- CR last beat Kandy in 2010 (Colombo)
- Kandy’s last loss to CR in Nittawela was 28 years ago
Today, sports-wise, where is the place to be in Sri Lanka? The answer is simple: where else but in Nittawela at 4.30 p.m.?
All roads lead to the hill capital of Kandy, where in Nittawela, surrounded by the misty hills of Digana, lies the sanctum of a playing field which at times becomes the most revered sporting venue in the island nation.
Kandy and its charm had, have, and will continue to have its love affair with a game etched into the hearts and minds of its people – rugby! The ‘hooligans’ game played by gentlemen’ is the term the world coined for this beautiful sport, which has earned it. A game played in Kandy – a city that never ceases to amaze, especially during an evening filled with 30 players battling it out – equals entertainment at its peak.
It is often said that one of the – or in fact ‘the best’ – forms of entertainment in the sacred city is watching rugby on a Sunday evening while sipping your favourite beverage with a side of ‘kadala’ (chickpeas). This often reminds the writer of the famous statement by late great Aussie cricketer/commentator Tony Greig about the Galle Fort: “If you want to go to heaven, come to Galle and eat some ‘isso wadey’ while drinking king coconut.”
Rugby indeed is a heaven for everyone in Kandy; its Kandy Sports Club (KSC) is etched in their hearts. Unlike Colombo’s multiple clubs, KSC is the only rugby union club in the hill capital, hence garnering supporters from all walks of life. A Kandy match in Nittawela is the place to be if you want to see real unity, with people from all walks of life cheering their team on until their throats run dry.
This time around Kandy is buzzing, waiting to welcome their age-old rivals from Colombo – the Ceylonese Rugby and Football Club (CR&FC), or CR as it is commonly known. When it comes to championships, they know the winning mantra.
Kandy is also the only city that still continues the culture of displaying posters prior to a club or school game, notifying the public of the date and venue of the next match. It’s a unique Kandy habit that you will not come across in the island’s commercial capital.
It is certain that CR&FC has been the most improved team from last season. They were tested by Police, CH, and Havies, and the Reds Shirts are in for a cliffhanger against the defending champions. They are rejuvenated in spirit after a well-laid out three-year plan by the club management.
Kandy will take on CR at the final game of Round 1 of the Nippon Paint Inter Club Rugby League today (21) at Nittawela, with both teams remaining unbeaten.
Interestingly, both the Captain and Coach of the Longdon Place club have played for both Kandy and CR, with skipper Suhiru Anthony coming to Colombo after a six-year stint in the hill capital, around the same time the boys of Colombo tasted their last victory against Kandy in 2010 at Longdon Place. However, they are yet to taste victory in Nittawela after a quarter-century.
Let’s wait and watch what is to unfold this evening at 4.30 p.m. in the hills of Nittawela.
After many moons we caught up with Boa Athu – the island nation’s most-wanted ‘stats-pert’ who delivers a no-folly, straight-up analysis of the oval ball code. He is a World Rugby-certified Coach Educator with New Zealand Rugby and the champion Coach of the Gallaher Cup-winning Manukau Rovers.
How excited are you for the game?
The only two real game-changing teams in the club competition are going at each other and of course Kandy is the perennial favourite against what seems like a resurgent CR&FC team. It’s always good when you have traditional rivalries or derbies. As a rugby purist, I’m excited. Hopefully the quality of rugby will match the excitement.
Is this the biggest clash we are going to witness in ages?
I certainly hope so, because it’s been a one-horse race with Kandy dominating throughout the years; it tends to be very boring when it’s predictable. I hope there’s a tearing-up of the script – for the sake of keeping things interesting and unpredictable – and that CR get up and actually win this encounter.
I’m sure everyone who is a non-Kandy fan is waiting for this, so hopefully the game lives up to this billing. Like I said before, in derby games it’s important that everyone psyches themselves up – prepare in accordance so that the skill set, execution, and intensity on the day match what a derby game should be. It’ll be remembered as a very exciting and closely-contested game where eventually quality rugby is played.
The Sunday Morning Sports team visited the rugby-crazy hill capital, which was hyped up for the Sunday bash. We spoke to people on the streets to capture the mood of the general public.
- Sasitha Heenagama (Trinity College student)
As a young fan of Kandy SC, I think we have a really good team. Up to now we have had some good games. In my opinion, Srinath Sooriyabandara, Tarinda Ratwatte, and Nigel Ratwatte will be the key players in the CR game. The teamwork and the bond they share are plus points for Kandy. We will definitely remain undefeated and Kandy will win this year’s championship.
- Junaid Umar Razik (Kandy fan)
Kandy vs. CR is the holy grail; nothing comes close to this rivalry. It will definitely be the most-awaited game for any rugby lover in Kandy. I get goosebumps when talking about this clash; it takes me back to the early- and mid-2000s.
It was love at first sight; I fell in love with this game of rugby when I was a schoolboy. The League decider in 2005 at Nittawela where Sanjeewa Jayasinghe’s Kandy beat Pavithra Fernando’s CR was a match that I will not forget until my last breath. I cannot put into words how I felt at that moment. Kandy achieved a miracle comeback with over 15,000-20,000 people inside the park and many watching on live TV. I am so happy that we will be able to witness another great clash with CR. Even though they are our rivals, we are happy that they are back to their glory days.
- Kapila Waidyatilleke (coach and lecturer)
CR vs. Kandy is a traditional encounter between the rugby giants of Lanka. As children, this is where we learnt that every side needs a great rival to become the best version of themselves. Kandy may have been dominant in the past 20 years or so, but it would be interesting to find out where Kandy would be if not for tough opponents such as CR.
It is guaranteed that CR&FC will bring their A-game and push the Kandy side’s comfort zones. Our heroes are in action on one pitch. These are the best of the best in the island playing for glory and the crowds. I wish them both the very best. May rugby be the victor!
- Bilaal Marikkar (law student)
Celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, the club has always been a constant for anyone in Kandy. It’s a heritage you grow up with, that you fall in love with, and it has seldom let the fans down.
You’re invested in the players because you’ve been following them from the school circuit and to see generation after generation stand up to the task and carry that badge of honour gives us great pride.
With only one club representing the hill country, it has been something that has rallied everyone together and the victories have done well to bolster this feeling of greatness.
We also spoke to a few sports enthusiasts who’ve been following the league this year.
- Senuri Premaratna (photojournalist)
From sporting the school jersey to heading back to the field in time for the kickoffs, fitted in a jersey that represents the club playing professional rugby, club rugby too writes its own story as much as school rugby does here in Sri Lanka. It’s your usual feeling of rugby spectator adrenaline. Which team will score the first try? Who will concede penalties? Which team will secure a win?
‘Papare’ bands, family, partners, and friends with drinks in hand, all will be at the stands expecting a thriller of a match. As two undefeated sides come head to head this weekend in Nittawela, all Sri Lanka rugby fans await an answer to the same lingering question – which team will remain unbeaten?
- Mohamed Jaleel (former Trinity cricketer)
During my childhood, I hardly saw Kandy win any games even though it was a century-old club with no league titles. The only team they were able to beat was Peterson. It all changed in 1992 when Malik Samarawickrama rejuvenated the club with the help of great players such as Priyantha Ekanayake, L.V. Ekanayake, Imthi Marikar, Rizwi Shuaib, etc. coming to Kandy from their Colombo clubs, along with some big guns – Fijians of the likes of Kitoni Ratudradra, Bati Poniah, and Willy Monny Satala – to transform the club into a powerhouse from then onwards. They never turned back and continue to produce great outfits to date. CR-Kandy has always been intense; I vaguely remember CR last beating Kandy in Nittawela under Viraj Prasanna in 1996.
- Sujth Silva (sports historian/archivist and Quadrangle magazine Founder)
With regard to refereeing, if they had the luxury of Television Match Officials (TMOs), mistakes and backlash for the dubious decisions made on field will be minimised. However, there’s no room for mistakes with assistant referees needing to be on top of their game to support, because in a tight run it could boil down to a point or bonus point.
Unfortunately, we only have a handful of experienced referees. The Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees (SLSRFR) should come up with a long-term plan to increase their pool and improve standards. Complaints over refereeing will continue as we move to the 2nd Round of the Club Rugby League and then move to the schools rugby season in a few months. All stakeholders of rugby in Sri Lanka need to get together and address this, as it affects all – players, clubs, schools, sponsorships, spectator interest, etc. I hope some ‘body’ will take the initiative.
Kishan Musafer’s take on today’s match
CR&FC 2001 Captain Kishan Musafer, a former national player who had the privilege to play against All Black legend Jonah Lomu, speaking about today’s match, said: “The build-up to the game ‘CR vs. Kandy’ is an experience that only past and present players as well as supporters on both sides will know, as this encounter has been and is the most anticipated event amongst the rugby fraternity.
“In our time, physicality, endurance, and mental preparation were key factors. Before the big game we prepare ourselves mentally by picturing our rivals and imagining the ferocious tackles we will make on the day. Every training session during that preceding week is focused on a dynamic purpose and a thirst to win at any cost.”