The man who guided Sri Lanka rugby to be the Asian runnerup in 1974, is Late Col. Bertie Dias one of the finest sportsmen to come out of Kandy, he was a product of Trinity College in the 1950’s. Bertie as he was known among his friends, can be rated as one of the finest scrum half’s this school has produced, some of the others top scrums halfs were S.B. Pilapitiya, Japana Jayawardene, Hanzil Samad, Ashan Ratwatte and Dilip Selvam.
At Trinity he was under the watchful eyes of Philip Bultjens at rugby. Bertie had an illustrious career and left an indelible mark in the history of Sri Lanka Rugby. He was one of the finest ruggerites who made the rugby circle colorful and courageous, as a player, referee and coach.
Under his coaching, Sri Lankans emerged number two in Asia in 1974. Bertie as he was affectionately known, excelled in both studies and sport’s while at School. He was a fine, hockey player, boxer and a top athlete 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”.
Some of his team mates in 1949, under the leadership of K. Arumugam, were E. Rulach, C.S. Bambaradeniya, C. B. Halangoda, D. Ratwatte, L. Kdirgarmar, S.S. Bambaradeniya, R.W.Tucker, M. Hermon, W. Wijarthne, C.N. Panabokke, D.Y.L.Pakustan, M.B. Ellepola, and R.B. Rodrigo. In that year in the 1st leg of the Bradby, Royal College won by 8 points to 3 and in the 2nd leg Royal 8 Trinity 6.
Then in 1950 he played along with A.I.J. Madugalle, D. Ratwatte, R.W.Tucker, H.L. Fernando, V. Wijeratne, Kavan Rambukwella, L. Pilimatalawa, Lakshman Jayakody, M.S. Paditharanthne J. Shanmuganathan, B. Speldewinde, G.Tenakoon, J. Weerasekara and that years captain was S.S. Bamabardeniya. In that year Trinity won the 1st leg of the Bradby by 6 points to nil and in the 2nd leg Trinity scored 5 points against Royal’s 3 points.
Some of his hockey mates at school were S. S. Bambaradeniya, C.H. Meares, G.H.M.N.P. Elikawela, R.M.P. Kehelpannala, K. Palanoandy, S.M. Selvaratnam, M.P. Weersnghe, D. Wickremasighe and R.R. Williams. Today there is a trophy presented in memory of him for the Trinity-Royal Old Boys Hockey match.
While at the University of Ceylon, Bertie was a tower of strength in all the undergraduate teams. He played Rugger, Cricket and Hockey 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. He gave his best for the Army team as a player, captain, coach and official.
He first played club rugger for Kandy Sports Club, later for Dimbulla A & CC, Dickoya MCC, Up-Country, Havelock SC, Low Country, Sri Lanka Army, Defence Services and Sri Lanka.
He was a fine coach, and knew how to do the job, and has coached many a sides and helped them to play good quality rugger, 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, and Mike de Alwis.
It was as a rugger coach that Bertie became more popular. His first major role was as coach of the successful 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.
The year Bertie passed away, Kandy Sports Club, organized a seven a side rugger tournament, with teams like HNB Kandy, Ceylon Tobacco Leaf Division, Central Finance, Kurunagla RFC, Hill Club, Chilaw RFC and Old Anthonians.
This tournament was won by Central Finance led by Chandima Amadoru 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 , who were divided in two teams and played.
Bertie Dias will not be forgotten by the rugby loving public of Sri Lanka. May he attain “Nibbana”.
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