The death of rugby legend and coach George Dreaden Simpkin a few days ago left little Sri Lanka mourning the loss of this man who was so dear to us. It was so easy to love the rugby his chargers played, but his close associates would vouch that it was hard to work with this New Zealander.
He was a perfectionist, a great inventor and often raised the bar for players and coaches who came under his tutelage.
Accomplished rugby coach Sanath Martis is an individual who worked closely with George and learned so much from the duo’s relationship.
As Martis puts it, George arrived in Sri Lanka at a time when the island’s rugby was ‘floating’. His initial commitments were with Kandy Sports Club and what he turned these players into shocked the Sri Lankan rugby fraternity.
Dominance in defence and raised fitness levels lifted Kandy SC rugby to a new high.
And more than the Kandy players hogging the limelight the Sri Lankan rugby community started wondering who George was and started following this man. Martis was one of them.
It would be a great shortcoming for this writer if no mention is made of former national rugby captain Priyantha Ekanayake who facilitated George’s arrival in Sri Lanka.
Probably Sri Lankans never knew that George was a ‘big fish’ in terms of rugby because the islanders had little following of the game at international level and there was also no internet facility when this man made a mark in international rugby.
We saw a retired version of George when he came to Sri Lanka.
Bu hikaye Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka dergisinin May 14, 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka dergisinin May 14, 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
I Request UNPers To Vote At This Election And Save The Country And The Party
Wrong doers are being turned innocent by manipulating the law under this regime
Ecuador Declares Emergency In Prisons -116 Inmates Killed
Ecuador President Guillermo Lasso imposed a state of emergency on the prison system, after deadly clashes among gang members in a coastal prison killed at least 116 people.
Implications Of Covid-19 On Pregnant Mothers
The daily surge in Covid-19 figures presents pregnant women and their families with additional uncertainty.
Sri Lanka And Bangladesh Meet In Saff Curtain Raiser Today
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will clash in the curtain raiser match of the SAFF Football Tournament at the Maldives National Stadium in Male, today.
The Taliban And The UN's Democracy Dilemma
The United Nations is often derided as a talk shop.
How to restore loss of smell, taste after COVID-19
As the COVID-19 pandemic spread around the world anosmia and dysgeusia were quickly recognised as two of the key presenting symptoms.
JAFFNA STALLIONS OWNERSHIP GROUP HIT BACK AFTER REMOVAL
Say they signed a term sheet to continue as Jaffna franchise owners | Refute reasons given by IPG for ineligibility
German parties proceed to first coalition talks after polls
BERLIN (DPA), 29 SEPT, 2021 - The parties hoping to be part of Germany’s first government in 16 years without Angela Merkel as chancellor have taken their first steps towards coalition talks, with the country’s political future still in the balance.
Russia threatens YouTube ban after German RT outlet blocked
MOSCOW (DPA), 29 SEPT, 2021 - Moscow threatened on Wednesday to block the YouTube video platform after the internet media firm removed the German-language channels of Russia’s RT state media outlet.
Sri Lankan Footballers out to end 26-year long wait
Sri Lanka will look to end a 26-year-old hoodoo when they compete in the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship in the Maldives from October 1 to 16.
