• He led the Peterite Rugby Team to great glory and brought great honour and pride to his school, St. Peter’s College, Colombo

We are referring to the brilliant Peterite rugby captain of St. Peter’s College, Colombo in 2023, Ashain Madugasge. He was born in April 2004, and lives in Mount Lavinia. He has a younger brother (Hashara Madugasge), who also plays rugby in the Under-16 age group for St. Peter’s College, and his father (Umesh Madugasge) also played Rugby for S. Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia. Ashain is the 86th rugby captain of St. Peter's College. 

Ashain started playing rugby at the tender age of 8, and then proceeded to play in the different school age groups. He captained the Under-16 rugby team and some other teams in the more junior age groups. He then directly moved to playing for the First XV team and became its captain in his third year (2023). He usually plays as a flanker, and has been described by  Jerome Brohier, another former star Peterite rugby player, as an outstanding and brilliant flanker and star Peterite rugby captain.

The champion St. Peter’s College Rugby Team of 2023

The Peter’s College Rugby Team (also called the Bamba brigade) of 2023, became both League and Knockout Schools Rugby Champions. This ‘rugby double champions’ achievement was after a long gap of 13 years. It was in 2010, under the captaincy of Keith Gunasinghe, that the Peterites last achieved such a feat. In 2023, the St. Peter's College rugby team also became Champions in the Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club (CR&FC) Centenary Rugby 7’s tournament and runners up in both the All Island 7’s and the SPC Centenary International U20 Rugby 7‘s tournaments( lost to UTS Australia) .  

According to an ardent Peterite rugby supporter, Ashain always led his champion St. Peter’s team from the front. He was a fantastic role model for everyone in the team.  He motivated all the team players to give their very best, throughout the league and knockout stages of the rugby season. It was clear to all who watched Ashain lead and play, that he always kept a clear and focussed mind and also the brilliant way he got the entire team to do the same.  

We had a cordial chat with the man himself on his memorable journey in the oval ball game.

Following are the excerpts from the interview:

Ashain can you tell us about some special and memorable rugby moments before the famous 2023 season? 

Becoming man of the match in the game against Dharmaraja (that St. Peter’s won in the 2022 season), and winning the Under-13 and Under-14 School Rugby Championships in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Ashain in your view, what is the winning essence for a team’s success in Rugby or sport in general, especially in a team sport?

I think maintaining good team discipline is an essential and necessary ingredient for any team’s success. I also feel that having suitable guidelines on how players should act, both on and, off the field, is very important. Particularly, off field behaviour, such as proper times when the players should switch off and go to sleep, what they should eat or drink, plays such an important part in getting them optimally ready for weekly matches and competitions.

How is your current day to day life going after leaving school?

Currently I am pursuing a degree in Information Technology and in my first year. I hope to specialise in Cybersecurity, and will be going to Australia to complete my degree studies in Swinburne University in Melbourne and I hope to play Rugby for the university. 

Why did you choose Australia as your next destination in life?

Actually a huge number of my friends and relatives already live there. Although I am currently in full time education and intending on ensuring a good world-class degree, I still go to gym regularly and spend time on the walk track to keep fit. I very specifically ensure to get eight hours of sleep daily. 

What is your next best goal in rugby?

Well my current sporting goal is to represent a good rugby team at club level and to then play for the National Under-25 Rugby Team. 

Which rugby players do you admire the most, and why is this so? 

Sam Keane, the former All Blacks Rugby Captain during the Rugby World Cup, and Tarinda Ratwatte, who currently plays for Kandy Sports Club, are two players I admire a lot. 

What other interests or hobbies do you have

I like listening to pop music and playing with four of my pets, who are Shih Tzu puppies. I also do some art work and like travelling to see and experience new adventures and exciting places. And I make it a point to visit the local Buddhist temple, whenever I am able to.   

So far, who have been your main motivators and supporters in both rugby and your school life?

There are plenty of persons who have been responsible for my rugby and school success and for reaching high levels, both on and off the rugby field. I am very grateful to my mother (Apeksha Madugasge), father, grandmother, and aunt for all the guidance and support they have continuously given me.

I also have so many people and groups who were very supportive towards mine and the team’s success, including the brilliant and very knowledgeable and wonderful coaches (Head Coach Sanath Martis, Coach Rajeew Perera, Coach Banuka Nanayakkara), teachers-in-charge (Noel Cooray), all the other support and ground staff, the Reverend Fathers (Rev. Fr. Rector and Rev. Fr. Milan), and teachers of St. Peter’s, the old boys, and present students. 

I would also like to specifically mention the help given by several teachers at school, when intense training during the season took players away from some of their classes. These great teachers shared notes from the lessons electronically and did extra-classes to help the students catch up on any missed lessons. I would like to personally give a special word of thanks to my class teacher Premani Fernando, and Advanced Level Sectional Head, Iromi De Silva, who helped many players to successfully combine both competitive school sports and their lessons. 

What important parting advice do you have for school boy rugby players of the future?

My advice to youngsters doing sports, is please just enjoy both your sports and studies. St. Peter’s College had taught me many life lessons and that playing rugby taught me the importance of hard and focused preparation and work, and playing as a team. It is important to balance both studies and playing a sport, and learning how to accept both victory and defeat in good spirit. 

According to Ashain, in 2023 they were able to build a different rugby culture at St Peter’s College. His fervent hope is that this great team culture would continue to grow stronger in the coming years. He stated that during the season, there was always a culture of correcting any identified mistakes in play or tactics, and that they always wanted to come back much stronger. 

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the writers and do not reflect the views or positions of the publication.