Rugby development in remote areas of Sri Lanka

Girls and boys from the four schools line up before the commencement of the program at the Mahiyangana National School

The indigenous community showing interest in learning the game

Girls at a training session

Girls from the Mahiyangana area given the basics of rugby

By Shamseer Jaleel

The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) with the guidance of Executive Director Rohan Gunaratna along with the coordination of Sports Officer of Mahiyanganaya Pradeep Karunarathne conducted a ‘Get to know Rugby’ coaching program which was conducted by qualified coaches from Kandy and Colombo under the  leadership of the World Rugby qualified Rugby Educator Nihal Gunarathne (Viper Jnr.) who is also the Men’s Rugby Development Manger of Sri Lanka with the aim of taking rugby into the remote areas of the island, promote and develop the game with the aim of producing talented rugby players for the men’s and women’s national sides in the future and rugby coaches to coach the game in their respective areas.

The program was conducted for over 11 physical training instructors from the schools in Mahiyanganaya and 426 girls and boys from the Uva Province in the Mahiyanganaya District. It took place two weeks ago at the Mahiyanganaya National School Grounds. Schoolboys and girls from Mahiyangana National School, Orubendiwewa M.M.V, Bandaranayake M.M.V, Mapakadawewa and Giradhurukotte M.M.V took part in this coaching program. Later on, the trainers visited Dabana School which has descendants from the indigenous community to introduce the game.