Kavinda and Thushitha to take top coaching roles at Trinity Rugby

By Shamseer Jaleel

Kavinda Jayasena Head Coach for Trinity

Thusitha de Silva Assistant Coach

Former Trinity Rugby ‘Lion’ Kavinda Jayasena and Coloursman Thusitha De Silva have been appointed to take over rugby coaching by Trinity College. Kavinda will be their Head Coach, while Thusitha will be the Assistant Coach.

The two former Trinitians are all out to put their strengths into play and build on their solid work laid down in the past. Both have got a wonderful opportunity to play a key part in inspiring, mentoring, creating confidence and stability in transforming Trinity College rugby into a strong unit.

Kavinda represented Trinity in all age groups (Under-13, 15, 17, and the first XV). At club level he represented Havelock Sports Club from 2001-2002 and from 2006 to 2015, leading them in 2008 and 2011. In 2003 he came back to his hometown and played for Kandy SC. Then in the mercantile tournament he played for HNB from 2000-2004.

At national level, he represented the Sri Lanka youth team in 1999, then in 2001 played for the Sri Lanka team in the World Cup qualifiers held in Kazakhstan. In 2002 he played for the Sri Lanka at the 18th Rugby Asiad held in Bangkok and was also a member of the Lankan team for the annual Singer Sevens. He also represented the Chennai Rugby Football team in the All India Rugby tournament 2007-2008 held in Mumbai.

He won the prestigious Trinity College Rugby ‘Lion’ for outstanding performance in the college rugby team, exemplifying characteristics such as leadership, courage, devotion, duty, and above all, concern for the team ahead of himself. He won colours for exceptional performance in 1999, then won the best player award that same year, and the excellence award offered by the Old Trinitians Sports Club in 2000.

His professional achievements are IRB Level 1, IRB Level 2, recently completed his World Rugby (WR) Level 3 and WR Level 1 Seven-a-side coaching.

He is also one of the three qualified IRB Match Commissioners in the country and has completed IRB Strength and Conditioning Level 1. Currently he holds the vital position at Central Province Rugby Football Union (CPRFU) as its Secretary.  

He was the team manager at Havelock Sports Club for the 2013 and 2015 seasons, and coached Lanka Hospitals Rugby team for the Mercantile Rugby Sevens from 2012 to 2014. He was the High-Performance Team Manager of Sri Lanka Rugby in 2018.

Kavinda is the son of the famous ruggerite George Jayasena, who started his rugby at Vidyartha College and his first club was Kandy Lake Club.

Thusitha also represented Trinity College at all age groups. At club level he represented Kandy Sports Club, Kandy Youth Sports Club and Old Trinitians Sports Club before he hung up his boots. He captained the college Under-17 team in 1993 while playing in the first XV team and won his prestigious schools rugby colours in 1994.

Thushitha completed his IRB Level 1, IRB Level 2, IRB Strength and Conditioning Level 1, was also a part of the Trinity coaching unit under Neil Footy, Erick Miller and Lotte Raikaboola.

Former All Black and Trinity College Rugby Consultant Rodney So’oilo is tipped to continue as Consultant for Trinity but is yet to confirm his availability after taking up the coaching role as the Head Coach of Malaysian Rugby Football Union. Both Kavinda and Thusitha were understudies for the legendary All Black.