With the sad news of the untimely passing away of Shafi Jainudeen, a collage of images and memories adorn the canvass in our mind’s eye. For those of us who grew up with him and his family in Kandy, the story begins at Castle Street where his friends would visit the Jainudeen household often, ostensibly to keep Shafi company but in reality to admire-or “cap” as we colloquially called the  [ Read More ]

Everyone talks about the ’56 side under David Frank or Tyrrell Rajapakse’s side of ’87 being teams of fantastic rugby players with the unbeaten tag. Due recognition must be given to the consistently brilliant side of 1974 which also remained unbeaten and played some superlative rugby under the tutelage of the late Major Bertie Dias. Side stepping , dummies, excellent ball handling and sudden changes of direction gave them an  [ Read More ]

The way Royal’s Captain Lakshman Kaluaaratchi led his team into Longden Place in 1962 wearing their Gold and Blue striped jerseys with the crowd exploding in cheers, it had all the signs of a Battle Royale. With a purposeful John Wayne cowboy gait and his hand ready for the draw, ‘Gunman Kalu’, as he is affectionately called, was ready for the rugby shoot out. The Royalists had been warned by  [ Read More ]