Celebrating fifty years of Thomian Rugby

Daily Mirror of 20th November 2004.

By Sharm De Alwis

Blue , black, and blue may not have the flamboyance in the colour theme like a red , gold and blue but, certainly what ever the Thomian  do there always is the glitz and glamour and derring- do.

They brought their special - brand of "" whatever- we do , we- do-it in style"" to the Galle Face Hotel on the night of Saturday , 13th November to enthrall and captivate the guests among whom i was a privileged invitee.

The occasion was a celebration of competence over a period of 50 years of Thomian rugby. Remembered and recognised were the past captains beginning with the 1955 captain , K.S. Anand, Anandan A.K. Ana Kanagasabai who had his rugby roots at Trinity as my erstwhile class mate before his parents decided that a whiff of sea air would do him better than tuition.

Among the gathering were personalities who had left an indelible imprint in sports and enterprise that it would tax the Editors patience if I were to reel off their names but three Michaels must be mentioned . The ageless Michael Tissera more of cricket fame than rugby, Michael Jayasekara who has had no comparison as a scintillating inner-three ,even from the foreigners who have trod the sward in recent years. Michael Sproule of hair and fair who sired two past captains in Charya and Savantha and  another player in Prabash.

The Samarasinghes who came to roost in Mount Lavinia from far off Ruhuna carried a way the most number of prizes as all three brothers, the late Nihal ( Baila) , Mohan and Rajpal were all past captains. That was in the golden era of Thomian rugby when the quintessential Quentin  Israel was spearheading state gems to win 43 games on the trot , an achievement that has never been and never will be matched in the annals of rugby.

Remembered also were the past coaches from Mahes Rodrigo through Percy Perera and Quentin Israel and now that the wheel has turned full circle for Quentin to be at the helm of affairs in Thomian Rugby the school is assured of a remarkable run  of success in the game that Thomians take to compulsively like ducks taking to water.

The chief guest was of course the affable and meritorious Dr David Ponniah who always carries himself and his chores with aplomb.

The menu was an epicurean's delight . Even when it comes to titillating taste buds , you've got hand it out to the Thomians.

To further titillate thomian libido Kolu prodded by Indu Dharmasena performed as Guest Artiste. The ever lasting image of the Thomians was kept alive. Esto Perpetua.

The music provided by EBONY was in keeping with the fellowship and changed tempo in the wee hours to keep pace with the inebriated antics of the guests. Jerome Speldewinde was the vocalist who warmed the mussies of Thomian hearts.

Praise must be showered on the organisers headed by Shanaka De Livera , Ranil De Soysa and R. Renganathan for an impeccable function of fellowship , a night to remember.

This article was typed by the Administrative Secretary of STC OBA

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