High-flying Airmen take on Havies in rugby’s curtain raiser under lights  

By A Special Sports Correspondent

Last season’s Plate Champions Air Force Sports Club open the Nippon Paint Inter-Club league rugby tournament for the year 2023/24 when they lock horns with Havelocks Sports Club under lights at Havelock Park on Friday (December 1). The kickoff is scheduled for 6.30 pm.

Air Force is one team that has made tremendous progress in the domestic rugby scene. Apart from winning the plate championship the airmen won the ‘Cup’ category at the Inter-Club rugby sevens as well. The side also won the defence services rugby tournament last season beating strong sides from Army and Navy. Air Force also produced the highest points scorer in Nuwan Perera during the concluded domestic season.

He accumulated 115 points. This side is going to bring all that experience from the past into this season and ensure they finish on a high. Last season Air Force finished third in the league tournament points table. The side is captained this season by Parakrama Rathnayake. Havelocks SC have a new coach in Saliya Kumara this season. He takes over from where Sanath Martis stopped last season.

The side had a disappointing sixth place finish in the league last season and lost a couple of crucial games. The park club is led by hooker Azmeer Fajudeen. The pink and chocolate jerseyed rugby team will have the services of reputed players in the likes of Mushin Faleel, Mohammed Rifan and kicking sensation Samuel Maduwantha.

On Saturday (December 2) Police SC host Navy SC at Police Park while Army SC host last season’s league tournament runners-up CR&FC at Panagoda. On Sunday (December 3) reigning champions Kandy Sports Club host CH&FC, which finished in miserable last position, at Nittawela. Kandy SC is captained by Lavanga Perera while the Maitland Crescent club is led by Awantha Lee. Kandy is coached by Fazil Marija while CH is coached by Martis.

The tournament is conducted by Sri Lanka Rugby.