COLOMBO: (ePRESS) – Former Isipathana College captain and Sri Lanka Number Eight, Shamlie Nawaz, has been named the new coach of the Thurstan College rugby team for the 2025 season. Nawaz, who also serves as the coach of the Sri Lanka Women’s Sevens team, aims to bring new life to Thurstan rugby after a challenging year.
Thurstan College faced a tough season in 2024, losing all their matches, including a record 112-0 defeat against St. Peter’s and a 97-16 loss to Royal College. Nawaz takes over the coaching role from Colin Denish, a former skipper for St. Peter’s and Sri Lanka Under-20 player. Denish has moved on to coach Science College in Mount Lavinia.
Nawaz, 45, has experience coaching at Zahira College last season and is eager to rebuild the Thurstan rugby program.
In another significant move, Ananda Kasthuriarachchi, a former Kingswood player and Kandy SC captain, has been appointed to coach Kingswood College for the 2025 season. Kingswood struggled last year, losing nearly all their matches. Kasthuriarachchi hopes to improve their performance, as Kingswood has produced many talented players in recent years, including Sri Lanka Sevens skipper Fazil Marija and several other national representatives.
Both coaches are looking to revitalize their teams and restore their proud rugby traditions in the upcoming season.
