Under 21 Rugby Academy

The goal of this academy as I said in the last newsletter was to breed our future of rugby at the CR. We have achieved our initial goal of getting in some quality school talent, from St. Anthony's, Trinity, Wesley, Vidyartha, Ananda, St. Josephs', Thurstan and Issipathana. We have 25 of these youngsters, and we now appeal to members for help. We have to find these young guys a future, and breed a sense of belonging and a future beyond rugby. We are looking for your help in three ways:

They need jobs. We need our powerful membership to help out by providing jobs. John Keells, HSBC, MAS has already stepped up to the plate and provide some of them jobs. Any banks out there looking for youngsters please get in touch with any member of the Rugby Board or General Committee.

English Education. We would like each kid to be sponsored by a member or company to educate them in both oral and written English. It is a key factor for the success in life. Again, please contact any member of the Rugby Board or General Committee. Come on, its' your chance to make a difference in someone life. A three month course costs approximately Rs. 7,500/-. We have about 12 players that need to benefit from your gesture. 

Accommodation. We need provide accommodation to about 10 of these chaps as they come from outside Colombo . We would appreciate if 100 members could contribute Rs.5000/- each to build a dorm in the club premises. All you members contributing will make the huge difference to CR and its rugby, and will be one of the reasons to get to the pinnacle of rugby in Sri Lanka . Again, please send in your checks payable to “CR & FC Rugby Development”.

Our Rugby Board consists of the following dynamic individuals: Ajith Abeyratne (Chairman), Rienzie Fernando, Rohan Chintaka (Manager), Grant Dwyer (Coach), Pavithra Fernando (Captain), Nimalka Perera and Shanaka Ameresinghe. Both the President and General Secretary stand in on an ex-officio basis. If you cannot contact any of them, please email the club ( crfcclub@sltnet.lk ) or the General Secretary ( jehanc@ling.slt.lk ) giving us your commitment.

Come on members, a few of us are showing the passion to take rugby in this club to the next sphere, therefore, we really need your help! I hope your contributions will flow, because without rugby, there is no CR & FC. We have to keep that fire burning inside us, feel that there is an obligation to help rugby at CR. I appeal to the Honorary Life Members to muster support from the senior members, both in the country and outside Sri Lanka of the club and to use all their influence in making the CR Development Fund a success.