RUGBY: In the galaxy of Sri Lankan Ruggerites Dr. Larry Foenander was a complete star a dazzling player, a shining leader, a trail blazing coach, a fair referee and, at 88 years of age, he remains a luminous gentleman. In his own words in Melbourne Australia “I am still standing, strong!”
Larry’s induction to Rugby was at Royal College where the constellation, in 1941, included such well-known names as Minoo Jilla, Miles Christoffelsz, EV Pieris, Summa Navaratnam, Gemini Salgado and the Aldons brothers.
And it was under Minoo’s captaincy in 1941, when Larry played, that Royal beat Trinity for the first time, after 21 years.
It was under Larry’s Captaincy in 1943 that Royal beat Trinity again (6-0). The team that Larry led: Freedie Aldons, G. Rajapakse, EV Pieris, Summa Navaratnam, Harry Aldons, Mahes Rodrigo, CDL Fernando, CN Kannangara, S. Wickremasuriya, A. Amarasinghe, SLE de Silva, M. Amarasinghe, N. Vancuylenberg and D. de Moor. The Trinity team was led by WJ Jenkins and included such well-known players as Malcolm Wright, Michael Kagwa, SB Pilapitiya, and Robert Sourjah.
Strength of his principles and DISCIPLINE is what defined the success that Larry achieved and the respect he commanded both at Royal as captain in 1943 and as the Havies Coach, 1960-1967.
Given his Army background, his team selections were strictly on merit. Fitness and skill were defining criteria; there was no keeping special places for anyone; no primus inter pares (first among equals); and all selections were without fear or favour.
Those were the days when the illustrious Hubert Aloysius ruled the roost. However on one occasion Larry determined that Hubert was not as fit as he was before. He was dropped from a key game against the strong Dim-Dicks (Dimbulla – Dickoya) team. This sent shock waves and YC Chang, known for his forthrightness and fearlessness, had gone up to Larry and said “if Hubert does not play count us out, Sir!”
Larry strict disciplinarian
Larry’s response: Hey mate, can you see that door? If you guys do not turn up for practice at 4.15 tomorrow you can be sure that I will have a different team playing!
All players turned up and the Dim-Dicks were soundly beaten by a stunning margin. Larry recalls that YC coming up to him and saying “you were right Larry, thank you”. Larry regards YC as one of the best forwards he has coached and respects him as the hard driving ruggerite, full of integrity, that the Kandy Sports, the Havies, and the Sri Lanka Teams were privileged to have.
Discipline was exemplified again when Larry, on a brief visit from Australia, was invited by Havies captain Gamini Fernando to guide the Havies in the face of a string of losses they had suffered. Larry recalls arriving at practice at 4.30 pm and finding only 10 players with others trickling in leisurely. One of the key Havies players, a superb wing forward, was still in the club house apparently sulking over a personal issue and not wanting to practice. Larry walks up to him and asks him to attend practice, but the young man refuses.
Says Larry to him: you either bugger off or come right away! The young man was on the field in a flash!
If I am creating an impression of an over-zealous Larry, it’s simply to drive home the point of discipline being integral to good team performances.
Players smuggled home
So, here is another side of Larry: those were the Hartal days when a curfew was in force commencing at 6 pm. Some of the team would stay at the club house a bit longer to have a few drinks and Larry would say” don’t worry mates, I will take you all home”. Some team members still remember getting into the boot of Larry’s car and being smuggled home by the affable Army Doc!
When he returned to Sri Lanka from the UK and took over coaching of the Havies from Stanley Liverea, Larry applied his learnings from the UK rugby scene optimally. For instance he got Nimal Maralande the Havies Stand off and Maurice de Silva the Centre to practice to near perfection the ‘scissor’ with many a variation. One recalls that day when CH Captain Peter Sawdy watching the duo quipping “we have got to watch these rascals, they are dangerous!”
Larry the Ruggerite was a delight to watch in action. The occasion was when the Havies beat CR & FC for the first time in the post war years. It was a cliff hanger of a match played at the Police Park. What clinched it for the Havies was a startling drop goal from 25 yard out by scrum half Larry from the base of the scrum. Rarely then, and hardly ever now, does a scrum half venture out with a successful drop goal!
First Ceylonese to London society
Larry the Referee also acquitted himself internationally. He was the first Ceylonese to be admitted to the London Society of Rugby Football which was headed by Sir Cyril Gadney. In later years, another Havies and Sri Lanka cap C.H. Seneviratne was admitted to the prestigious London Society.
The year 1967 was Larry’s last year as Coach. The Havies team: W. Koch, H. Galuge, brothers Jeff and Dan Rutnam as centers and Derrick Munaweera and the star combination of Jupana Jayawardene and Glen Vanlangenberg.
The forward were Jeyer Rodriguez, S. Joachim, Tyronne Holedenbottle, Lucky Vitharane, L. Wijesinghe, I. Hamid, Noel Brohier, Gamini Fernando and C. Ameresekera.
In a classic encounter against the CR, the Havies won 17-0. That was the match when Larry’s ploy of getting the Havies ‘threes’ to spread themselves deep forced the defence to do likewise.
But it gave the Havies speedy ‘line’ the opportunity to pick the gaps and score aided by the excellent combinations of Japana Jayawardene and the irrepressible Glen Vanlangenberg and the coordination between the Rutnam brothers both of whom scored tries.
No better tribute could have been paid to Larry and Yvonne Foenander in their last tryst with the park club.
