Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club
| Full name | Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union | |
| Founded | 1922 | |
| Location | 28, Malalasekara Mawatha,Colombo 07, Sri Lanka | |
| Ground(s) | CR & FC Grounds | |
| CEO | Rajah Akbar | |
| President | Christophar Jordashe | |
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Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club (also known as CR & FC) is a Division 'A' rugby union team based in Colombo, Sri Lanka that plays in the Dialog Rugby League. Established in 1922, the Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club have been quite successful having won the Clifford Cup Knockout Tournament 12 times. They are nicknamed the Red Shirts.[1]
History
The Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club was founded in 1922 by Colonel E. H. Joseph. It was the first rugby only playing institution in the country at the time.[2] The club had its first roots in Nondescripts Cricket Club (NCC) and in its first four years depended on NCC and Havelock Sports Club for their practices and matches.
Prominent names in Sri Lankan society took part in the committee of the inaugraul Annual General Meeting which was held in 1923. They were the Schokmans, Rockwoods, Saravanamutthu, Weinman, and Ondatjie to name a few. The 1st captain was Dr. L. O. Weinman, while the vice-captain was Rajah Hewavitharana.
After the end of the First World War the Clifford Cup was re-introduced, and CR & FC lost to the United Services team by 3-6. Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club continued to flourish over the next decades with schoolboys from Trinity College, Royal College, Zahira College, St Peter's College, St Thomas' College, and subsequently, Issipathana have represented the club with great distinction. The new clubhouse was opened in December 1964 and the main gate was opened in 1965.
Through The Pages of History
As pages of history unfold events leading to the formation of this club a passing reference has to be made to Ceylonese Rugger which was clamouring for recognition prior to the actual formation of the Club. It all started when the founding father Colonel Ernest Hentley Joseph established Ceylonese Rugger when he grouped together a rugger team to play on the Nondescripts Cricket Club Grounds. Colonel Joseph was the president of the N.C.C. took charge of his players, coached them and organised fixtures with other established and reputed clubs. The instant success achieved prompted him to form a truly Ceylonese Rugby Football Club and for this purpose public opinion and support was canvassed. The Club took root in 1922 displaying his regimental colours of Red and Blue and it grew in stature adhering to steadfast principals, highest traditions and dignity and considered the mecca of rugby. Through the years the Club has produced many high profile and outstanding players from a team popularly known as the ‘Red Shirts’ who went on to represent the Country with distinction. The Club today is acknowledged both locally and abroad as the most important and prestigious Rugby Club in Sri Lanka.
Located in the plush and affluent surroundings at Longden Place, its ground and Club House is patronized by Schools and Clubs alike and is a premier venue for local and international entertainment events. Most corporate also use our venue for their company events.
The Club provides its members with numerous other sporting and recreational facilities apart from food and beverage services. The present trend of rugby in this semi professional era comes down to Sponsors and the clubs with the best cash flow/Sponsors could purchase the best players. Our club is against sides like Navy SC, Kandy SC, Southerns Sharks, Nawalapitiya Lions, Havelocks SC and all the other forces being patronized by a few business magnates or politicians. [CR & FC] was considered the mecca of rugby has a rich history of producing the best players in the country but in the recent past has lost many national players as we have been unable to retain them due to higher salaries or key money being requested upon signing. The present national squad has 10-12 ex CR & FC players but only 3 present players from our team.
Colours and name
The colours of the Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club come from the regiment that its founder, Colonel E. H. Joseph commanded. He insisted that the club colors should be that of the artillery colors of Red & Blue, successfully convincing the General Committee.[2]
Stadium
The home ground of the Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club is CR & FC Grounds. The club ceremoniously opened its new pavilion on 29 June 2007. It was opened by the main sponsors of the building the Football Federation of Sri Lanka (FFSL), President Hurley Silveira and the CEO of Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) David Griffiths. The new building includes a viewing deck that seats 500 people, six corporate boxes, two state-of-the-art dressing rooms, and an outside bar lounge for members and their guests, a lounge bar for members, and a fine dining restaurant to serve members and their guests.[3]
An image of the stadium can be seen here.
Players
Captains
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Staff & Coaching Team
General Committee
- Mr. Christopher Jordash - President
- Mr. Thushara Weerasooriya - Deputy President
- Mr. Ransiri Sahabandu - Honorary General Secretary
- Mr. Indrakuma Goonetilleke - Honorary Treasurer
- Mr. Sean Dwight - Vice-President
- Mr. Manjula Kulatunga - Honorary Bar Secretary
- Mr. Ajith Abeyratne - Chairman Rugby Board
- Mr. Mano Jayarajan - Chairman Other Games
- Mr. Gayan Amarasinghe - Honorary Restaurant Secretary
- Mr. Dr. Tony De Sylva - Honorary Life Member
- Mr. Rienzie Fernando - Immediate Past President
- Mr. Dimitri Wijayatunga - Rugby Captain
President of CR & FC
The current president of Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club is Christopher Jordashe, who came to the position in 2013.[5]
Past president include:
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Coaches
- - Coach
- - Assistant Coach
Club honours
- Plate and Shield Champions 2013
- Runner up - 2010
- Runner up - 2009
- Runner up - 2008
- Runner up - 2008
- Champions - 2007
- Runner up - 2007
- Champions - 2006
- Runner up - 2006
- President's Trophy Knockout Tournament:
- Champions: 1977, 1983, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2007
References
- ↑ Seneviratne, Ranjeeva. "CR clinch Rugby Sevens Title after 14 years". Daily News. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "History". Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- ↑ "The rise of a New Era". Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- ↑ "Captains". Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
- ↑ "Club Presidents". Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club. Retrieved November 2012.
External links
- Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club official website
- Sri Lanka RFU Official website
- Provincial Unions
- Images of CR & FC
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