The dynamic Kingswoodian, Kandy SC player and Sri Lankan flanker Tharindu Chathuranga has been handed over the duty to lead Kandy Sports Club for the 2025/2026 rugby season. Tharindu’s prime objective will be to defend their title for yet another year, as they were the champions of last season in both rugby league and the Clifford Cup.
Tharindu Chathuranga started playing rugby under the guidance of the veteran coach Praneeth Weranga when he was studying at Eheliyagoda Central. Therefore, he has been nicknamed “Ehali”, and nowadays that is more popular than his original name.
- Former Trinity ruggerite Tikiri Ellepola retains presidency of CR & FC
- Rajiv Perera re-elected as the President of Havelock SC
- Powerhouse Lasindu to Lead CR & FC
Because of his rare skills, interest in the game and unwavering commitment, he managed to steal the spotlight of many elite schools in the rugby arena. In 2010, he got a call-up for the Radles Hills school, which is regarded as the cradle of Sri Lanka schools rugby. There, Tharindu has excelled in the game under the coaching of Nalaka Weerakkody, Priyantha Gunaratne and Ananda Kasturiarachchi of Kingswood College. This talented school player was lucky enough to sharpen his skills under such skilled and experienced coaches.
In 2013, he got selected for the Sri Lanka Schools National Squad, and he got an opportunity to tour in Chinese Taipei. After representing the Kingswood College 1st XV from 2011 to 2013, soon after leaving the school, he joined the undisputed champions in the club rugby arena, Kandy Sports Club. Though he joined as a future prospect, since his first season he has become one of the reliable players in the champion outfit.
Tharindu is widely regarded as a more dangerous player when he is in the defence and reputed for high technical and highly accurate tackling, and also he is reputed for quickly stealing the ball at the breakdowns. Tharindu’s attacking skills cannot be underestimated, and he was among the leading try scorers for his club consistently during the recent years.
Tharindu earned the national jersey with immediate effect in 2013, and he proved his class during the recently concluded Asia Rugby Top 4 Championship. Tharindu was up against formidable sides such as Hong Kong, South Korea, and the UAE and never looked back and fought for glory.
During his club career he was a loyal servant for Kandy SC over 12 years, and he was instrumental in the club’s supremacy and dominance in domestic rugby. Tharindu’s career will be a motivator for any schoolboy, especially for the outstation players. Though he is unarguably a rare talent and committed player, he will face a challenge to transform his skills into leadership and stabilise his team. The fate of Kandy SC’s title defence mission will be decided by how he handles his newest challenge.
