• Fans speak with the Inter-Club season in full swing  

Nittawela, Kandy, on a usual Saturday or Sunday evening is dull as ditchwater. However, when the club rugby season starts, the sporting cathedral of Kandy –  the Nittawela fortress – comes to life as firecrackers go up in the air with raucous crowds yelling and chanting their favourite club to victory until their throats run out of words. Today The Daily Morning Sports spoke to some fans and supporters of Kandy Sports Club (KSC) here at home in the streets of the hill capital and overseas. 

Arguably the island nation’s only premier rugby union club to have a genuine die-hard group of supporters from all walks of life, Kandy SC garners support from the vegetable vendor at the municipal market in Kandy to the topmost CEO of giant corporates. Such is the dynamic of this club where crowds fill up stands during match day and roads get chock-a-blocked with traffic as all roads lead to Nittawela on match day.

The Kandy Sports Club was founded in 1874 by a group of expatriate coffee planters and others working in the plantations sector in and around Kandy, as the Kandy Athletic, Boating, Cricket, Football, and Dancing Club. In 1888, 14 years later, the name was changed to Kandy Sports Club when the club also started playing rugby, hockey, and polo. Bogambara grounds was the homebase until 1939 when the British Colonial Army took over during the Second World War. Later, the buildings were taken over by the General Hospital to house its offices, however Kandy SC continued to play rugby at the Bogambara grounds without a club house. In 1949, the Municipal Council released the garbage-dumping ground area at Nittawela to the club, which has now become a world-class facility and the spiritual home of generations of ruggerites.

Kandy SC is the most successful Sri Lankan club rugby outfit, winning 18 League Titles in the last two decades, which is the most wins by any club since the expanded competition commenced in 1950. The club has also won twenty Clifford Cups and in the period between 1995 and 2012 the club did not lose a Clifford Cup Title. Kandy SC won the League Title for a record nine consecutive years between 2000 and 2009.

Here are some views expressed by some of the ardent supporters of Kandy Sports Club to the The Daily Morning Sports on what Kandy SC mean to them, what they think of the club season this year and beyond.

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Bilaal Marikar

Kandy looks to be in full flow this season, and the team chemistry feels like it's off the charts. The offloads, the passes, the understanding between players feel so fluid, and looks like a completely different outfit from last year. The addition of players like Zumri has been very refreshing and an additional component that excites us, and having Sri Lankan capped players like Diluksha Dange coming in from the bench shows tremendous depth and experience to the squad. It’s clear that Kandy is back with a vengeance.

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Kevin Dhananjan

What Kandy lacked last year was a solid bench with young talent, but this year, they have brought in some excellent players, including Shaahid Zumri, arguably the best player of the recently-concluded schools’ rugby season. With Srinath ‘Soori’ Sooriyabandara leading the team, they are definitely coming back to reclaim the Title after losing it last season. Fingers crossed. (Wishing a speedy recovery for Charles Praveen.) 

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Anan Manzil

As an ardent follower of Kandy SC, I have to say the team’s performance is incredibly promising so far. After dominating the club rugby scene from 2014 to 2022/23 with consistent wins, the team faced a setback last year. However, this season, they’ve come back with even more hunger, evident in their game plan and confidence. Just after two games, the mentality of the boys reflects the spirit of the good old days. If they keep up this momentum, they will be tough competition for any opponent. This season is all about regaining the lost glory, and with their current form, I’m confident Kandy will reclaim its place at the top.

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Jehan Triston

To me, Kandy and rugby is something that always reminds me of home. Currently residing in the UAE and always on the run with work stress and other responsibilities, a weekend of rugby is one of the things that keeps us folks away from all the problems. Sometimes few of us Lankans, especially friends from Kandy, we all get together and watch Kandy SC matches on the big screen. Even though the atmosphere is different, we still share the same childhood memories of watching the game at the jam-packed stadium where you meet people from all corners of Kandy. I wish my one and only club rugby team until my last breath, Kandy Sports Club, to clinch the Title this year and bring the glory back to the hills.

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Fazmina Imamudeen

Rugby in Kandy is more than a game; it’s part of life. As a woman who grew up with men who played, loved, and still love rugby, I’ve seen how it breaks through boundaries, bringing people together in ways that nothing else can. You don’t need to be at Nittawela to feel it – you hear it in the streets, in conversations at tea stalls, while at the gym, and in the quiet pride of families who’ve supported the team for generations.

My brother would say: “Sis, it’s not about who’s on the field. It’s about what Kandy rugby means. It’s resilience, unity, and heart.” So, I think, it’s in knowing that whether you’re in the marketplace or watching from home, you’re part of something bigger.

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Kapila Kahapola

It was in 1987, I began following Kandy Sports Club more closely as a school boy, at a time when the team regularly suffered heavy defeats against Colombo-based teams, as well as the Tri-Forces and Police SC.  

Fast forward to the present, and Kandy SC’s 2024/25 team seems to be on a mission. Under the guidance of head coach Fazil Marija, the team has shown remarkable improvement. Coach Fazil, a legend of the game, appears to have mastered his role as head coach, bolstered by the confidence from that historic 78th Bradby Shield victory – a win achieved after 10 long years.  This season, the Kandy SC boys have elevated their game to an entirely new level, as demonstrated by their commanding performances in their first two outings. With a well-balanced combination of seasoned players and young talent, this team is setting new standards in club rugby. The saying: ‘Rugby is a game for everyone’, rings true for Kandy SC, as their roster reflects a perfect blend of experience and youthful energy. 

Players to watch out for in this season are two Ratwattes Tarinda and Nigel, Chatura Soysa, Shaahid Zumri, as well as the old war horse Dhanushka Ranjan. 

As for their opponents – particularly CR&FC and Havelock SC – they may well have some sleepless nights ahead, knowing the formidable challenge that awaits them when facing this dominant Kandy SC side.

Views from Kandy Sports Club:

KSC forwards coach Henry Terence 

Transitioning to Kandy Sports Club has been both a challenge and a rewarding experience. The expectations here are incredibly high, but that’s what makes it such a great opportunity to grow as a coach. Working with a talented and motivated team, both on and off the field, has been inspiring. This season, I’m looking forward to finishing strong and contributing to the club’s continued success. It’s an exciting journey, and I’m eager to see how we progress as a team throughout the season.

Meanwhile, at the end of 2 weeks of action Kandy Sports Club sits comfortably at top with two out of two wins.

Week 1: Kandy SC beat Sri Lions 61-14

Week 2: Kandy SC beat Army SC 70-05