The death occurred of ex-national skipper and legendary Sri Lanka prop forward Y.C. Chang aged 83, in Colombo on Wednesday morning (22).

The late Chang, who was also a polarising referee and a strong administrator, was once referred to as the ‘original John Wayne’ of Sri Lanka rugby, for his larger than life personality and his indefatigable spirit.

This is with allusions to the former US Academy Award-winning actor, who exhibited an indomitable character both on and off the silver screen, during the ‘Golden Age’, of the American cinema.

Chang, an old boy of Trinity, besides being a former national cap, was also an ex-President of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLFU), CH and FC, and Asia Rugby. 

It is said that on numerous occasions, he had stood out for the rights of the players both at club and national-level and the game overall, by ruffling feathers with rugby administrators at the time.

A common feature of his life was that one either loved or hated him and there was no middle ground with Y.C.

A rugby critic stated that with his demise, the game in Sri Lanka has lost another of its ‘loveable larrikins’, from an era, when it was truly acclaimed as the people’s sport. 

(JK)