As I write this article the Rugby World Cup is a just another 48 hours away and so is the Singer Sri Lankan International Rugby Sevens in Kandy. We have five of our top players representing Sri Lanka; Ashan and Lasintha De Costa, Ashean Karathelis, Amjad Buksh and the evergreen Radhika Hettiarchchi. All of these players played a role in CR becoming the league and Clifford cup runners up this season. I sometimes feel that we are so engrossed in beating Kandy and winning the league that we forget to address basics.

I watched most of the matches this season and one thing that I observed was that CR had many talented young players in its ranks and they kept improving with each game they played. We lost two important games to Kandy during the league because of the many mistakes we committed in ball handling and lack of stamina to last the duration of the game. The last 15 minutes were crucial in both games and we drew with CH again because of our lack of fitness and stamina. However with experience the young players gained this season and a better strength training schedule, we should do well next season. What most of us fail to realize amidst the disappointment of yet another season where we failed to win the league plum is that we are after all the second best side in the Country. The young players should be encouraged and nurtured to become better players for the future. I believe we lost the two games this season because of the lack of experience and Kandy who had a far more experienced side unsettled the CR team with well directed salvos. Nalaka specially got under the skin of the CR side and unsettled them to a certain degree. Remember that a sport is not only physical, your mental makeup plays a major role and that factor alone will decide between good teams and great teams. Remember how the supremely confident Aussies battered every single side during the last Cricket World cup.

Back to the Rugby World Cup. The all blacks are as they have been every single time come into the tournament as favorites. But remember they have not won a single tournament after their success in the inaugural World Cup in 1987. The club has made arrangements to show the games live on a large screen. All members and their guests are welcome. The first game is between France and Argentina this Saturday @ approximately 12.30 AM SLT (Friday Night). A schedule of all the games to be shown at the club will be updated later on the week.

CR will participate in the President’s trophy this month and the first game will be played on 15th September, 2007 against Army at Longden Place. The team will be at full strength and the boys are training hard. Be there to cheer the team.

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