Peterite Rugby lineage is rich with talent together with the true spirit of the game and it is with no doubt the Blue, White and Gold Brigade have made up their name as consistent performers of the game throughout the history of eighty-two years.

History of the Game at St. Peter`s College.

Having the privilege of being the fourth institution to introduce the oval shaped ball game to the island, Enthusiastic young Rugby hopefuls of St. Peter’s College donned the now glorious College Colours of Blue, White and Gold for the first time, in 1932 under the Rectorship of Rev. Fr. D.J Nicholas Perera. The brilliant Rugby player and sportsman, Mr. Herbert Wittahatchy took over the fortunes of Peterite Rugby in the same year, as Prefect of Games. No one dreamed that a glorious history was about to be created.

Brilliantly moulding a team of fresher’s together with Lim Billimoria, the first Peterite Rugby captain: St. Peter’s entered the then Ceylon Schools Rugby arena with its inaugural 1st XV in the same year -1932.  St. Peter`s College became the fourth school in history of Sri Lankan Rugby to play at competitive level.

St. Peter’s College has produced many brilliant rugby players in her 82 year old Rugby history feeding National teams with high quality players both with skills and discipline coming out of its system in every decade. Peterite rugby players have found favor with many leading Rugby Clubs and are always in great demand due to this since even pre- independence days during which British expatriates dominated the game.

Many Peterites have featured prominently in All Ceylon, Ceylonese or Sri Lankan XV’s or even at 7’s. They’ve brought much honour and glory to St. Peter’s College, its rugby and its fervent followers when ever they’ve donned the Blue White and Gold jersey or the national jersey against visiting teams or playing on foreign soil.

In the last decade, players like Dilanka Wijesekera who was the youngest school boy player to represent both national 7s and 15s side, Dilan Abeygoonawardena, Poornaka Delpachithra, Mohamed Sheriff, Rajiv Perera, Ishan Noor, Keith Gurusinghe, Suhiru Anthony, Sandun Hearth, Dhanushka Ranjan, Shenal Dias have proved that St. Peter`s Rugby has always understood it`s National duty and have performed it well.

Last Season

In 2013, the Peterite Brigade was led by the Fly-Half Shan Weerakody. Werakkody as the skipper led the side in to a glorious position during the last season. Emerging as the champions of the School Rugby Seven`s tournament helped them to start of the season in grand style. However, during the season St. Peter`s had a bumpy ride winning 5 matches by even beating the President’s trophy champions Wesley College and suffered 4 defeats. However the Blue, White and Gold brigade concluded the season in third place.    

Pre- Season

The lads from the Bambalapitiya began their pre-season practice sessions in the month of October 2013. Under the instructions of the trainer Niroshan Benedict, the boys were put through their paces in the criteria of pres season training and fitness which is an essential factor of the game before they stepped in to ground training. 

St. Peter`s reached the cup semi-finals in the recently concluded School Rugby Sevens championship which gave them enough motivation to begin the season and convert it to a victorious one.

Peterite Rugby Administration

Powered by the Old Peterites, the Administration staff is rendering it`s best to the boys to perform and prove the legacy. Old Peterite Collin Dinesh has taken over the responsibility as the coach for the 2014 season as well. This gentleman needs no introduction to the Sri Lankan Rugby arena. Having coached the Colombo School`s side in the Year 2013, he holds immense experience within him to lead the boys to a victorious season this year.

Together with the Head Coach, Rev. Fr. Lakmin Parasanga the Sports Coordinator of the college and the Rugby Foundation of St. Peter`s College under the leadership of the Nigel Forbes, are right in to the boys providing them with facilities and enough encouragement to make this season a season to remember.

Team Manager Mahesh De Sliva and the trainer Niroshan Benedict fills up the rest to create the back bone of the Peterite Rugby.

Kevin Dixon the Peterite Driving Force

Third year player and with one more year in hand Kevin Dixon is without doubt one player that each opponent has to worry about. Playing under the leadership of Dhanushka Ranjan and Shan Weerakody in the previous  years, he holds the biggest bag of experience with in the team. Playing in his new position as the center he is a ferocious player with one goal in mind; which is to score the try and to make the team victorious. Dixon`s knowledge that he carries within himself about the game provides the force to display his ball and foot skills which he will use to create gaps in the opponents line and to break down the opposition defence to touch the ball on the grass and make it count.  Everyone will be placing their eyes on this young talent which is blooming up with and he will be tested in this season.

Nishon Perera : Vice Captain at his best.

Second year player and with one more year in hand the Vice-Captain for this season is lending his supporting hand to the skipper to martial the troops well. Playing in the position of Flanker, Perera is an impact player who is fearless in tackling the opponent at any time. Ending up the last season in a respectable manner he walks out with immense ball skills which could be used to score at any given time in an open gap. His experience will help the Bambalapitiya boys to win games and win respectably.

Shamri Bura : The boy with Rugby in his Blood. 

Son of late Mr. Fazal Bura who is the former prop forward of CH&FC, he was born and bought up with rugby in his blood. He is one of the most important assets that St. Peter`s College holds for the season. Playing in the position of Fly-Half his ball handling skills will be tested this season as he is an expert in it. The team highly depends on his decision making skills which is considered a talent which will be the main factor of set play for the Peterite Lads.

Conclusion

St. Peter`s College with a history of 92 years and a Rugby History of 82 years have always been a side which every opponent has to worry about. With their consistent performance through-out the history they have proved that the Blue, White and Gold brigade is always good at come backs and arising from the dead. Concluding the last year`s season in the third place and this year under the captaincy of Senal Aponso the Peterites will set foot on lawn to bring glory to their game which they describe as their passion and their life. Their conquest this year would start from one of the heavy weights in the tourney, Kingswood College, Kandy as they would play their first game on the20nd of March.

Blue, White and Gold Squad- 2014

Prop

Udara Anjana /Gihan Fernando/ Reshan Rajapakse/Nishanthan Baskaran/Harin Biyamawila

Hooker

Raveen Yapa/Kusal Rathnayake /Yohan Jason

Locks

Shehan Mark/Rahal Delpachithra/Maleesha Rajapakse

Flanker

Senal Aponso (C)/Nishon Perera(VC)/Frank Roger/Ranith Silva/Dilshan Fonseka

No.8

Senura Premawardhana/Hasindu Fernando

Scrum-Half

Steve Dharamarathene/Ramal Fernando/Stefan Sivaraj

Fly-Half

Shamri Bura/Sandesh Jayawikrama/Deshan Fernando

Center

Kevin Dixon/ Avishka Ranasinghe

Wing-Three Quarter

Shallon Dirckez/Kamesh Fernando/Thakshina Nonis

Full Back

Diyath Fernando

St.Peter’s College Rugby 2014 – Senal Aponso – Captain 

Courtesy: The Papare

Editor's Note: St. Peter's and Rugby Football have been synonymous with each other. Many a brilliant ruggerite have passed through the hallways of St. Peter's College since 1932. Following are names of a few who made an indelible mark on the rugby grounds at Bambalapitiya and progressed to Club Rugby and also represented All-Ceylon and Sri Lanka.

Fred Kellar	Archibald Perera	Percy Perera	Vernon Peiris
Ago Paiva	Terry Williams	Desmond Ephraims	Lakshman Serasinghe
Jayantha Fernando	Adiel Anghie	Tony Johnson	Didacus de Almeida
Royde de Silva	Jeyer Rodriguez	Stephen Alagaratnam	Rohan Abeysundera
Hazmee Hameed	Rodney Paternott	Darrel Wimalaratne	Aubrey Paternott
Carl Fernando	Hamish Paternott	Ronnie Gunaratna	Sunil Perera
Jeffrey de Jong	Rohan Wiratunga	Nalyn Wiratunga	Nimal Jayasuriya
Frank Hubert	Hussain Didi	Angelo Wickremaratne	Roshan Deen
Jeremy Gomes	Rohan Paulusz	Keith Nugegoda	Brian de Silva
Maurice de Silva	Len de Silva	Gavin Ludowyke	Rajeev Perera

2013 – Shan Weerakkody (all island 7s winners)
2012 – Danushka Ranjan (a current Sri Lanka cap)
2011 – Banuka Nanayakkara (all island Western Province 7s winners)
2010 – Keith Gurusinghe – (unbeaten triple Champions – 7s, league and knockout champions)
2009 – Dilshan Paul (Carlton 7s Winners)
2008 – Poornaka Delpachitra (President’s Trophy winners)
2007 – Ranuka Jayasinghe (official unbeaten Champions)
2006 – Harendra Ariyawardena (official Schools’ A Division and knockout champions)
2005 – Sajith Adikari
2004 – Mohamed Rinaz
2003 -Rumaiz Ishaq
2002 – Dilanka Wijesekera (official Schools’ A Division rugby champions)
2001 – Dilan Abeygooneardena (Singer 7s winners)
2000 – Gladwin Georgesz