Four former players and coaching staff complete World Rugby Educator program

By Shamseer Jaleel

Four former rugby players and coaching staff of leading Colombo schools got through the World Rugby conducted Educator program in Colombo. 

The four who completed were Rohitha Rajapaksa, Rajiv Perera, Shamlie Nawaz and Duminda De Silva. This was conducted by Viper Gunaratne (Jr.) and organised by Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR).

Rohitha led the Thomians and later on played club rugby for Navy and CH & FC. He is currently the Head Coach of Thurstan Under-19 rugby outfit. Rohitha also played for the national team in the XV-a-side game. 

Meanwhile former Peterite player and current St. Peter’s Head Coach Rajiv Perera was the second. Shamlie Nawaz, the former Isipathana flanker, represented the country in the shorter and longer version of the game. He is currently handling the Thomians outfit. 

Former double International (Rugby Football and Basketball) Duminda de Silva played for Trinity College as a second row and later on club rugby for CH & FC, CR & FC and Havies. He was coaching the Ananda rugby outfit plus the Under-19 Team Manager for the Sri Lankan Sevens outfit which toured Hong Kong.

These four will work under the only Educator Trainer in the country Viper Gunaratne (Jr.) for one year before being accredited to operate as Educators. Currently Asia has only 165 rugby educators.