St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota with fifteen senior players in their ranks, are hoping for a better performance in the coming inter-school rugby season.
Though they started rugby in the 1950s it was only in 1961 that the enthusiasm was created and rugby received a big boost and backing from all quarters. Particularly at its inception, many of the leading schools provided the Antonians with only second XV fixtures. It was only in 1962 that the Antonains were able to play against the First XV teams. This time St. Anthony’s are in Group II A with St. Joseph’s College, Isipathana College, Trinity College, Zahira College and Science College.
Their first game is against Isipathana at Nittawela followed by Trinity at Pallekell, Science at Nittawela and Zahira in Colombo. According to their new coach Ronnie Ibrahim they are fielding a talented side and judging by their strength, the Antonians have a good chance of taking the upper hand during the season.
The Antonians are blessed with fifteen seniors players like fifth year player Mohamed Makrim the captain of the side, who is one of the best fly halves. Much is expected from him and his deputy will be the Number Eight Lashan Mahindaratne who is also a fifth year player. The other seniors are fourth year players prop Shashika Wijewardena, Ruvan Amarasinghe, who can fit in as lock and flanker, Suhail Waseem, scrum half Niranjan Ranaweera a good wing three-quarter, Theeksha Gunasinha who can fit in as fly half, fullback or scrum half, Kavishka Jayasooriya a centre three-quarter and flanker Nihan Perera.
The third year players are lock forward Mathish Amerasinghe, Thushara Ekanayake who can play as winger and full back, Roshan Selvaraj a flanker and Isuru Ariyapala a flanker who is in his second year.
The other second year players are prop forward Percy Ambrose and Mathish Amarasinghe.