Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club

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 fifteen times, most recently in 2023.[1] Their nickname is the Red Shirts.[2]

Ceylonese
Full nameCeylonese Rugby & Football Club
UnionSLRFU
Founded25 September 1922 (1922-09-25)
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

History

The club was founded on 25 September 1922 by Colonel Ernest Henley Joseph.[3] It was the first rugby-only sporting organisation in the country at the time.[4] 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.[5]

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 L. O. Weinman, and the vice-captain was Rajah Hewavitharana.

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 Ceylon Artillery Volunteer Corps, which was commanded by Col. Joseph. He insisted that the club colours should be the artillery red and blue, and subsequently persuaded the general committee.[4]

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 Hurley Silveira 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.[6]

Players

General committee (2021–22)
  • Hiran Muttiah – President
  • Savantha De Saram – Deputy President
  • Jakque Diasz – Hony. Gen. Secretary
  • Zulker Hameed – Asst. Hony. Gen. Secretary
  • Ravi Edirisinghe – Hony. Treasurer
  • Nuwan De Silva – Hony. Asst. Treasurer
  • Tikiri Ellepola – Vice President
  • Shanitha Fernando  – Vice President
  • Chandima Perera – Hony. Bar Secretary
  • Hamza Hassanally – Hony. Restaurant Secretary
  • Gyan Amarasinghe – Hony. Ground & Pavilion Secretary
  • Janinda Dunuwille – Hony. Social & Entertainment Secretary
  • Dyan Dunuwille – Hony. Facilities & Infrastructure Secretary
  • Savantha de Saram – Chairman Rugby Board
  • Janoda Thoradeniya – Chairman Sponsorship
  • Mano Jayarajan – Chairman Other Games
  • Sriyan Cooray – Past President


Past presidents include:

Honours

The club was the 2013 Plate and Shield Champion in the SLRFU Sevens Tournament. In 2007 it was a runner-up in the Caltex League Tournament, 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, 2006 and 2023. It was also the champion of the President's Trophy Knockout Tournament in 1977, 1983, 1990–1994 and 2007.

References
  1. Dhambarage, Chris (7 March 2023). "CR win Clifford Cup in their centenary season". The Daily News. Archived from the original on 26 April 2023. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  2. Seneviratne, Ranjeeva. "CR clinch Rugby Sevens Title after 14 years". Daily News. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  3. Perera, S. S. (1999). Muthiah, S. (ed.). The Janashakthi Book of Sri Lanka Cricket, 1832-1996. Janashakthi Insurance. p. 210.
  4. "History". Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  5. "ABOUT US - CEYLONESE RUGBY AND FOOTBALL CLUB". Archived from the original on 2016-08-03. Retrieved 2016-08-16.
  6. "The rise of a New Era". Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
  7. "Captains". Ceylonese Rugby & Football Club. Archived from the original on 12 March 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2011.
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