Acorn Group of Companies,a conglomerate in aviation, outbound travel and destination management recently signed as the Main Sponsor of the First XV Rugby Team of St.Joseph’s College Colombo for the upcoming 2024 schools rugby season. Rugby started at St Joseph’s back in 1954, even though it was not made official till the following year.
Rugby was in the shadows of cricket but managed to produce excellent national players like Dr Hubert Aloysius Hiran Fernando Shiraz Fernando, Hiranjan Perera, Tyronne Holdenbottle, Graham Ludowyke, Andrew Van Hoff Lalith Perera, Nishantha Bopearachchi and former Sri Lanka rugby captain Anton Benedict. The Josephians had the rare honour of defeating Isipathana in the Milo Trophy Knockout final in 2017. In recent years the Joes have produced top national players of the calibre of Dhanushka ‘Gertha’ Perera, Rehan Thiagarajah, Gemunu Chethiya, Vimukthi Rahula. In 1986, St.Joseph’s rugby reached great heights under the leadership of Number Eight Nalin Perera in which year they beat the formidable Isipathana team (7-4), S.Thomas’ to win the Lady Jayatilleke shield and also held Royal to 7-all and Trinity to 13-all draws
Joes Rugby have been boosted in the past few years with great performances by the past rugby teams and this season will be no different. The “Saints” from Darley Road will be aiming for top honours this year given the rich rugby tradition in the last few years.
Allianz Insurance, who has been the long standing partner for St.Joseph’s have come forward as the Platinum Sponsor for this season. Prima Kottu Mee, under the Ceylon Agro Industries Ltd will support the Josephians as the Associate Sponsor.
The Josephian Squad will be led by Number Eight Vishika Fernando while Second Rower Janith Marasinghe will be the Vice Captain. Former Kandy SC and Sri Lanka scrum half Nilfer Ibrahim, a coach with a proven track record will be coaching the Saints from Darley Road.
With all of these highly esteemed organizations on board to partner St.Joseph’s Rugby in 2024, the lads from Maradana aim to make waves in the schools rugby arena this season.
St.Joseph’s Rugby Fixtures for 2024
June 14 – Vidyartha College Kandy (Havelock Park) June 22 – Zahira College (Zahira Grounds)’
June 28 – Thurstan College (Thurstan Grounds) July 5 – Wesley College (Havelock Park)
July 13 – St.Peter’s College (Bambalapitiya) July 19 – Royal College (Havelock Park)
July 26 – Kingswood College Kandy (Havelock Park).
