Shamly Nawaz appointed as Head Coach of SL Air Force Rugby

Monday, 15 February 2021 01:43 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sri Lanka Air Force Rugby Chairman Janaka Amerasinghe

SL Air Force Rugby Head Coach Shamly Nawaz

Former Isipathana, CR&FC, national youth, Sevens and Fifteens player Shamly Nawaz, one of the most knowledgeable readers of modern-day rugby, has been appointed as the Head Coach of the Sri Lanka Air Force rugby side.

Nawaz who started his school rugby career at the tender age of 11, played in all age groups till he was 19. In 1994, at the age of 15, he made it into the Isipathana first XV team, and in 1996 he was appointed as the captain of the Under-19 National XVs for the Junior Rugby Asiad. He was re-appointed as Captain in 1997 making him the first to do so. He led the Isipathana Under-19s in 1998, became champions in the Anchor Blacks 10-a-side in Singapore and All-Island Milo 10-a-side champions in 1998. Later on, he went on to represent the national side in both forms of the game from 1998 to 2004. In club rugby, he played for Havelocks in 1998, loyally representing the Red Shirts from 1999 to 2007. He led the Longden Place club in 2003.

He started off his coaching career with his alma mater, coaching the junior side from 1999 to 2002. Later on, for his good work he was appointed as the Head Coach of the Isipathana senior outfit from 2008 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2013. In 2014, he was chosen for the Zahira outfit for a five-year spell. In club rugby, he was the Assistant forwards coach at CR&FC in 2014 and 2015. From 2017 to 2018 he was in charge of the Police SC outfit, taking their rugby to a different level after nearly two-decade long lean spell. His good work saw the Thomians hiring him for the 2019 and 2020 rugby seasons, where they saw some good results immediately. One of the major achievements by the hard-working Nawaz was that he coached his alma mater, Isipathana, to wins in the league and knock out tournaments in 2012 after a lapse of 13 years. After taking over Zahira, he took the Maradana lads into the top division in rugby during 2017 after a decade in the lower divisions.

Nawaz went on to coach and play in his university team at SLIIT and coached many mercantile teams in the past. He is a World Rugby Level 2 accredited coach, having achieved WR Level 1 and 2 certifications in Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. He went one level up in his qualification in 2019 when he got his World Rugby Coach Educator license to deliver and develop Young Rugby coaches in our region. Currently he is working and learning 3Dimentional coaching.

With the backing of their new sports-loving Air Marshal and top-class golfer Sudarshana Pathirana, and Air Commodore Janaka Amerasinghe, who is the Chairman of Sri Lanka Air Force Rugby, they are out to surprise many this season.

Former Antonian rugby player Amerasinghe, speaking to Daily FT said: “We have got one of the best coaching staff in the country. Nawaz is rich in his knowledge proved himself as a player and coach. I am sure he will take Sri Lanka Air Force rugby to the next level. We are all out to change the rugby culture at Air Force.” (SJ)