Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club

Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
Full name Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
Union Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union
Founded 1922
Location Colombo, Sri Lanka
Ground(s) CR & FC Grounds (Capacity: 5,550)
CEO Rajah Akbar
President Christophar Jordashe
League(s) Dialog Rugby League
Clifford Cup
2016-17 Dialog Rugby League season 4
Team kit

Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club, also known as CR & FC, is a Division-A rugby union team based in Colombo, Sri Lanka which plays in the Dialog Rugby League. Established in 1922, the club has won the Clifford Cup Knockout Tournament twelve times. Their nickname is the Red Shirts.[1]

History

The club was founded in 1922 by Colonel E. H. Joseph. It was the first rugby-only organization in the country at the time.[2] It had its roots in the Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC), and depended on NCC and Havelock Sports Club for practices and matches during its first four years. Supporters called them the Red Shirts because of their uniform and club colours.[3]

Prominent figures in Sri Lankan society participated in the committee at the inaugural Annual General Meeting in 1923, including members of the Schokman, Rockwood, Saravanamutthu, Weinman, and Ondatjie families. The first captain was L. O. Weinman, and the vice-captain was Rajah Hewavitharana.

After World War I, the Clifford Cup was re-introduced and the CR & FC lost to the United Services team 3-6. The club flourished over the next few decades, with boys from Trinity College, Royal College, Zahira College, St Peter's College, St Thomas' College, and subsequently Isipathana College representing it with distinction. A new clubhouse was opened in December 1964, and the main gate was opened in 1965.

The club also maintains a senior Men's Rugby Union team. Features for members include a billiard room, squash courts, lighted tennis courts, a gymnasium, a swimming pool and an indoor badminton court. CR & FC has had a number of its players play for the Sri Lanka national rugby union team.

Colours and name

The club colours are those of the regiment commanded by its founder, E. H. Joseph. He insisted that the club colors should be the artillery red and blue, and persuaded the general committee.[2]

Stadium

The club's home ground is CR & FC Grounds. On 29 June 2007 a new pavilion was opened by its primary sponsors, Football Federation of Sri Lanka president Hurley Silveira and Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation CEO David Griffiths. The new building includes a 500-seat viewing deck, six corporate boxes, two dressing rooms, an outside bar for members and guests, a bar for members, and a restaurant for members and guests.[4]

Players

Captains

General committee

  • Christopher Jordashe - President
  • Thushara Weerasooriya - Deputy president
  • Ransiri Sahabandu - Honorary general secretary
  • Indrakuma Goonetilleke - Honorary treasurer
  • Sean Dwight - Vice-President
  • Manjula Kulatunga - Honorary bar secretary
  • Ajith Abeyratne - Chairman, rugby board
  • Mano Jayarajan - Chairman, other games
  • Gayan Amarasinghe - Honorary restaurant secretary
  • Tony De Sylva - Honorary life member
  • Rienzie Fernando - Immediate past president
  • Dimitri Wijayatunga - Rugby captain

Christopher Jordashe became president in 2013.[6]

Past presidents include:

Honours

The club was the 2013 Plate and Shield Champion in the SLRFU Sevens Tournament. In 2007 it was a runner-up in the Caltex League Tournament, and in 2006, 2008, 2009, and 2010 it was a runner-up in the Dialog Rugby League. The club was a runner-up in the 2008 Clifford Cup and the winner in 1954–1959, 1964–1966, 1987–1989 and 2006. It was also the champion of the President's Trophy Knockout Tournament in 1977, 1983, 1990–1994 and 2007.

References

  1. ↑ Seneviratne, Ranjeeva. "CR clinch Rugby Sevens Title after 14 years". Daily News. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  2. 1 2 "History". Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  3. ↑ "ABOUT US - CEYLONESE RUGBY AND FOOTBALL CLUB". Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  4. ↑ "The rise of a New Era". Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  5. ↑ "Captains". Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  6. ↑ "Club Presidents". Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05.
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