Sudaraka, reaching greater heights in Rugby
In the 1990s, Sri Rahula had a champion girls hockey team. But hockey has suffered a decline at the school, and now Cricket and Rugger are the sports that the school does fairly well at.
Sudaraka Dikkumbura, a 24-yearold product of Sri Rahula, became the first player from the school to win the Sri Lanka tie for rugby. The last few months have been hectic ones for this energetic, enthusiastic Wing Three Quarter cum Centre. He made his debut for Sri Lanka on the tour of Malaysia. His play was impressive, so much so that he was rushed into the Sevens Pool for the Asian Rugby Tournament. He turned out in all three Legs of the Asian Sevens – in Korea, China as well as in Colombo.
He scored three tries in Malaysia, two against Chinese Taipei and one against UAE in the Colombo Leg. He didn’t start most of the games, but when he came on, he tried hard to make things happen.
Dikkumubura, a naturally talented games player, started with football. But seeing his schoolmates indulging in rugby, he made up his mind that rugby was the game for him. As he put I, “If I get the ball to run, that’s enough.” He likes the Winger’s berth as it gives him some freedom.
He was included in the pool for the 2017 Asian Rugby Sevens. However, he pulled out because of injury. For the last four years, he has done consistently well for his club team – the Army. Playing against the Havies in this year’s Knock Out semi- final, Dikkumubura weaved his way past nine players and then cut in to touch down for a memorable try. He considers this his best try, by a long way.
For much of his career at Sri Rahula, he was coached by the late Kalu Perera – one of the finest junior coaches. Deepal Punyawardena, currently a referee, also coached him in his final year.
He was coached by Fijian Sate, Nilfer Ibrahim and Viper Gunaratne at the Army.
Dikkumubura has had an approach from an elite club, but has indicated his wish to continue playing for the Army.
Not all that well-known for rugby, Sri Rahula had three or four players who were on the fringe of selection for National honours. Nihal Ananda, a dusky winger, who played for Kandy in the 1980s, Police lock Kularatne and Kandy lock Gamini Abeykoon were the ruggerites who came close.
Dikkumubura hopes to play for as long as possible. When he does hang up his boot, the Army is bound to miss a talented, effervescent rugby-mad player.