Vale YC Chang, a true Sri Lankan Rugby Legend – By Lawrence Machado

YC Chang, one of the legends of Sri Lankan rugby, passed away on Wednesday, January 22. A massive and colourful presence on and off the field, YC, as he was better known, had a long successful stint as a player, coach and administrator at Sri Lanka and the international level.

YC said under his leadership at SLRFU, Sri Lanka became the first country in the world to make rugby a professional sport, which earned the ire of IRB for some time.

As a prop forward, he was fearless as they come and a powerful player who could terrorise his opponents. Remarkably, despite not playing for Trinity College first XV, YC became one of Sri Lanka and Asia’s best prop forwards.

He was not afraid to stand up for his convictions, which once saw him famously lead his CH and FC team off their field against Havelocks, because of what he thought was bad refereeing.

This led the SLRFU banning YC for two years, but it never stopped him from becoming a top coach and administration for the game.

In a frank interview with ThePapare.com in 2017, YC said he had been strongly motivated to excel in rugby after not being chosen to represent Trinity College first XV. He had moved from Carey College to Trinity College, Kandy where he played cricket and rugby at a junior level

Despite having a stellar club and international career, YC never played senior rugby for Trinity, a fact which was a driving force for him. He went on to play and skipper Sri Lanka, Kandy and CH & to much success.

His first club was Havelocks where he played from 1961-63 before joining Kandy when he became a planter. He is probably the first player to skipper both Up Country and Low Country.

“There was determination in me to prove that the school had done wrong to me,” YC told ThePapare.com.  “My fitness levels were the highest at that time and I was never tired.”

“I displaced quite a lot of Sri Lankan players at the Havelocks side and that’s how I was able to play.

“Then I was selected to play for the Sri Lankan Barbarians which was hard to get into at that time,” because there were many expats then.

YC said that his parents wanted him to a doctor but decided to became a planter after being encouraged by a European when he was playing for Havelocks.

YC helped Sri Lankan rugby in many ways, including spreading the game around the island, including schools and provinces, with support from the International Rugby Board. He said it was one of his biggest achievements.

Former Sri Lanka, Police and Havies star Anton Benedict said YC’s contributions to rugby will be always remembered.

“I am saddened at the passing away of YC Chang, the legendary ruggerite who was a friend and mentor to many of us,” said Benedict, who is now based in Melbourne. “His legacy and contribution to the game of rugby football is phenomenal.

“I have played against him many a times when I represented Police from 1967 to 1973 and recall the Clifford Cup Final in 1972 when YC and I captained our respective teams.

“I resigned from the services of Police Department in March 1974 having accepted a job offer of Shaw Wallace and Hedges Ltd and represented Havelocks yet again after donning the chocolate brown and pink colours after leaving school as a teenager, in 1965 and 1966, as a student member.

“I was his teammate when he captained the Sri Lankan team at the 1972 Asiad in Hong Kong.

“I recall my second coming as a player at Havelocks against CH at Maitland Crescent in 1974 with YC, captaining CH. About midway in the game, YC took his team out as he was not happy with some the decisions of the referee Mohamed Azain, and he was suspended by the rugby union for his actions.

ANTON BENEDICT 

“A truly colourful personality on and off the field who was tough as nails and a dear friend.

“May his soul rest in peace.”

He leaves behind his wife, Rosemary, his three children and extended family,

No funeral arrangements have been announced at the time of writing.

May the turf rest lightly on him.