Kandy-born Nihal Gunaratne, affectionately called ‘Viper’,has shown a lot of promise in rugby as a player and coach. He has years of experience in playing and coaching. He is one of the top rugby players produced by Kandy and has proved his capabilities in the last 46 years.
He started his rugby at St. Anthony’s College and played from 1974 for the senior side and captained in 1975 and 1976. He also played for the Outstation Schools XV and Combined Schools in 1977. In 1975 when he led the side they were coached by Izwan Omar, in 1976 Irwin Howie was the coach. Straight from school he joined Kandy SC and played in 1977 under the coaching of late Col.Bertie Dias and gave his best as a player and led the side in 1984. He played for the country in 1978 coached by Summa Navaratnam in the Rugby Asiad and Hong Kong Sevens. He also played for CR & FC and Up-Country and then played for Kandy SC, and led the side.
He had been the Head of Talent identification for Sri Lanka Rugby Union for U16, 18 and U20. Then head coach of St. Anthony’s College 1st XV team 2016. The Development manager for Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union 2012 to 2015.Director of Rugby St. Joseph’s College Colombo 2013, Consultant Coach of S.Thomas’ College Mount Lavinia 2010, Director of Rugby St. Anthony’s College Kandy 2005-2008, Head Coach of Dharmaraja College Kandy 1987-92, He also coached Army,CH and FC and Isipathana College
He also coached Sri Lanka Under 20 in 2007, Sri Lanka Youth team in 2010 and 2011, Junior Asiad Bangkok Thailand. He had been the Director of coaching at Hambantota Southern Sharks, coached Hornsby rugby club, Sydney, Australia 2004, Kandy Sports Club 1990 and 2007, Viper also coached Ceylon Tobacco Company where he was employed to win the Mercantile Sevens in 1986 and 1987. He coached the Kandy Combined Schools from 2010 to 2012 and in 2015.
His Professional qualifications at rugby are World Rugby (IRB) Licensed Coach Educator from 2008 (Licensed by the World Rugby/IRB to deliver coaching education courses worldwide), World Rugby (IRB) Level 1 Coach, World Rugby (IRB) Level 2 Coach, World Rugby (IRB) Level 3 Coach, Panel Member of the World Rugby Elite Coaching, World Rugby (IRB) Strength and conditioning accreditation,Certificate course in Human Resource management TAFE College, New South Wales,Australia 2004. He has conducted a diploma course for the rugby coaches organized by the Ministry of Sports in 2015. He was Visiting Lecturer at the sports Science Diploma and MSc course, University of Peradeniya since 2009, Strength and conditioning-training, New South Wales, Australia 2006, Conducted Level 1 and 2 coaching at Lahore, Pakistan for World rugby, 2015, World Rugby CPD programme in Japan, Tokyo 2015, CPD programme at Chennai, India 2016 and The Manager Development of Sri Lanka Rugby from 2013 To 2015. He coached Kandy combined schools 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015. Now he is the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Rugby Coaching Committee for the years 2020 to 2022.
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