Sri Lanka Rugby coaching staff head to NZ for intl. exposure

Leading Sri Lanka Rugby coaching staff will get international exposure when they participate in the World Rugby Level 2 training program which will be held at New Zealand professional Rugby Union team the Hurricanes’ base in Wellington from 16-20 April.

Sri Lanka Rugby (SLR) recommended eight members of its coaching staff to the ministry to follow the program. Later a few of the staff who were not selected had lodged a complaint at the Ministry of Sports regarding the selection criteria followed by SLR for this training program.

After receiving a complaint, Sports Minister Dayasiri Jayasekara had decided to re-evaluate the process before approving coaching staff recommended by SLR. Then he had decided to conduct fresh interviews through the Director of the National Institute of Sports Science, Sajith Jayalal, before finalising the list.

SLR has received approval for seven out of the eight coaches they had nominated, while former Science College coach Amila Chathuranga was the only one who was dropped. 

Meanwhile, the ministry has added three new names and altogether has selected 10 coaches to be sent for training in New Zealand. The new coaches added to the list are former national Sevens coach and current St. Joseph’s coachNilfer Ibrahim, former national Sevens player and Kandy SC player Saliya Kumara and Dilan Zoysa.

Touring coaching staff: Sudath Sampath, Rajiv Perera, Asanga Rodrigo, Nalaka Weerakkody, Shamly Nawaz, Lasintha de Costa, Nilfer Ibrahim, Saliya Kumara, Dilan Zoysa and Thanuja Weerakkody (Women’s coach).