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.
This story is from the May 14, 2020 edition of Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka.
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This story is from the May 14, 2020 edition of Daily Mirror - Sri Lanka.
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