Wesley College Colombo, celebrating their 151st year this year, launched their 69th rugby season with an official press conference and sponsors’ felicitation held at the historic pavilion at Wesley College Grounds, the Campbell Park, on Thursday (8).
4th-year Coloursman Sandul Gammanpila will be leading the Double Blues as captain with 3rd-year Coloursman Abdul Haadhi as vice captain. The 4th-year Coloursman Hashim Thabeeth will be the deputy vice captain.
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The Wesleyites will be guided this year yet again under a strong Kingswood-Wesley alumni coaching combination. Former Wesley, CR&FC, Havies league-winning captain and Sri Lanka national tusker Henry Terence is the head coach; 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.
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Citizens Development Business (CDB) has continued to support Wesley Rugby as Principal Sponsor while strengthening a decade-long partnership. Deedat continues their support as a Sponsor for yet another season. Hemas Pharmaceutical, with their product ‘Appeton,’ are joining as Sponsor.
Clothing Partner: GORDONE Sri Lanka and WITCO (Wakkumbura Industrial Technology)
Gumshield Partner: Align Dental Care
Higher Education Partner: Esoft (ESU)
Radio Partner: FOX 91.4
Digital Strategic Partner: DB (Double Blue)
Print Partner: idea
Entertainment Partner: CMB Events
A look back at 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,’ who did yeoman service to uplift the game. In terms of the Schools Rugby League, the Wesley College lads are yet to win a league title; however, they were an inch 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 runner-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 and were knockout semi-finalists.
Last year Wesley retained the Blaze Trophy by defeating their traditional rivals Kingswood for the third time in a row for the first time in history. Wesley’s oldest rival in rugby is Royal College, whom they have played since 1956.
Reggie Bartholomuesz, Zubair Doray, Ranjit Abeydeera, Ransiri Sahabandu, Cavan Gauder, Iqbal Musafer, Kishan Musafer, Zulfikar Haaleemdeen, 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.
The Wesley Rugby fraternity urges all the rugby-loving public to enjoy the game with true sportsmanship whilst uplifting the spirit of the game.
Wesley Rugby 2025— league Fixtures—1st Round
6th June – Science College – Havelock Park
13th June – D.S. Senanayake College – Longden 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)
Thomas’ College – Sir Oliver Goonetilleke Shield (TBD)
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