Rugby Asiad 2017. Further, he represented the national under-20 rugby 7s side Asia Rugby Under-20 Sevens Series 2017, King’s Park Hong Kong. There, Sandesh helped the Sri Lankan side to win the Cup Runners-up title by just going down to Asian Rugby Powerhouse Hong Kong, and the team comfortably beat the sides from Malaysia, the Philippines, Chinese Taipei, China and, most importantly, the formidable South Korean side in the semifinals by 33 – 05.

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In 2019, Sandesh achieved a remarkable landmark by getting into the Sri Lanka National Pool at the Asian Rugby Championship.

Sandesh started his club career with the Cops (Police SC), and later he signed with the prestigious Park Club as a fly-half, and he is continuing his long contract, which should be considered as a testament to his loyalty.

Sandesh, who is truly an excellent and resilient player, was lucky to sharpen his skills under the several veteran coaches, namely Shantha Dharmarathna, the late Senaka Balasuriya, Asiri Gamini, D.P. Udayasiri, Mohamed Sherif, Sanath Martis, Colin Denish Peter, Rajeew Perera, Sudath Sampath, Shamly Nawaz, Asanka Rodrigo and Lakala Perera at the schools, clubs and international levels.

Sandesh acted as the vice captain of the Park Club during the last couple of seasons in the Mastercard Inter-Club Rugby Season. Though the Havelock Club came with occasional brilliances, sadly they fell short of silverware due to inconsistency in the performances. It is no secret that, under the new leadership of Sandesh, the Pink Army is seeking revolution to bring a league title after a lapse of 13 years. Sandesh, who is an exceptional player and not an alien to the leadership, is well capable of executing what his club is expecting from him.