Leonard to coach the Sailors

Leonard de Zilva

Former Peterite, Havies and National sevens, 15s player and former Sri Lanka Air Force, Sri Lanka Navy and Thomians coach Leonard de Zilva will be the Head Coach of the Sailors outfit. They will have the first taste when they participate at the next month’s Inter Club Sevens in Ratmalana.

As a player plus as a coach both at club and national level he has proved himself beyond doubt that he is ready for more responsibility at club and national level either in sevens or 15s in the near future.

Leonard who played for the Peterite outfit from 1991 to 93 led the outfit in his last year. In 1992 he represented the national youth outfit at the Junior Asiad for the Taipei tour. After leaving school he played for the Park Club from 1995 to 2002. Leonard who is a sevens sensation won the trophy for the Havies in 1995 and in 1999 he became the best sevens player. 

In 1997 he was selected to represent the XV-a-side outfit at the Asian Quadrangular tournament beating Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.  In the shorter version of the game he toured Dubai, Asian Sevens series, Boreno, Commonwealth Rugby Sevens in Manchester and Hong Kong sevens. He led the outfit to the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

In his coaching career he started off with the Thomians outfit Under-17 outfit. He was the Backs coach at the Park Club from 2008 to 2012. In his last year Havies became league champions. For his good work he was given the Assistant Coach at the national Men’s sevens team in 2012. 

He took over the Sailors coaching from 2013 to 2015 as the Head Coach. During that time period Navy became league and knock out winners in 2014 and runner up in the league during 2015. He had two stints with the Sri Lanka Air Force outfit in 2015-2016 and from 2019 to 2020.  (SJ)