South African coaches for Sri Lanka rugby team

By Ranjeeva SENEVIRATNE

Two leading rugby coaches from South Africa Dawie Snymen and Norman Laker have been entrusted with the task of coaching the Sri Lanka Rugby team and the national sevens team.

Snyman and Laker will coach the Sri Lanka sevens rugby team which will take part in the World Cup qualifying Rugby Sevens in Hong Kong on October 4 and 5 and Dubai Rugby Sevens in December.

The duo will also coach the Sri Lanka 15-a-side team which will take part along with China, Singapore and Chinese Taipei in the Asian First Division Rugby tournament in Chinese Taipei in November. They will also be in overall charge of the Sri Lanka under 20 team which will be taking part in the Youth Rugby Asiad in South Korea in December. The Sri Lanka Junior team is being coached by Sanath Martis.

Sri Lanka which is placed third in Asian Youth Rugby is hoping to conduct an Asian under 20 Rugby Sevens in either February or March next year in Colombo according to the Chief Executive Officer of the Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union Dilroy Fernando.

“We are confident of hosting the under 20 Rugby Sevens next year in Sri Lanka which should be a tremendous boost for Junior Rugby in Sri Lanka” said Fernando.