Isipathana Rugby

A little boy’s fascination, for the sport at which his father excelled, led to the introduction of rugby football to Isipathana College, then Greenlands College, in 1960 and today, a little over six decades later, a tournament without Isipathana in the fray would be akin to a carnival without lights. It all began with Randy Kellar, who from the age of 10 was seen carrying a rugger ball, under his arm, to school everyday. His father having excelled at the sport whilst playing for Havelocks, would no doubt have been an inspiration to junior Kellar, who would have undoubtedly wanted to emulate his pa. On the tutorial staff of Isipathana, then, there happened to be, as the Vice Principal, an Old Thomian by the name of H. There was also the wife of famed Trinity Lion Harry Geddes. These two, seeing the enthusiasm and persistence displayed by this young lad and his schoolmates, decided to give it a go. With the assistance of a band of Old Peterites led by Jayantha Fernando and members of Havelock Sports Club things began to move. As Isipathana had no ground of its own, the Havies came to aid and offered their ground for the lads to practice on. Soon a team was formed with Randy Kellar leading and matches against Under 17 sides were organized for them by Jayantha Fernando and his band. Wesley College was one of the first schools to entertain the newcomers. Then came that day three years later (1963). Isipathana’s first Under 19 team was formed with Brian Ingram, who died in Australia, leading. Coached by Y. Chang, who was later to be President of both the SLRFU and the Asian RFU, they took on St. Anthony’s College Katugastota in Kandy in that historic first match and stunned the rugby world by pulling off a glorious 8-3 victory over the raging favourites with Dayalu Perera accounting for Isipathana’s first ever try in 1st XV rugger. Since then there has been no looking back and today Isipathana is not only a giant among the rugby playing schools, but it has turned out to be an academy for the game by producing a wide array of players to don the national jersey and that of a number of clubs in the big league.