For the first time in the 52-year-old rugby history between St. Joseph’s and Trinity Colleges, St. Joseph’s beat Trinity and that too in Kandy this year. Stay at home fans called supporters in desperation to confirm the score and finally when they read the heart-stopping news in the newspapers the next day, only then did the truth sink in. Mighty Trinity had eaten humble pie at the hands of the Josephians!

Behind all the victory fan fare was the Josephian head coach P.G. Dishantha Priyadarshana, an unassuming but shrewd tactician of the game. His secret: “Coaches these days do not pay much attention to combined backs and forwards play. It is either the forwards or the backs. I make it a point to see that these two combine effectively,” said Priyadarshana during an interview with the Sunday Times.
Josephian Old Boys took the victory in a big way. At a Josephian sing-along the ball used at the Josephian-Trinity game at Bogambara was auctioned for a bid of Rs. 75,000 to a former St. Joseph’s skipper. No doubt in time to come the ball is going to cost a lot more.

P.G. Dishantha Priyadarshana

For Priyadarshana, an Old Boy of Science College Mt. Lavinia and a Health Science Teacher at St. Joseph’s Colombo, success at rugby is nothing new. He coached Wesley rugby in 2001/2001 and brought the Double Blues from total obscurity to dizzy heights. Trinity were quick to spot his talents and offered him a post as rugby coach but Priyadarshana declined as he decided to stick it out with Wesley.
He recalls that he was with Wesley rugby players for close upon six to eight years guiding them from Under 13 to Under 15 level. Wesley was undisputed junior champions during those years and several players went on to don the national jersey.

“The Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union never extended their help to us, especially coaches like me. What I achieved was due to my own ability. I doubt whether the Union will recognize our efforts, ever,” said Priyadarshana sadly.

According to Priyadarshana, St. Joseph’s who won the B Division title in 2008, made a strong impact on the schools rugby scene when they beat Trinity and then to show that their win was not a flash in the pan they beat St. Anthony’s Katugastota this year after nine years and also crushed Mahanama. The fact that they beat Trinity made them the target of many teams and it was hard to get past the superiority tag that the side had gained earlier on in the season when the season matured.

This year St. Joseph’s were led by centre Priyan Perera and had outstanding players such as Hashan Karunaratne, who has been snapped up by Air Force, Chirad Perera, Adrian Akel and prop Dhammika Anthony. The Joes will be a team to be reckoned with next year as well and they have retained seven players from this year’s outfit as well.

Sadly Priyadarshana will not be there to guide the Joes as his contract with the school has come to an end and he is now looking forward to greener pastures. “Hopefully I will be coaching an A Division schools team or a Club XV,” said Priyadarshana.Priyadarshana has fond memories as coach of Wesley. He has coached a host of Wesleyites such as Niroshan Karunaratne, Henry Terrence (CR), Samantha Laxan, Niranjan Wickremaratne (Navy), Safir Jhan (Kandy SC), Naveen Samit and Saqi Badurdeen (Havelocks), Chanaka Petera and Dilshan Devenanda (CH&FC).

Priyadarshana feels that Havelocks could be pulled out of the rut they are in if they have a good coach.
He recalls that the highest coaching post he held was being an assistant to Sri Lanka’s national coach George Simpkin and yearns to take on a big post, such as coach of the national team, if given the opportunity.