Trinitians will never forget Bertie Dias – the ace rugby coach
By Hafiz Marikar
RUGBY: Col. Bertie Dias after attending Trinity College, Kandy where
he was tutored in part by Philip Bultjens at rugby, had an illustrious
career and left an indelible mark in the history of Sri Lanka Rugby.
Under Dias the Sri Lankans emerged number two in Asia in 1974. He was
one of the finest ruggerites who made the rugby circle colourful and
courageous, as a player, referee and coach.

Bertie Dias in his young days. He turned out to be a good
rugby coach. |
Bertie as he was affectionately known, excelled in both studies and
sport’s while at Trinity College. He played rugger, hockey, was a boxer
and was a top athlete in Trinity’s relay teams during his time.
He won the coveted ‘Lion’ for Rugger in 1950 along with H.L.Fernando
and R.W. Tucker, and in the same year, won the first ‘Hockey Lion’ with
S.S. Bambaradeniya, Trinity’s recognition for hockey was granted only in
1950, but more than ten years previously, hockey had in fact been played
quite seriously by a school side that called itself the “Rabbits”.
Hockey also attracted Bertie
Some of Bertie’s hockey mates at school were S.S. Bambaradeniya, C.H.
Meares, G.H.M.N.P. Elikawela, R.M.P. Kehelpannalal, K. Palanoandy, S.M.
Selvaratnam, M.P. Weersnghe, D. Wickremasighe, R.R. Williams.
At rugby, it was K. Arumugam the 1949 skipper, D. Ratwatte, Lakshman
Kadirigamar, M.B. Ellepola, D.Y.L. Pakstun, C.N. Panabokke, R.B.
Rodrigo, S.S. Bambaradeniya, 1950 skipper, R.W. Tucker, H.L. Fernando,
C.S. Bamabaradeniya, G. Tennakoon, L. Jayakody, A.J.T. Madugalle, H.L.
Fernando, Kavan Ramukwella, U. Wijeratne, M. Hermon, L. Pilimatalawa, J.
Shanmuganathan, C.B. Halangoda.
At the University of Ceylon, Bertie was a tower of strength in all
the undergraduate teams. He played Rugger, Cricket and Hockey. Bertie
also boxed for the Varsity and participated in athletics.
Having graduated, he taught at Trinity for a short period before
joining the Army as an officer. In the Army too, he excelled at rugger
and hockey and was instrumental in the promotion of sport in the Army.
Bertie coached best TCK team
Perhaps the best ever Trinity rugby team was the 1956 side that
produced nine All Ceylon ‘caps’ and two captains.
The side was coached by Bertie Dias. In that year, they beat Royal in
both ‘legs’ of the Bradly, S. Thomas’, St. Joseph’s, St. Peter’s, the
only schools who were playing the game at that time. The side was led by
D.N. Frank, and the team was made up of players like D.N.Frank, Ken de
Joodt, M.V. Boteju, Franklyn Jacob, R.J. de Silva, G. Weeasinghe, U.
Ratnayake, Nimal Maralande, J. Dias de Singhe, M. Uvais Odayar, D.N.
Frank, R.N. de Alwis, S.P. de Silva, A.S.B. Ellepola, Mike de Alwis. As
a scrum half Berties was in the lose bracker. He played as a scrum half
for Kandy Sports Club first, Dimbulla A & CC, Dickoya MCC, Up-Country,
Havelock SC, Low Country, Sri Lanka Army, Defence Services and Sri
Lanka.
Popular rugger coach
It was as a rugger coach that Bertie became more popular. His first
major role was as coach of the successful in the Up- Country provincial
rugby team. Bertie coached Kandy SC, Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Air
Force, Dimbula ACC, Dickoya MCC, Havelock SC, CR & FC, Central Province
RFU, Sri Lanka Schools and Sri Lanka and when any one needed his
services, he was ever willing to help.
Bertie underwent rugby coaches and referees assignment in UK. There
had been occasions when Bertie had folded his slacks and blown
barefooted at matches when the appointed referee failed to turn up.
At the time Bertie played rugger and hockey for Kandy, the two games
were dominated by European planters. Bertie stood above all with his
brilliant play which kept the giants at bay.
The year Bertie passed away, Kandy Sports Club under the Presidency
of Dr. Sarath Kapuwatte, organized a seven a side rugger tournament,
with teams like HNB Kandy, Ceylon Tobacco Leaf Division, Central
Finance, Kurunagla RFC, Hill Club, Chilaw RFC, Old Anthonians.
At the end, Central Finance led by Chandima Amadoru emerged winners
and for the first time in Kandy a Ladies game was played before the
finals in which there were players like Sakunthala Perera, Duwonetha
Dhanapala, Deborah Chinnaih, Ulla, Claudia Crozier, Sujewa Malkanthi,
Manori Samarakoon, Vasantha Yapa , Sanella Wanigasekara are some of the
players, who were divided in two teams and the game was played.
|