Ceylon Rugby Team 1957 – All India Tournament in Madras
6 of the players and the Manager are products of CR&FC. 1 Havies.
3 from Royal College
We think, 3 from Trinity College
2 Peterites
Others, high society English families, who were sent to the Colonies ( Ceylon Tea plantations).
Re: The Team Photo of All Ceylon Rugby Team of 1957 from Joe Paiva.
Observe 8 of the 17 are British Tea Planters. The rest including the Manager, Suma Navaratnam are Ceylonese.
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It my strong opinion Augo Paiva should have Captained this team.
However, because of the strong British influence/ bias/ early post British Colonial period attitudes.
Local players were overlooked in favour of the British diaspora in Ceylon. This attitude filtered into many other areas of society in Ceylon.
Note. The Sudha sitting next to Augo Paiva on the right is Nevil Leaf.
Augo was the Fly Half, (the play maker, field Commander ) Leaf was the Scrum Half at the base of the scrum.
Anghi, Raja Williams, Devaka Rodrigo ( elder brother of Mahaes) ‘Brute’ Mahendran, ( later ASP/SP, police), Rumbukwella played for CR& FC under Augo in his golden times for a season or two at Londen Place.
All the Sudhas, expect 1 or 2, in the photos were upcountry tea planters. Dimbulla, Dickoya.
All these players have now passed away. Playing rugby in heaven.
The Sudhas returned to the UK and retired.
Late Augo Paiva was a proud product of St. Peters College, Colombo.
Capt the College Rugby team and a valued member of the Cricket XI
( outstanding boundary rider/ good medium pace bowler and quick fire late order batter, at times displayed heroics and bravado.
Lacked the temperament/ patience to be stoic.
Joe Paiva
