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 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.