Rohitha leads Thomian rugby team this year

The S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia rugby team will come out for the first time this season when they confront their old boys in their annual rugby match for the Flt. Lt. Jason Martenstyn Trophy at CR and FC grounds, Longden Place at 5.00 p.m. today.

The Thomians will be led by dashing No. 8 Rohitha Rajapaksa who had the distinction of representing the Sri Lanka youth team at the under 19 Rugby Asiad in Chinese Taipei in 2006 and they will have the services of five other coloursmen in vice captain Devaan Hallock, lock forward Ramesh Perera, centre Shavin Kapuwatte, winger Heshan Guneratne and full back Manjith Thamanagama.

The lads from Mount Lavinia will play their first match in the Singer under 20 Rugby League against St. Anthony's, Kandy for the Fr. Angelo Rosatti Trophy on April 26 at the College grounds, Mount Lavinia which will be followed by the encounter against St. Peter's for the Archibald Perera Memorial Trophy on May 3 at Mount Lavinia.

The Thomians will travel upto Kandy on May 9 to take on Vidyartha at Bogambara which will be followed by the key match against Trinity College, Kandy for hte R.S. de Saram Shield on May 17 at Pallekelle.

They will confront Kingswood on May 24 at Mount Lavinia followed by the match against Isipatana on May 31 at the same venue.

The Thomians will lock horns with Vidyartha on June 7 at Mount Lavinia before confronting St. Joseph's for the Lady Jayatilleke Shield on June 13 at Longden Place.

Their final league match will be against traditional rivals Royal College for the Michael Guneratne Trophy on June 21 at Royal Sports complex. The Thomians are being coached once again by Ronnie Ibrahim who is taking great pains to mould them into a formidable outfit assisted by Physical Fitness Instructor Chandrishan Perera and Strength Trainer Mothilal Jayatilleke.

The Thomians who took to rugby in 1955 have a proud rugby history with the period 1989 to 1991 being regarded as the Golden Era of Thomian rugby during which they won 41 matches in a row including the Milo 'A' Division League and Premadasa Trophy.