Isuru Rangala to lead Trinity rugby team

By Shamseer Jaleel
Sri Lanka youth player and number 8 Isuru Rangala will lead the Trinity College Kandy under-20 rugby team for the 2014/2015 season.
Trinity, continuing their winning streak in the Bradby Shield which continues for three consecutive years under Kaneel Seneviratne, Halique Wadood and Tharinda Ratwatte, are all out to maintain their clean sheet in the coming year too. Isuru Rangala is fortunate to have 11 of last year’s players turning up for practices.
Former Ireland, British and Irish Lion player Eric Miller will be their Rugby Consultant and Head Coach for their under-20 outfit. Former Trinitian Thusith de Silva will be assisting him in the coaching unit.
The Former Irish international Rugby Union player, who has won 48 caps for the Green Jersey and the youngest British and Irish Lions team member that played against South Africa in 1997 will be with the Trinity outfit. He has represented Ireland in two Rugby World Cups (1999 and 2003) and also played five times for the Barbarians. As a professional Rugby Union Player, Eric Miller represented Leinster, Ulster and Leicester Tigers in the British Rugby League. He has played in over 50 Heineken Cup games. Miller also played cricket for Wesley College in Dublin.
He started his international career when he represented the under-21 team in 1996. Between 1997 and 2005 he represented the country at top level making 48 test appearances and scoring well over 30 points, including six tries for his country. He made his international debut against Italy in 1997. He went on to play for Ireland at both the 1999 and 2003 Rugby World Cup tournaments. His final appearance for Ireland was against Japan in 2005.
After retirement from International rugby in 2006, Eric spent the last eight years coaching Rugby at junior, schools and club levels within Ireland. Amongst his recent coaching achievements was winning the interprovincial title with the Leinster under-18 outfit for three years running and helping St. Gerard’s School to the Leinster Schools Senior Cup semi-final for the second year in a row. The school was awarded the Leinster Schools Team of the Year in 2010. Eric Miller is a fully qualified Rugby Union coach of the Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU).