New rugby coach of Navy Sports Club Nihal (Viper) Gunaratne is expected to use all his past experiences to mould a team that will be without as many as 12 of their players from the last inter-club season.
The new season begins on December 1.
“Coaching a new and young team is one of the best challenges and I am looking forward to it,” said Gunaratne.
He was the first player from rugby-crazy Kandy to don the Sevens jersey for the Sri Lanka Sevens team and a product of St. Anthony’s College whose team he captained in 1976.
Gunaratne went on to captain Kandy SC during the hardest of times and earned the nickname Viper for his fierce tackling breaking out from the flanker position like a serpent.
He performed in 15 seasons for Kandy SC that makes him the most capped player in over 300 matches.
He took a Sri Lanka under-19 team to an Asian meet in China five years ago and the players ended up winning the title.
“When you coach youngsters it is not just about rugby. There is much more to it as the players look forward to you as a father figure. It is a sport that teaches you many things about life and sport together and that is what we all should enjoy,” said Gunaratne.
He also had a stint coaching St. Joseph’s College.
