Kings of Sri Lanka Rugby

The kings of Sri Lanka rugby, Kandy Sports Club and CR and FC’s young fly half Nigel Ratwatte who had the honour of being voted as the Most Popular Rugby Club 2010 and Most Popular Ruggerite for 2010 by the readers of the Sunday Observer received their awards at a cermeony held at the SLRFU headquarters on July 22 (Friday). The contest was organized by the Sunday Observer in collaboration with Chevron Lubricants who have been sponsoring the Caltex ‘A’ Division league tournament since the year 2000. Kandy Sports Club under the leadership of Sri Lanka fly half Fazil Marija turned in a dazzling display last year in which they bagged the rugby double – the Caltex ‘A’ division league and club rugby’s richest prize – the Clifford Cup much to the delight of their ardent supporters who voted for their favourite team. Nigel Ratwatte who turned out for King Edward College, Johannesburg, South Africa returned to Sri Lanka in 2009 and joined the CR and FC and played a major role in their success in which they just failed to win the ‘A’ division league and bagged the Rugby Sevens title after 14 years. Occupying the pivotal fly half berth Ratwatte gave a sterling display which resulted in rugby fans voting for him in their thousands. Nigel Ratwatte received his trophy from the Chief Editor of the Sunday Observer Dinesh Weerawansa while the skipper of Kandy SC in 2010 Fazil Marija received the trophy from the Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Lubricants PLC Kishu Gomes. Jubilant Kandy Sports Club team is seen here with President Mahinda Rajapaksa after receiving the Clifford Cup having overcome Navy SC 26-11 in last year’s final. The Most Popular Ruggerite of 2010 Nigel Rawatte of CR and FC receiving the glittering Caltex Trophy from the Chief Editor of the Sunday Observer Dinesh Weerawansa. Looking on is the Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Lubricants Kishu Gomes. The skipper of the Most Popular Rugby Club of 2010 Kandy Sports Club’s Fazil Marija receiving the glittering Caltex Trophy from the Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Lubricants Kishu Gomes. Also in the picture is the Chief Editor of the Sunday Observer Dinesh Weerawansa. Nigel Ratwatte – Most Popular Ruggerite of 2010. Fazil Marija – skipper of the Most Popular Rugby Team of 2010, Kandy Sports Club. The award winners with the officials – (from left) Secretary of Kandy Sports Club Leslie de Soysa, Vice President of the SLRFU Lasitha Guneratne, Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Lubricants Kishu Gomes, Most Popular Ruggerite of 2010 Nigel Ratwatte, Chief Editor of the Sunday Observer Dinesh Weerawansa, skipper of Kandy Sports Club team of 2010 Fazil Marija, Marketing Manager of Chevron Lubricants Upuli Kulasiri and President of CR and FC Rienzie Fernando.