Centre Rajith Jayasundara played for Sri Lanka as a 17 year old-by Althaf Nawaz

Rajith Jayasundara

Some people who reach the pinnacle in sports are influenced by their family members. They follow the footsteps of them to end up as top class sportsmen in any sporting discipline, while excelling at school, club and National level. Rajith Jayasundara hails from a sports loving family especially his late father Daya Jayasundara was a well known sportsman during his hey days later ended up reaching great heights, serving in various capacities in the game of rugby starting as a player, coach and manager of the national team before his retirement as a Senior DIG of Sri Lanka Police.

Rajith who is 35 years old is the son of Daya and Badra who was a teacher at Royal College, Colombo. He has two elder brothers Danushka and Pandula who played first XV rugby for Royal in 1996 and 1999/2000 seasons respectively. While he was engaged in his studies at primary school level, his father and two brothers who handled the oval shaped ball had influenced him to take up sports at Royal.

He started off his school sporting career with athletics and gradually moved on to play cricket and rugby at the under-13 level. In 1998 played in the under -15 team and captained them in 1999. He surged ahead to play in the under-17 team in 2000. He gradually reached the senior team after competing in all age categories and obtained the college colours in Athletics (first year in 2004) and in rugby (four years from 2001 to 2004). His first appearance with Royal first XV was in 2001 and remained as a member of all four ‘Bradby Shield’ winning teams from 2001 to 2004. He captained his ‘Alma Mater’ first XV rugby team in 2003.

He has a unique record in the ‘Bradby Shield’ scoring four tries (two in each leg) in the 2002 season occupying the centre three quarter position, for the champion Royal team which retained the Bradby Shield. by a record margin of 83-nil (39-0 and 44-0). He also turned out to be the first try scorer for Royal in the 2001,2002 and 2003 Bradby Shield games which earned him the ‘Royal Crown’ in 2002. The very next year, Royal adjudged him as the ‘Most Outstanding Sportsman’ of the year in 2003, which is another milestone in his life.

During his tenure with college, he was called to don the Sri Lanka jersey even before he engaged in club rugby which was a phenomenal achievement by a player at the age of 17 years with only school rugby exposure.

With the National team he participated in many international tournaments, and when he was at his peak in the game from 2002 to 2004, was included in the Sri Lanka team which took part in the 14th Asian Games in Busan Korea in 2002. (One of the youngest to represent the National team at the age of 17), represented the National team at the IRB (International Rugby Board) Quadrangular Tournament, the World Cup qualifiers, and Rugby Asiads in 2002 (Thailand) and 2004 (Hong Kong). He had the rare honour of being picked as the best sportsman in Sri Lankan history at the “Commemorative National Sporting Honours” in 2008. While engaging in the senior level, he was an active member in the National under-19 team from 2000 to 2004 later captained them in 2002 and 2003.

He also holds the distinction of being the youngest player in the history of Sri Lankan Rugby to represent the National under-19 team (at the age of 15) and the youngest to captain (at the age of 17), before he played in the College under-19 team. His involvement with the National side made him a top class player and wore the National jersey in several tournaments. This included World Cup qualifying Sri Lanka under-19 team in 2000. He was awarded the Caltex Trophy for ‘The Most Promising Rugby Player’ in Sri Lanka in 2003. While playing for the country he played for CR and FC team in the 2005 season. He also was a member of the Gordon rugby team in Sydney Australia same year after his arrival in Australia.

He attributes all his achievements in rugby to his late father who accompanied Rajith to witness the Police and Sri Lanka rugby matches, while being in the dressing rooms and sitting in the sidelines watching his father coach and motivate teams. His father was the most influential coach in his rugby career.

According to him, he learnt all his rugby basics from his father and the living rugby legend Summa Navaratnam. He believes that his father’s guidance which made him a great player and a leader while passing through difficult times. According to him his father has been a pillar of strength in his life always and advised him on how to handle pressure situations.

Furthermore, his father always instructed him to do the right things, respecting his opponents, and striving to be great in whatever you do in life. Ultimately it has been an honour to carry on his legacy for a brief period.

Through the years, he had some excellent local and international coaches that influenced him mostly making an impact in his game. From Summa Navaratnam with the basics, Y.K. Silva and Niroshan Jayasingshe at under-15 level who were the first to encourage him, Ananda Kasthuriarachchi, C. P. Abeygunawardane, Nizam Jamaldeen, Tulagese Tavita (Laga), who developed his game to be able to compete at the highest levels while the late George Simpkin, whose influence was phenomenal especially when competing at club and national levels.

He has some unblemished memories while playing for college first XV team. According to him it had been an absolute honour to be a part of four extremely strong Royal teams. (only two losses in four years.) The ‘Bradby Shield’ was always a memorable one and playing a pivotal role with the four winning teams. These teams were star studded with players like Harin Kaluarachchi, Shamil Mohamed, Zulki Hamid, Dushanth Lewke and Lakshman Dissanayake.

Out of the four years, the invincible 2002 team has been a special one. Not only notching up victories but also established new records shattering previous ones, during his amazing journey that started from under-15. His tenure with the national rugby was also inculcated with some proud moments. He not only got the opportunity to play alongside some of the amazing players but also admired watching some of the greats like Sudath Sampath, Indrajith Bandaranayake, Harris Omar, Pavithra Fernando, Savantha de Saram and Asanga Rodrigo . He was also fortunate enough to captain his school and the National under-19 teams with the company of some scintillating players like Fazil Marija, Lakshman Dissanayake, Namal Rajapaksa, Imran Bisthamin, Sheriff Mohamed, Shehab Bahudeen, Saliya Kumara who all went on to represent the national team.

He played for CR and FC only one year (2005 season) due to the commencement of his University studies. Beating Kandy at Longden Place and beating Havelocks 67-0 while scoring four tries in that game were some of the highlights.

Looking back at his illustrious rugby career, he was a part of so many great teams and had some unblemished achievements, which he is proud of. He cherishes the great moments he had on and off the field with some amazing individuals who are now his lifelong friends.

He currently lives in Sydney, Australia with his wife Radha Sharma and daughter Aarya for the last 16 years. He is currently employed as a Customer Success Lead at A2K Technologies in Sydney, Australia.