Peterite Rugby

red the then Ceylon Schools Rugby arena with its inaugural 1st XV in the same year -1932. SPC became the fourth school in history of Sri Lankan Rugby to play at competitive level. Peter’s played their first match against Royal College at home grounds at Bambalapitiya. Though lost that match, their team’s performances on field showed glimpses of the potential that has today built a majestic legacy. Success was not long in coming and with brave and intelligent play against all opponents; Peterites first tasted success in 1934 recording the first Rugby win against Royal College at Bambalapitiya by 5-0 under the captaincy of Shirley Illesinghe. Then in 1935, under the captaincy of Fred Keller, Petes posted a historic feat beating the vastly experienced Trinity College, Kandy in the encounter at Bambalapitiya: THE STUNNING SCOREBOARD READ 6-0. This was only their third attempt. Emotions ran high as Peterites were adjudged Joint Champs (with Trinity College) of the inter-collegiate Rugger tournament. Peter’s continued to grab the Schools Rugby Championship title for five consecutive years from that point onwards (including 1937,Joint Champs), a rare feat in the history of Inter-Collegiate Rugby in Sri Lanka, remaining invincible through the rugby season in 1936 under the legendary Archibald Perera and in 1938 under Percy Perera. In 1942, the World War saw St. peter’s College and grounds used as a British base, halting any Rugby progress until, in 1948, under the stewardship of M. Numan (former Peterite Rugby player) and Harold De Silva the captain, their fortunes began a new rise. Harold de Silva is today the oldest living Peterite Rugby captain. It took a long while for Peterites to settle and stamp their class after resumption as they were playing against much experienced teams. The legendary Archibald Perera became the Rugby Coach of St. Peter’s College in 1956 and he continued to serve the College uninterrupted till his demise in 1982 – so ending an era that touched hearts of all Peterites for more than 26 years at the helm. During his tenure, St. Peter’s produced four schools rugby champion sides, namely: Under Darrel Wimaleratne in 1965, under Hamzi Hameed in 1966, under Jeffery De Jong in 1972 and under Rohan Wiratunga in 1973 (as Joint Champs). Peter’s College, regrouping in the early 80’s with Archibald Perera’s successor Frank Hubert as coach assisted by Angelo Wickramaratne were instrumental in produced another famous side in 1985 under the captaincy of Rajith Abeygoonewardena and St. Peter’s finally broke the hoodoo of losses against some top school teams, crafting a NEW DESTINY by beating Trinity 8-0 after 44 years, beating Royal 24-0 after 13 years and St. Thomas’ 7-4 after eight years. In 1986, under late Rowen Gunasekera, St. Peter’s ended the season as Runners-up to Isipatana against whom they recorded their solitary loss though managed to beat other more fancied teams and drawing with Trinity College in Kandy. Then came 1994 when the Peterites, captained by Roshare Alles, went in to the Lions den to beat Trinity College in Kandy after 53 years and ended the season as Runner’s up at the schools knockout tournament to St. Thomas’ by 6-8. In 1995, under Sanjeewa Abeygoonewardena they tamed the Trinity Lions twice over under the watchful eyes of a Trinity Lion Ajith Abeyaratne and Nimal Lewke thus becoming league runner’s up by just a few decimal points to Isipatana whom they beat twice in that season. However, St Peter’s came back strongly to win the inaugural President’s Trophy. Following year under Kirk Williams, St. Peter’s reached their third consecutive President’s trophy finals (Knock out tournament) but this time their progress was halted by Isipatana with a 15-7 win. 2001 saw Dilan Abeygoonewardena leading another formidable side which reached the President’s trophy finals again but unlike his brother Sanjeewa Abeygoonewardena he couldn’t lift the trophy as their victory march was yet again halted by Isipatana with a 20-17 win. However In 2002 under Dilanka Wijesekera, St. Peter’s became the A Division Schools Champions thus becoming the fist Peterite champion side of the new millennium. This was the year dashing Peterite winger Mohamed Rinaz set a new schools record for most number of tries with a final tally standing at 34. Peter’s created history in 2006 becoming the Schools Double Champions –winning outright, the Singer League and Milo President’s Trophy, the first Peterite team to achieve this feat, under the captaincy of Harendra Ariyawardena and coaching guidance of Sanath Martis. Amidst the celebrations of 75 years of Rugby, St. Peter’s Rugby team achieved that elusive invincible status in 2007 by becoming the first Peterite XV to be the ‘Unbeaten Schools Rugby Champions’ under the captaincy of Ranuka Jayasinghe again under the guidance of Sanath Martis and supervision of Rector Fr. Travis Gabriel and former sports co-ordinator Fr. Sunil Perera. That year, St. Peter’s also set another unique landmark in schools rugby annals by scoring 447 points through 11 matches which also included 70 tries. In the 2008 Peterites were also crowned the President;s trophy winners under Poornaka Depachithra. In 2009 Peterites won the First ever Carlton 7's trophy under Dilshan Paul beating the league Champions Royal College in the final. Next year Kieth Gurusinga's side remain unbeaten right through out the season winning the triple. Peter’s College has produced many brilliant rugby players in her 81 year old Rugby history feeding National teams with high quality players both with skills and discipline coming out of its system in every decade. Peterite rugby players have found favor with many leading Rugby Clubs and are always in great demand due to this since even pre- independence days during which British expatriates dominated the game. Many Peterites have featured prominently in national or combined teams, be it Combined Schools, All Ceylon, Ceylonese or Sri Lankan XV’s or even at 7’s. They’ve brought much honour and glory to St. Peter’s College, its rugby and its fervent followers when ever they’ve donned the Blue White and Gold jersey or the national jersey against visiting teams or playing on foreign soil. The whole gamut of this glorious legacy in Rugby was crafted out under the successive shaping and guidance of the former Rectors of this institution such as Fr. D.J Nicholas Perera, Fr. Basil Wiratunga, Fr. Arthur Fernando, Fr. Mervyn Weerakkody, Fr. Theodore Peiris, Fr. Claver Perera , Fr. Francis Madiwela, Fr. Joe. E. Wickramasinghe, Fr. Felician Ranjith and the present Rector Rev. Fr. Travis Gabriel have contributed immensely. They always encouraged young Peterites to play the game in the right spirit by keeping to the Peterite tradition. We at the Peterite Rugby group would like to remember all Peterite Ruggerites who donned the Blue, White & Gold jersey through out this unrelenting saga with Glory & Sweat. We also place on record here our most sincere, heart-felt appreciation and gratitude to all those great-hearted Peterites for their contributions to all these achievements which are far too numerous to mention here and also to all those who lent a hand with their guidance, encouragement and their expertise to build a stronger and better future for many generations of Peterites yet to come. We are also thankful to The Rugby Foundation of St. Peter’s College for its commitment to not merely foster rugby par-excellence beginning at Junior XV level but also towards putting all its potential behind efforts to impart a total education for the total man including essential student counseling, parent-teacher understanding, rapport and co-operation, targeting sustainable all-round growth in education, sports and extra-curricular activities to ensure that all students who pass through the portals of this great institution called St.Peter’s College, will prove to be men of unqualified honour and ability throughout their lives. For this worthy goal, we are sure that all concerned will readily extend a helping hand to the foundation whenever finances are needed to execute programs in line with this ideal. Finally, how can we ever leave out those guru’s who thought Peterite Rugby tradition. They, through all these years, kept faith with Peterite Rugby vision and helped tirelessly to mould both Junior and Senior Rugby squads. The Junior squad also faring brilliantly against all opponents in their own right. Coaches Mr. B. K. Ramachandran, Troy Bartlett, Shane de Silva, Sunanda Fernando, Shantha Dharmaratne, Senaka Balasuriya, DIG Nimal Lewke, Ajith Abeyratne, Frank Hubert, Archibald Perera, Granville Seneviratne, M. Numan, S. Sivendran, Angelo Wickramaratrne, Orville Fernando, S.W.Chang, Hisham Abdeen , Sanath Martis and present coach Collin Peter Denish . If any names have been inadvertently left out please forgive us – your names will always remain in our Hall of Fame. Today we all enjoy this tradition, and it is set to last forever! Peterite Rugby, my game, my passion and my life! VIRTUS ET VERITAS