Raikabula takes over coaching at Trinity

By Shamseer Jaleel

Former Fiji-born New Zealand Sevens sensation Lote Raikabula arrived in the country two days back and will officially take over the Head Coach position at Trinity College Kandy for their 2015/2016 rugby season from today.

Raikabulla, the six-footer and utility back, represented New Zealand from 2006 onwards taking the field for the All Blacks in more than 60 major tournaments and ending in the winning outfit of a series no less than 20 times.

During his presence, New Zealand won five IRB World Series titles and one Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Raikabulla was also instrumental in taking the All Blacks Sevens outfit to two Gold medals in the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and four years later in New Delhi.

Having represented both forms of the game, he played club rugby in the Air New Zealand Trophy for Hawkes Bay and Manawatu.

Raikabula, known for his fast open rugby, will be banking heavily on the Trinity outfit’s fitness, which is being looked into by its trainer for the last two months. The Trinity outfit is very likely to be led by either hooker Nathan Lee or scrum half Anuk Boyagoda. The leadership appointment will be officially made in early December before the school vacation. Trinity’s 1985 skipper Manoj Jayatissa will be the Manager of the team once more.