Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club

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Ceylonese
Ceylonese rfc logo.png
Full nameCeylonese Rugby & Football Club
UnionSLRFU
Founded1922; 100 years ago (1922)
LocationColombo, Sri Lanka
Ground(s)CR & FC Grounds (Capacity: 5,550)
PresidentHiran Muttiah
Coach(es)Dushantha Lewke / Sujani Rathnayake
Captain(s)Kavindu De Costa / Kanchana Mahendran
League(s)Dialog Rugby League
Clifford Cup
Team kit
Official website
www.crandfc.lk

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 . It was the first rugby-only sporting organisation 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 , and the vice-captain was .

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 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[]

General committee (2021-2022)[]

  • Mr. Hiran Muttiah – President
  • Mr. Savantha De Saram – Deputy President
  • Mr. Jakque Diasz – Hony. Gen. Secretary
  • Mr. Zulker Hameed – Asst. Hony. Gen. Secretary
  • Dr. Ravi Edirisinghe – Hony. Treasurer
  • Mr. Nuwan De Silva – Hony. Asst. Treasurer
  • Mr. Tikiri Ellepola – Vice President
  • Mr. Shanitha Fernando  – Vice President
  • Mr. Chandima Perera – Hony. Bar Secretary
  • Mr. Hamza Hassanally – Hony. Restaurant Secretary
  • Mr. Gyan Amarasinghe – Hony. Ground & Pavilion Secretary
  • Mr. Janinda Dunuwille – Hony. Social & Entertainment Secretary
  • Mr. Dyan Dunuwille – Hony. Facilities & Infrastructure Secretary
  • Mr. Savantha de Saram – Chairman Rugby Board
  • Mr. Janoda Thoradeniya – Chairman Sponsorship
  • Mr. Mano Jayarajan – Chairman Other Games
  • Mr. Sriyan Cooray – Past President


Past presidents include:

Honours[]

The club was the 2013 Plate and Shield Champion in the . In 2007 it was a runner-up in the , 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. ^ a b "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" (in British English). 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.

External links[]

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